Movies List
TV Show List
Savage Drums

as Maou

1951
Hellfire

as Brother Joseph

1949
El Paso

as Judge Fletcher

1949
The Prince Of Thieves

as Gilbert Head

1948
High Wall

as Mr. Slocum

1947
Driftwood

as Rev. Hollingsworth

1947
It's a Wonderful Life

as Mr. Gower

1946
Strange Impersonation

as Dr. Mansfield, plastic surgeon

1946
Rogues' Gallery

as Professor Reynolds

1944
Action in Arabia

as Abdul El Rashid

1944
Enemy of Women

as Col. Eberhart Brandt

1944
Hitler's Children

as The Bishop

1943
Women in Bondage

as Pastor Renz

1943
Crossroads

as Prosecuting Attorney

1942
The Boss of Big Town

as Jeffrey Moore

1942
A Yank in Libya

as Herbert Forbes

1942
All That Money Can Buy

as Justice Hawthorne

1941
The Corsican Brothers

as Dr. Enrico Paoli

1941
Topper Returns

as Mr. Carrington

1941
City of Missing Girls

as Capt. McVeigh

1941
New Moon

as Father Michel

1940
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

as Senate Majority Leader

1939
The Gracie Allen Murder Case

as Richard Lawrence

1939
Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police

as Colonel Nielson

1939
Bulldog Drummond's Bride

as Colonel Nielson

1939
Let Freedom Ring

as Rutledge

1939
Nurse Edith Cavell

as Hugh Gibson

1939
You Can't Take It with You

as Mr. Ramsey

1938
Arrest Bulldog Drummond

as Colonel Nielsen

1938
H.B. Warner H.B. Warner

Birthday

1875-10-26

Place of Birth

London, England, UK

Biography

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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