Lionel Barrymore
ActingAbout Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul (1931), and remains best known to modern audiences for the role of villainous Mr. Potter in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. He is also particularly remembered as Ebenezer Scrooge in annual broadcasts of A Christmas Carol during his last two decades. He is also known for playing Dr. Leonard Gillespie in MGM's nine Dr. Kildare films, a role he reprised in a further six films focusing solely on Gillespie and in a radio series entitled The Story of Dr. Kildare. He was a member of the theatrical Barrymore family.
Lionel Barrymore Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Lionel Barrymore reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Lionel Barrymore's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 100% of Lionel Barrymore's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Red Hicks Defies the World, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Lionel Barrymore Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Lionel Barrymore's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Lionel Barrymore has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Irving Thalberg: Prince of Hollywood | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | The Mesmerist | The Innkeeper (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Hooray for Hollywood | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | That's Entertainment! | (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Hollywood: The Dream Factory | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Our Mr. Sun | Father Time (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Right Cross | Sean O'Malley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Key Largo | James Temple | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Mr. Potter | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Valley of Decision | Pat Rafferty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Twenty Years After | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith | Gramps | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Penalty | 'Grandpop' Logan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | On Borrowed Time | Julian Northrup aka Gramps | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Land of Liberty | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | You Can't Take It with You | Martin Vanderhof | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Captains Courageous | Captain Disko Troop | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Girl from Missouri | T.R. Paige | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | This Side of Heaven | Martin Turner | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Christopher Bean | Dr. Milton Haggett | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | The Movie Album | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Broken Lullaby | Dr. H. Holderlin | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | The River Woman | Bill Lefty | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | Alias Jimmy Valentine | Doyle | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | Road House | Henry Grayson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | The Lion and the Mouse | John Ryder | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | Drums of Love | Duke Cathos de Alvia | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | The Thirteenth Hour | Prof. Leroy | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | Women Love Diamonds | Hugo Harlan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Paris at Midnight | Vautrin | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Brooding Eyes | Slim Jim Carey | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | The Woman Who Did | Allan Merrick | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | Fifty-Fifty | Frederick Harmon | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | The Girl Who Wouldn't Work | Gordon Kent | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | Children of the Whirlwind | Joe Ellison | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | A Man of Iron | Philip Durban | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1924 | Meddling Women | Edwin Ainsworth / John Wells (duel role) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1924 | Decameron Nights | Saladin | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1923 | The Eternal City | Baron Bonelli | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1921 | Jim the Penman | James Ralston | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1920 | The Master Mind | Henry Allen | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1917 | National Red Cross Pageant | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1917 | The End of the Tour | Byron Bennett | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1914 | Woman Against Woman | Gilbert Craven | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1913 | The Work Habit | The Father | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1913 | The Suffragette Minstrels | (unconfirmed) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1913 | I Was Meant for You | Lavina's Father | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1913 | A Gamble with Death | Jim Benton, the Bartender | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1913 | In Diplomatic Circles | The Japanese Ambassador | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1913 | Red Hicks Defies the World | The Referee | Super Hit | Similar → |
Lionel Barrymore - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Lionel Barrymore?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Lionel Barrymore is "Red Hicks Defies the World" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Lionel Barrymore acted in?
Lionel Barrymore has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Lionel Barrymore?
Other notable films include "In Diplomatic Circles", "A Gamble with Death", and "I Was Meant for You".