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

The Show of Shows

The Resurrection of Christ

Driftwood

Felix O'Day

Strange Impersonation

French Dressing

You Can't Take It with You

All That Money Can Buy

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Behold My Wife!

Action in Arabia

Army Girl

Justice Takes a Holiday

Nurse Edith Cavell

The Son-Daughter

Lost Horizon

The Gamblers

Sorrell and Son

Captain Tugboat Annie

The King of Kings

The Toy Wife

One Hour Before Dawn

Rose of the Rancho

Topper Returns

Zaza

The Rains Came

Romance of a Rogue

Wedding Rings

Our Fighting Navy

Sorrell and Son

Dice of Destiny

The Lost Paradise

Five Star Final

Christopher Bean

The Adventures of Marco Polo

A Tale of Two Cities

High Wall

El Paso

The Judge Steps Out

The Man Who Turned White

The Corsican Brothers

The Gracie Allen Murder Case

The Doctor's Secret

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

The Garden Murder Case

Here Comes the Groom

The Phantom of Crestwood

Tom Brown of Culver

Victoria the Great

The Prince of Thieves

Supernatural

Hitler's Children

South of Tahiti

Hellfire

Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police

The Trial of Mary Dugan

Let Freedom Ring

A Fugitive from Matrimony

The Gray Wolf's Ghost

Unholy Love

The Pagan God

Grand Canary

Bulldog Drummond in Africa

City of Missing Girls

For a Woman's Honor

Jennie Gerhardt

A Woman Commands

The Girl of the Golden West

Crossroads

The Man from Broadway

Rogues' Gallery

Journey Into Light