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H.B. Warner‌

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1875-10-25

Popularity

star1.8

H.B. Warner

London, England, UK

H.B. Warner

London, England, UK

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1875-10-25

Popularity

star1.8

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).

Movie Credits

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard‌
star8.3
calendar 1950

It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life‌
star8.3
calendar 1946

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington‌
star7.9
calendar 1939

Lost Horizon

Lost Horizon‌
star7.0
calendar 1937

One Hour Before Dawn

One Hour Before Dawn‌
star0.0
calendar 1920

Lux Æterna: The Art of Filmmaking

Lux Æterna: The Art of Filmmaking‌
star7.5
calendar 2019

Strange Impersonation

Strange Impersonation‌
star6.0
calendar 1946

Prospecting for Petroleum

Prospecting for Petroleum‌
star0.0
calendar 1946

Rogues' Gallery

Rogues' Gallery‌
star4.9
calendar 1944

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town‌
star7.5
calendar 1936

The Phantom of Crestwood

The Phantom of Crestwood‌
star6.0
calendar 1932

You Can't Take It with You

You Can't Take It with You‌
star7.5
calendar 1938

Romance of a Rogue

Romance of a Rogue‌
star0.0
calendar 1928

High Wall

High Wall‌
star6.1
calendar 1947

The Doctor's Secret

The Doctor's Secret‌
star0.0
calendar 1929

A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities‌
star6.7
calendar 1935

All That Money Can Buy

All That Money Can Buy‌
star7.1
calendar 1941

Danger Trail

Danger Trail‌
star0.0
calendar 1917

Five Star Final

Five Star Final‌
star6.5
calendar 1931

Crossroads

Crossroads‌
star5.9
calendar 1942

Arrest Bulldog Drummond

Arrest Bulldog Drummond‌
star6.7
calendar 1938

New Moon

New Moon‌
star6.8
calendar 1940

The Girl of the Golden West

The Girl of the Golden West‌
star4.6
calendar 1938

French Dressing

French Dressing‌
star1.0
calendar 1927

Tiger Rose

Tiger Rose‌
star0.0
calendar 1929

The Boss of Big Town

The Boss of Big Town‌
star5.0
calendar 1942

The King of Kings

The King of Kings‌
star6.4
calendar 1927

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime‌
star5.8
calendar 1941

The Gracie Allen Murder Case

The Gracie Allen Murder Case‌
star5.5
calendar 1939

Expensive Women

Expensive Women‌
star4.8
calendar 1931

Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police

Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police‌
star6.1
calendar 1939

Is Love Everything?

Is Love Everything?‌
star0.0
calendar 1924

Whispering Smith

Whispering Smith‌
star0.0
calendar 1926

Felix O'Day

Felix O'Day‌
star0.0
calendar 1920

The Furies

The Furies‌
star0.0
calendar 1930

The Divine Lady

The Divine Lady‌
star5.2
calendar 1928

Driftwood

Driftwood‌
star6.1
calendar 1947

Bulldog Drummond's Bride

Bulldog Drummond's Bride‌
star6.3
calendar 1939

Supernatural

Supernatural‌
star6.0
calendar 1933

The Trial of Mary Dugan

The Trial of Mary Dugan‌
star6.0
calendar 1929

Bulldog Drummond in Africa

Bulldog Drummond in Africa‌
star5.5
calendar 1938

The Garden Murder Case

The Garden Murder Case‌
star5.5
calendar 1936

Liliom

Liliom‌
star6.6
calendar 1930

The Green Goddess

The Green Goddess‌
star4.5
calendar 1930

Cross-Examination

Cross-Examination‌
star5.1
calendar 1932

The Adventures of Marco Polo

The Adventures of Marco Polo‌
star5.9
calendar 1938

Enemy of Women

Enemy of Women‌
star5.5
calendar 1944

The Reckless Hour

The Reckless Hour‌
star7.0
calendar 1931

In Old Santa Fe

In Old Santa Fe‌
star5.0
calendar 1934

Behold My Wife!

Behold My Wife!‌
star7.0
calendar 1934

The Toy Wife

The Toy Wife‌
star4.8
calendar 1938

Zaza

Zaza‌
star6.1
calendar 1923

Sorrell and Son

Sorrell and Son‌
star5.0
calendar 1927

The Second Floor Mystery

The Second Floor Mystery‌
star0.0
calendar 1930

Born to Gamble

Born to Gamble‌
star4.8
calendar 1935

The Seventh Sin

The Seventh Sin‌
star0.0
calendar 1917

Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath

Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath‌
star0.0
calendar 1917

Along Came Love

Along Came Love‌
star0.0
calendar 1936

Jennie Gerhardt

Jennie Gerhardt‌
star4.0
calendar 1933

Army Girl

Army Girl‌
star6.0
calendar 1938

Let Freedom Ring

Let Freedom Ring‌
star6.0
calendar 1939

Moonlight Murder

Moonlight Murder‌
star5.0
calendar 1936

The Menace

The Menace‌
star4.5
calendar 1932

El Paso

El Paso‌
star5.6
calendar 1949

The Son-Daughter

The Son-Daughter‌
star7.0
calendar 1932

Unholy Love

Unholy Love‌
star3.0
calendar 1932

The Crusader

The Crusader‌
star5.0
calendar 1932

The Pagan God

The Pagan God‌
star0.0
calendar 1919

City of Missing Girls

City of Missing Girls‌
star4.1
calendar 1941

Nurse Edith Cavell

Nurse Edith Cavell‌
star6.4
calendar 1939

Topper Returns

Topper Returns‌
star6.4
calendar 1941

Show of Shows

Show of Shows‌
star5.5
calendar 1929

Charlie Chan's Chance

Charlie Chan's Chance‌
star6.5
calendar 1932

The First Legion

The First Legion‌
star6.7
calendar 1951

Hitler's Children

Hitler's Children‌
star5.8
calendar 1943

A Yank in Libya

A Yank in Libya‌
star4.3
calendar 1942

God's Man

God's Man‌
star0.0
calendar 1917

Shell 43

Shell 43‌
star0.0
calendar 1916

Captain Tugboat Annie

Captain Tugboat Annie‌
star0.0
calendar 1945

A Woman of Experience

A Woman of Experience‌
star5.2
calendar 1931

The Rains Came

The Rains Came‌
star5.9
calendar 1939

Night Alarm

Night Alarm‌
star3.7
calendar 1934

Wild Company

Wild Company‌
star5.0
calendar 1930

The Corsican Brothers

The Corsican Brothers‌
star6.8
calendar 1941

Journey Into Light

Journey Into Light‌
star6.0
calendar 1951

Stark Mad

Stark Mad‌
star3.0
calendar 1929

The Judge Steps Out

The Judge Steps Out‌
star7.0
calendar 1947

Kidnapped

Kidnapped‌
star6.0
calendar 1938

Faces in the Fog

Faces in the Fog‌
star3.0
calendar 1944

Rose of the Rancho

Rose of the Rancho‌
star0.0
calendar 1936

The Argyle Case

The Argyle Case‌
star0.0
calendar 1929

Victoria the Great

Victoria the Great‌
star5.3
calendar 1937

The Beggar of Cawnpore

The Beggar of Cawnpore‌
star0.0
calendar 1916

The Vagabond Prince

The Vagabond Prince‌
star0.0
calendar 1916

The Raiders

The Raiders‌
star0.0
calendar 1916

Women in Bondage

Women in Bondage‌
star5.7
calendar 1943

Savage Drums

Savage Drums‌
star6.0
calendar 1951

Tom Brown of Culver

Tom Brown of Culver‌
star5.2
calendar 1932

A Woman Commands

A Woman Commands‌
star8.0
calendar 1932

Hellfire

Hellfire‌
star5.8
calendar 1949

The Lost Paradise

The Lost Paradise‌
star0.0
calendar 1914

Here Comes the Groom

Here Comes the Groom‌
star5.1
calendar 1951

On Your Back

On Your Back‌
star0.0
calendar 1930

South of Tahiti

South of Tahiti‌
star6.0
calendar 1941

Our Fighting Navy

Our Fighting Navy‌
star3.0
calendar 1937

Silence

Silence‌
star7.0
calendar 1926

Grand Canary

Grand Canary‌
star4.1
calendar 1934

The Gamblers

The Gamblers‌
star0.0
calendar 1929

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments‌
star7.8
calendar 1956

Sorrell and Son

Sorrell and Son‌
star5.0
calendar 1934

The Prince Of Thieves

The Prince Of Thieves‌
star5.7
calendar 1948

Conquest

Conquest‌
star0.0
calendar 1928

Action in Arabia

Action in Arabia‌
star5.9
calendar 1944

Viva Villa!

Viva Villa!‌
star6.2
calendar 1934

The Princess and the Plumber

The Princess and the Plumber‌
star0.0
calendar 1930

The Man from Broadway

The Man from Broadway‌
star0.0
calendar 1924

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life‌
star6.0
calendar 1988

Blackmailer

Blackmailer‌
star5.0
calendar 1936

Gentleman Joe Palooka

Gentleman Joe Palooka‌
star0.0
calendar 1946

The Market of Vain Desire

The Market of Vain Desire‌
star0.0
calendar 1916

When We Were Twenty-One

When We Were Twenty-One‌
star0.0
calendar 1921

Christopher Bean

Christopher Bean‌
star0.0
calendar 1933

Man-Made Women

Man-Made Women‌
star0.0
calendar 1928

Wedding Rings

Wedding Rings‌
star0.0
calendar 1929

The Ghost Breaker

The Ghost Breaker‌
star0.0
calendar 1914

Tv Credits