The legendary Lionel Barrymore, one of the great cinema character actors, was the oldest of the three Barrymore siblings. Along with Ethel Barrymore and John Barrymore, he shares a prominent place in American acting in the first half of the 20th Century.
He was born Lionel Herbert Blythe on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, the son of actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew Barrymore. ("Barrymore" was a stage name). Though raised a Catholic, he attended Philadelphia's Episcopal Academy. He joined the family business and in the mid-1890s, acting.
Lionel never developed a reputation as a stage actor as did his siblings John (who still reigns as the definitive American Hamlet) and sister Ethel. As a screen actor, he was ranked among the best.
In the 1930s, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt was asked if he thought Lionel Barrymore was the greatest actor in America, FDR replied, "I am the greatest actor in America." Both were masters of the radio waves, FDR with his fireside chats, Lionel with his annual broadcast of "A Christmas Carol" in which he played Scrooge.
He died on November 15, 1954 at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack.
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Lionel is 26 degrees from Zendaya Coleman, 20 degrees from Sting Sumner, 19 degrees from Josh Brolin, 22 degrees from Timothée Chalamet, 19 degrees from José Ferrer, 19 degrees from Frank Herbert, 15 degrees from Richard Jordan, 23 degrees from David Lynch, 18 degrees from Virginia Madsen, 22 degrees from Charlotte Rampling, 25 degrees from Patrick Stewart and 20 degrees from Denis Villeneuve on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
B > Blythe | B > Barrymore > Lionel Herbert (Blythe) Barrymore
Categories: Famous Actors of the 20th Century | Composers | Academy Award Winners of the 20th Century | Hollywood Walk of Fame | American Theater Hall of Fame | This Day In History April 28 | This Day In History November 15 | Featured Connections Archive 2022 | United States of America, Notables | Notables