H.B. Warner
Known For: Acting
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: October 25, 1875
Day of Death: December 21, 1958 (83 years old)
Place of Birth: London, England, UK
Henry Byron Warner 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).
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1938
Actor Mr. Ramsey
You Can't Take It with You
Actor Colonel Nielsen
Arrest Bulldog Drummond
Actor Father Sienna
The Girl of the Golden West
Actor Colonel J. A. Nielsen
Bulldog Drummond in Africa
Actor Chen Tsu
The Adventures of Marco Polo
Actor Victor Brigard
The Toy Wife
Actor Col. Armstrong
Army Girl
Actor Angus Rankeiller
Kidnapped
1937
1936
1935
1934
1933
1932
Actor Priam Andes
The Phantom of Crestwood
Actor Gerald Waring
Cross-Examination
Actor Inspector Tracy
The Menace
Actor Sin Kai
The Son-Daughter
Actor Dr. Daniel Gregory
Unholy Love
Actor Phillip Brandon
The Crusader
Actor Inspector Fife
Charlie Chan's Chance
Actor Dr. Brown
Tom Brown of Culver
Actor Col. Stradimirovitsch
A Woman Commands
1931
1930
1929
Actor Richard Garson
The Doctor's Secret
Actor Dr. Cusick
Tiger Rose
Actor District Attorney Galway
The Trial of Mary Dugan
Actor The Victim - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited)
Show of Shows
Actor Prof. Dangerfield
Stark Mad
Actor Hurley
The Argyle Case
Actor James Darwin
The Gamblers
Actor Lewis Dike
Wedding Rings
