Born: October 26, 1876 – Died: December 21, 1958
H.B. Warner, known for his iconic portrayal of Jesus Christ in Cecil B. DeMille's "The King of Kings" (1927), was born on October 26, 1875, in London. He hailed from a distinguished theatrical lineage, with his father, Charles Warner, and grandfather, James Warner, both renowned English actors. Interestingly, he took on the role of Jesus in "The King of Kings" after J.B. Warner's untimely demise, although they were not brothers; J.B. had adopted the Warner surname after being raised by Henry's grandparents. Despite initially pursuing a medical career, H.B. Warner's passion for acting led him to the theater, and he eventually made his mark in both silient and talkie films. He is also remembered for his role as Mr. Gower in "It's a Wonderful Life." Henry Byron Warner passed away on December 21, 1958, in Woodland Hills, California, at the age of 82.
Early Life and Career
H.B. Warner's early life and upbringing were influenced by his family's theatrical background. He initially pursued a medical education, graduating from London University. However, his true calling was in the world of acting, which he discovered during his studies in Paris and Italy. He eventually joined his father's stock company and made his debut in the English production of "Drink."
Warner's journey to the United States in the early 1900s marked the beginning of his American acting career. Initially billed as Harry Warner, he made his Broadway debut in "Audrey" at Hoyt's Theatre in 1902. Over the years, he appeared in numerous Broadway productions, refining his acting skills.
While Warner had notable successes on the stage, it was in the world of silent and talkie films that he left an enduring mark. His portrayal of Jesus in Cecil B. DeMille's "The King of Kings" (1927) earned him recognition and acclaim. The silent screen allowed him to convey the character's depth and emotion without words, and his performance resonated with audiences.
Throughout his career, H.B. Warner transitioned from leading man roles in silent pictures to supporting roles in talkies. He continued to work with esteemed directors like Frank Capra and appeared in notable films such as "It's a Wonderful Life."
As for his personal life, Warner was married to Rita Stanwood from 1915 to 1934, and they had three children together.
H.B. Warner's impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry lies in his versatility as an actor and his ability to transition seamlessly from silent films to talkies. His portrayal of Jesus Christ remains one of his most iconic roles, and he is regarded as a respected figure in the history of cinema. While he may not be as widely recognized today as some other Hollywood legends, his work continues to be appreciated by cinephiles and film historians alike.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Darby's Rangers | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| 1956 | The Ten Commandments | Amminadab |
| 1951 | Journey Into Light | Wiz - the Wino |
| 1951 | Here Comes the Groom | Uncle Elihu |
| 1951 | Savage Drums | Maou |
| 1951 | The First Legion | Fr. Jose Sierra |
| 1950 | Sunset Blvd. | H. B. Warner |
| 1949 | Hellfire | Brother Joseph |
| 1949 | El Paso | Judge Fletcher |
| 1948 | The Judge Steps Out | Chief Justice Hayes |
| 1948 | The Prince of Thieves | Gilbert Head |
| 1947 | High Wall | Mr. Slocum |
| 1947 | Driftwood | Rev. J. 'Grandpappy' Hollingsworth |
| 1946 | Prospecting for Petroleum (Short) | The Voice of History (voice) |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Mr. Gower |
| 1946 | Gentleman Joe Palooka | Sen. McCarden |
| 1946 | Strange Impersonation | Dr. Mansfield |
| 1945 | Captain Tugboat Annie | Judge Abbott |
| 1944 | Rogues Gallery | Prof. Reynolds |
| 1944 | Faces in the Fog | Defense Attorney Rankins |
| 1944 | Enemy of Women | Col. Eberhart Brandt |
| 1944 | Prices Unlimited (Short) | Uncle Sam (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Action in Arabia | Abdul El Rashid |
| 1943 | Women in Bondage | Pastor Renz |
| 1943 | Hitler's Children | The Bishop |
| 1942 | The Boss of Big Town | Jeffrey Moore |
| 1942 | A Yank in Libya | Herbert Forbes |
| 1942 | Crossroads | Prosecuting Attorney |
| 1941 | The Corsican Brothers | Dr. Enrico Paoli |
| 1941 | South of Tahiti | High Chief Kawalima |
| 1941 | All That Money Can Buy | Justice Hawthorne |
| 1941 | Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime | Ray Jardin |
| 1941 | City of Missing Girls | Captain McVeigh |
| 1941 | Topper Returns | Mr. Carrington |
| 1940 | New Moon | Father Michel |
| 1939 | Mr. Smith Goes to Washington | Senate Majority Leader |
| 1939 | Nurse Edith Cavell | Mr. Hugh Gibson |
| 1939 | The Rains Came | Maharajah |
| 1939 | Bulldog Drummond's Bride | Colonel Nielson |
| 1939 | The Gracie Allen Murder Case | Richard Lawrence |
| 1939 | Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police | Colonel Nielson |
| 1939 | Let Freedom Ring | Rutledge |
| 1938 | Arrest Bulldog Drummond | Colonel Nielsen |
| 1938 | You Can't Take It with You | Ramsey |
| 1938 | Army Girl | Col. Armstrong |
| 1938 | Bulldog Drummond in Africa | Colonel J.A. Nielson |
| 1938 | The Toy Wife | Victor Brigard |
| 1938 | Kidnapped | Angus Rankeillor |
| 1938 | The Adventures of Marco Polo | Chen Tsu |
| 1938 | The Girl of the Golden West | Father Sienna |
| 1937 | Victoria the Great | Lord Melbourne |
| 1937 | Torpedoed | British Consul Brent |
| 1937 | Lost Horizon | Chang |
| 1936 | Along Came Love | Dr. Martin |
| 1936 | Blackmailer | Michael Rankin |
| 1936 | Mr. Deeds Goes to Town | Judge May |
| 1936 | Moonlight Murder | Godfrey Chiltern |
| 1936 | Rose of the Rancho | Don Pasqual Castro |
| 1936 | The Garden Murder Case | Major Fenwicke-Ralston |
| 1935 | A Tale of Two Cities | Gabelle |
| 1935 | Born to Gamble | Carter Mathews |
| 1934 | Night Alarm | Henry B. Smith |
| 1934 | Behold My Wife! | Hubert Carter |
| 1934 | In Old Santa Fe | Charlie Miller |
| 1934 | Grand Canary | Dr. Ismay |
| 1934 | Viva Villa! | Man (scenes deleted) |
| 1933 | Sorrell and Son | Captain Stephen Sorrell |
| 1933 | Christopher Bean | Maxwell Davenport |
| 1933 | Jennie Gerhardt | William Gerhardt |
| 1933 | Supernatural | Dr. Carl Houston |
| 1933 | Justice Takes a Holiday | John Logan |
| 1932 | The Son-Daughter | Sin Kai |
| 1932 | The Phantom of Crestwood | Priam Andes |
| 1932 | The Crusader | Phillip Brandon |
| 1932 | Tom Brown of Culver | Dr. Brown |
| 1932 | Unholy Love | Dr. Daniel Gregory |
| 1932 | Cross-Examination | Gerald Waring - Defense Attorney |
| 1932 | A Woman Commands | Col. Stradimirovitsch |
| 1932 | The Menace | Inspector Tracy |
| 1932 | Charlie Chan's Chance | Inspector Fife |
| 1931 | Expensive Women | Melville Raymond |
| 1931 | Five Star Final | Michael Townsend |
| 1931 | The Reckless Hour | Walter Nichols |
| 1931 | A Woman of Experience | Major Hugh Schmidt |
| 1930 | The Princess and the Plumber | Prince Conrad of Daritzia |
| 1930 | Liliom | Chief Magistrate |
| 1930 | On Your Back | Raymond Pryor |
| 1930 | Wild Company | Henry Grayson |
| 1930 | The Second Floor Mystery | Inspector Bray |
| 1930 | The Furies | Oliver Bedlow |
| 1930 | The Green Goddess | Major Crespin |
| 1929 | Wedding Rings | Lewis Dike |
| 1929 | Tiger Rose | Dr. Cusick |
| 1929 | Show of Shows | The Victim - Guillotine Sequence |
| 1929 | The Argyle Case | Hurley |
| 1929 | The Gamblers | James Darwin |
| 1929 | The Trial of Mary Dugan | District Attorney Galway |
| 1929 | Stark Mad | Prof. Dangerfield |
| 1929 | The Doctor's Secret | Richard Garson |
| 1928 | The Divine Lady | Sir William Hamilton |
| 1928 | Conquest | James Farnham |
| 1928 | The Naughty Duchess | Duke de St. Maclou |
| 1928 | Romance of a Rogue | Bruce Lowry |
| 1928 | Man-Made Women | Jules Moret |
| 1927 | French Dressing | Phillip Grey |
| 1927 | Sorrell and Son | Stephen Sorrell |
| 1927 | The King of Kings | Jesus - The Christ |
| 1926 | Silence | Jim Warren |
| 1926 | Whispering Smith | 'Whispering Smith' |
| 1924 | Is Love Everything? | Jordan Southwick |
| 1924 | The Man from Broadway | James Sanford Richardson |
| 1923 | Zaza | Bernard Dufresne |
| 1921 | When We Were 21 | Richard Carewe |
| 1920 | Dice of Destiny | Jimmy Doyle |
| 1920 | Felix O'Day | Felix O'Day |
| 1920 | One Hour Before Dawn | George Clayton |
| 1920 | Uncharted Channels | Timothy Webb Jr |
| 1920 | The White Dove | Sylvester Lanyon |
| 1919 | Haunting Shadows | John Glenarm |
| 1919 | A Fugitive from Matrimony | Stephen Van Courtlandt |
| 1919 | The Gray Wolf's Ghost | Doctor West | Harry West |
| 1919 | For a Woman's Honor | Captain Clyde Mannering |
| 1919 | The Pagan God | Bruce Winthrop |
| 1919 | The Man Who Turned White | Captain Rand | aka Ali Zaman |
| 1917 | Seven Deadly Sins | Feodor | The Grand Duke - Wrath & Seventh Sin |
| 1917 | God's Man | Arnold L'Hommedieu |
| 1917 | Danger Trail | John Howland |
| 1917 | The Seventh Sin | Feodor | The Grand Duke |
| 1917 | Wrath | Feodor | The Grand Duke |
| 1916 | The Vagabond Prince | Prince Tonio |
| 1916 | Shell 43 | William Berner |
| 1916 | The Market of Vain Desire | John Armstrong (as Henry B. Warner) |
| 1916 | The Beggar of Cawnpore | Dr. Robert Lowndes |
| 1916 | The Raiders | Scott Wells (as Henry B. Warner) |
| 1914 | The Ghost Breaker | Warren Jarvis |
| 1914 | The Lost Paradise | Reuben Warren |
| 1914 | Harp of Tara (Short) | Father Daly |
| 1900 | English Nell (Short) | Duke of Monmouth |
General:
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
