H.B. Warner
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- October 25, 1876
- Died
- December 21, 1958 (aged 82)
- Birthplace
- London, England, UK
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).
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Lux Æterna: The Art of Filmmaking
Movie · as The Son of God
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Ten Commandments
Movie · as Amminadab
The First Legion
Movie · as Father José Sierra
Journey Into Light
Movie · as Wiz, the Wino
Savage Drums
Movie · as Maou
Here Comes the Groom
Movie · as Uncle Elihu
Sunset Boulevard
Movie · as H.B. Warner
El Paso
Movie · as Judge Fletcher
Hellfire
Movie · as Brother Joseph
The Prince of Thieves
Movie · as Gilbert Head
High Wall
Movie · as Mr. Slocum
Driftwood
Movie · as Rev. Hollingsworth
The Judge Steps Out
Movie · as Chief Justice Hayes
It's a Wonderful Life
Movie · as Mr. Gower
Strange Impersonation
Movie · as Dr. Mansfield, plastic surgeon
Prospecting for Petroleum
Movie · as The Voice of History (voice)
Gentleman Joe Palooka
Movie · as Sen. McCarden
Captain Tugboat Annie
Movie · as Judge Abbott
Rogues' Gallery
Movie · as Professor Reynolds
Enemy of Women
Movie · as Col. Eberhart Brandt
Faces in the Fog
Movie · as Defense Attorney Rankins
Action in Arabia
Movie · as Abdul al-Rashid
Hitler's Children
Movie · as The Bishop
Women in Bondage
Movie · as Pastor Renz
Crossroads
Movie · as Prosecuting Attorney
The Boss of Big Town
Movie · as Jeffrey Moore
A Yank in Libya
Movie · as Herbert Forbes
The Corsican Brothers
Movie · as Dr. Enrico Paoli
All That Money Can Buy
Movie · as Justice Hawthorne
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
Movie · as Ray Jardin
City of Missing Girls
Movie · as Capt. McVeigh
Topper Returns
Movie · as Mr. Carrington
South of Tahiti
Movie · as High Chief Kawalima
New Moon
Movie · as Father Michel
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie · as Senate Majority Leader
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Movie · as Richard Lawrence
Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police
Movie · as Colonel Nielson
Bulldog Drummond's Bride
Movie · as Colonel Nielson
Let Freedom Ring
Movie · as Rutledge
Nurse Edith Cavell
Movie · as Hugh Gibson
The Rains Came
Movie · as Maharajah
You Can't Take It with You
Movie · as Ramsey
Arrest Bulldog Drummond
Movie · as Colonel Nielsen
The Girl of the Golden West
Movie · as Father Sienna
Bulldog Drummond in Africa
Movie · as Colonel J. A. Nielsen
The Adventures of Marco Polo
Movie · as Chen Tsu
The Toy Wife
Movie · as Victor Brigard
Army Girl
Movie · as Col. Armstrong
Kidnapped
Movie · as Angus Rankeiller
Lost Horizon
Movie · as Chang
Victoria the Great
Movie · as Lord Melbourne
Our Fighting Navy
Movie · as British Consul Brent
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Movie · as Judge May
The Garden Murder Case
Movie · as Major Fenwicke-Ralston
Along Came Love
Movie · as Dr. Martin
Moonlight Murder
Movie · as Godfrey Chiltern
Rose of the Rancho
Movie · as Don Pasqual Castro
Blackmailer
Movie · as Michael Rankin
A Tale of Two Cities
Movie · as Theophile Gabelle
Born to Gamble
Movie · as Carter Mathews
In Old Santa Fe
Movie · as Charlie Miller
Behold My Wife!
Movie · as Hubert Carter
Night Alarm
Movie · as Henry B. Smith
Grand Canary
Movie · as Dr Ismay
Sorrell and Son
Movie · as Captain Stephen Sorrell
Viva Villa!
Movie · as Man
Supernatural
Movie · as Dr. Carl Houston
Jennie Gerhardt
Movie · as William Gerhardt
Christopher Bean
Movie · as Maxwell Davenport
Justice Takes a Holiday
Movie · as John Logan
The Phantom of Crestwood
Movie · as Priam Andes
Cross-Examination
Movie · as Gerald Waring
The Menace
Movie · as Inspector Tracy
The Son-Daughter
Movie · as Sin Kai
Unholy Love
Movie · as Dr. Daniel Gregory
The Crusader
Movie · as Phillip Brandon
Charlie Chan's Chance
Movie · as Inspector Fife
Tom Brown of Culver
Movie · as Dr. Brown
A Woman Commands
Movie · as Col. Stradimirovitsch
Five Star Final
Movie · as Michael Townsend
Expensive Women
Movie · as Melville Raymond
The Reckless Hour
Movie · as Walter Nichols
A Woman of Experience
Movie · as Hugh Schmidt
The Furies
Movie · as Oliver Bedlow
Liliom
Movie · as Chief Magistrate
The Green Goddess
Movie · as Major Crespin
The Second Floor Mystery
Movie · as Inspector Bray
Wild Company
Movie · as Henry Grayson
On Your Back
Movie · as Raymond Pryor
The Princess and the Plumber
Movie · as Prince Conrad of Daritzia
The Doctor's Secret
Movie · as Richard Garson
Tiger Rose
Movie · as Dr. Cusick
The Trial of Mary Dugan
Movie · as District Attorney Galway
The Show of Shows
Movie · as The Victim - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited)
Stark Mad
Movie · as Prof. Dangerfield
The Argyle Case
Movie · as Hurley
The Gamblers
Movie · as James Darwin
Wedding Rings
Movie · as Lewis Dike
Romance of a Rogue
Movie · as Bruce Lowry
The Divine Lady
Movie · as Sir William Hamilton
Conquest
Movie · as James Farnham
Man-Made Women
Movie · as Jules Moret
The Naughty Duchess
Movie
French Dressing
Movie · as Phillip Grey
The King of Kings
Movie · as Jesus, The Christ
Sorrell and Son
Movie · as Stephen Sorrell
Whispering Smith
Movie · as 'Whispering Smith'
Silence
Movie · as Jim Warren
Is Love Everything?
Movie · as Jordan Southwick
The Man from Broadway
Movie · as James Sanford Richardson
Zaza
Movie · as Bernard Dufresne
When We Were Twenty-One
Movie · as Richard Carewe
One Hour Before Dawn
Movie · as George Clayton
Felix O'Day
Movie · as Felix O'Day
Dice of Destiny
Movie · as Jimmy Doyle
The Pagan God
Movie · as Bruce Winthrop
The Gray Wolf's Ghost
Movie · as Doctor West / Harry West
For a Woman's Honor
Movie · as Captain Clyde Mannering
A Fugitive from Matrimony
Movie · as Stephen Van Courtlandt
The Man Who Turned White
Movie · as Captain Rand / Ali Zaman
Haunting Shadows
Movie · as John Glenarm
Danger Trail
Movie · as John Howland
The Seventh Sin
Movie · as Feodor
Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath
Movie · as Feodor
God's Man
Movie · as Arnold L'Hommedieu
Shell 43
Movie · as William Berner
The Beggar of Cawnpore
Movie · as Dr. Robert Lowndes
The Vagabond Prince
Movie · as Prince Tonio
The Raiders
Movie · as Scott Wells
The Market of Vain Desire
Movie · as John Armstrong
The Lost Paradise
Movie · as Reuben Warren
The Ghost Breaker
Movie · as Warren Jarvis
English Nell
Movie · as Duke of Monmouth