Cast

H.B. Warner

Acting

Cast

H.B. Warner

Known for

Acting

Born

1876-10-25

From

London, England, UK

Died

1958-12-21

Also known as Harry Byron Lickfold, Henry B. Warner, H. B. Warner

Biography

Henry Byron Warner (often credited as H.B. Warner) was an English actor. He was the definitive cinematic Jesus Christ in Cecil B. DeMille's The King of Kings (1927). He was born into a prominent theatrical family on October 26, 1875 in London. His father was Charles Warner, and his grandfather was James Warner, both prominent English actors. He replaced J.B. Warner as Jesus in The King of Kings (1927) when J.B. died of tuberculosis at age 29. (J.B. was not Henry's brother. J.B. had taken the professional last name "Warner" because Henry's family took him in.) Henry Warner's family wanted him to become a doctor, and he graduated from London University but eventually gave up his medical studies. The theater was in his blood, and he studied acting in Paris and Italy before joining his father's stock company, making his debut in the English production of "Drink." It was from his father that he honed his craft. Warner made it to America in the early 1900s, after touring the British Empire. Billed as Harry Warner, he made his Broadway debut in the American colonial drama "Audrey" at Hoyt's Theatre on November 24, 1902, starring James O'Neill, the father of playwright Eugene O'Neill. He was billed as H.B. Warner in his next appearance on Broadway, in the 1906 comedy "Nurse Marjorie." He appeared in 13 more Broadway productions in his career, from the twin-bill of "Susan in Search of a Husband" & "A Tenement Tragedy" (also 1906) to "Silence" in 1925. He moved into motion pictures, making his debut in the Mutual short Harp of Tara (1914). Also in 1914, he appeared in a film written by Cecil B. DeMille for Famous Players Lasky, The Ghost Breaker (1914), in which he had played on Broadway the year before. Warner became a leading man and a star in silent pictures, reaching the zenith of his career playing Jesus in DeMille's The King of Kings (1927). His excellent performance was actually enhanced by the silent screen, allowing the audience to imagine how Jesus would sound. Warner could be extremely moving in silent pictures, notably in the melodrama Sorrell and Son (1927) as a war veteran father who sacrifices all for his son. When talkies arrived, he became a busy supporting player. A favorite of Frank Capra , appeared in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936). Cast again by Capra, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Lost Horizon (1937). He also appeared in You Can't Take It with You (1938), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Other major talkies included The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) and Topper Returns (1941). Other than Jesus, the role he is best remembered role for today is in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), in which he played Mr. Gower, the druggist who is saved from committing a lethal medication error by the young George Bailey (the James Stewart character as a child). H.B. Warner appeared in Sunset Blvd. (1950) as himself. His last credited role was as Amminadab in DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956), a remake of the earlier silent The Ten Commandments (1923). He last role was an uncredited bit part in Darby's Rangers (1958).

H.B. Warner

H.B. Warner

Biography

It's a Wonderful Life

Sunset Boulevard

The Ten Commandments

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Haunting Shadows

You Can't Take It with You

The Resurrection of Christ

Strange Impersonation

Lost Horizon

Driftwood

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Felix O'Day

The Show of Shows

The King of Kings

Action in Arabia

Behold My Wife!

Army Girl

French Dressing

Sorrell and Son

Topper Returns

The Adventures of Marco Polo

Wedding Rings

Captain Tugboat Annie

All That Money Can Buy

Justice Takes a Holiday

The Corsican Brothers

The Gamblers

Nurse Edith Cavell

The Rains Came

The Garden Murder Case

One Hour Before Dawn

Rose of the Rancho

Dice of Destiny

The Man Who Turned White

The Son-Daughter

Romance of a Rogue

Zaza

The Gracie Allen Murder Case

Five Star Final

A Tale of Two Cities

The Girl of the Golden West

The Toy Wife

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

The Trial of Mary Dugan

The Gray Wolf's Ghost

The Lost Paradise

High Wall

South of Tahiti

Here Comes the Groom

Bulldog Drummond's Bride

El Paso

Supernatural

The Boss of Big Town

Arrest Bulldog Drummond

The Phantom of Crestwood

Bulldog Drummond in Africa

Hitler's Children

Liliom

City of Missing Girls

Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police

Our Fighting Navy

For a Woman's Honor

Night Alarm

The Doctor's Secret

Tom Brown of Culver

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime

Grand Canary

Sorrell and Son

The Prince of Thieves

Christopher Bean

The Divine Lady

Lux Æterna: The Art of Filmmaking

Enemy of Women

Expensive Women

A Woman of Experience

Hellfire

Journey Into Light