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John Barrymore

Feb 15, 1882 - May 29, 1942 (60 years old) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

John Sidney Blyth Barrymore (February 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III. His success continued with motion pictures in various genres in both the silent and sound eras. Barrymore's personal life has been the subject of much writing before and since his passing in 1942. Today John Barrymore is mostly known for his roles in movies like Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920), Grand Hotel (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), Twentieth Century (1934), and Don Juan (1926), the first ever movie to use a Vitaphone soundtrack.

A member of a multi-generation theatrical dynasty, he was the brother of Lionel Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore, and was the paternal grandfather of Drew Barrymore.

Known For

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The Show of Shows
Richard III in 'Henry VI Part III' (uncredited)
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The Voice That Thrilled the World
Self (segments 'Don Juan' & 'Richard III') (archive footage)
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The Lost Bridegroom
Bertie Joyce
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Romeo and Juliet
Mercutio
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The Horror of It All
Svengali (archive footage)
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Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Self / Various roles (archive footage)
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State's Attorney
Tom Cardigan
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The Mad Genius
Vladimar Ivan Tsarakov
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Tempest
Sergeant Ivan Markov
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The Beloved Rogue
François Villon

Credits

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