HW
H.B. Warner
Actor
Born October 25, 1875Died December 21, 1958 (83 years)
Henry Byron Warner (often credited as H.B. Warner; 25 October 1875 – 21 December 1958) was an English actor. He 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).
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).
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 1987 | James Stewart: A Wonderful Life - Hosted by Johnny Carson · as Mr. Gower (clip From It's A Wonderful Life (1946)) |
| 1961 | Hollywood: The Golden Years · as Actor 'king Of Kings' |
| 1958 | Darby's Rangers · as Bit Part |
| 1956 | The Ten Commandments · as Amminadab |
| 1951 | Journey Into Light · as Wiz, The Wino |
| 1951 | Here Comes the Groom · as Uncle Elihu |
| 1951 | Savage Drums · as Maou |
| 1951 | The First Legion · as Father José Sierra |
| 1949 | El Paso · as Judge Fletcher |
| 1949 | Hellfire · as Brother Joseph |
| 1948 | The Judge Steps Out · as Chief Justice Hayes |
| 1948 | The Prince of Thieves · as Gilbert Head |
| 1947 | High Wall · as Mr. Slocum |
| 1947 | Driftwood · as Rev. Hollingsworth |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life · as Mr. Gower |
| 1946 | Strange Impersonation · as Dr. Mansfield, Plastic Surgeon |
| 1944 | Rogues Gallery · as Professor Reynolds |
| 1944 | Enemy of Women · as Col. Eberhart Brandt |
| 1944 | Action in Arabia · as Abdul Al-Rashid |
| 1943 | Women in Bondage · as Pastor Renz |
| 1943 | Hitler's Children · as The Bishop |
| 1942 | The Boss of Big Town · as Jeffrey Moore |
| 1942 | Crossroads · as Prosecuting Attorney |
| 1942 | A Yank in Libya · as Herbert Forbes |
| 1941 | The Corsican Brothers · as Dr. Enrico Paoli |
| 1941 | The Devil and Daniel Webster · as Justice Hawthorne |
| 1941 | South of Tahiti · as High Chief Kawalima |
| 1941 | Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime · as Ray Jardin |
| 1941 | City of Missing Girls · as Capt. Mcveigh |
| 1941 | Topper Returns · as Mr. Carrington |
| 1940 | New Moon · as Father Michel |
| 1939 | Mr. Smith Goes to Washington · as Senate Majority Leader |
| 1939 | Bulldog Drummond's Bride · as Colonel Nielson |
| 1939 | The Rains Came · as Maharajah |
| 1939 | Nurse Edith Cavell · as Hugh Gibson |
| 1939 | The Gracie Allen Murder Case · as Richard Lawrence |
| 1939 | Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police · as Colonel Nielson |
| 1939 | Let Freedom Ring · as Rutledge |
| 1938 | Arrest Bulldog Drummond · as Colonel Nielsen |
| 1938 | You Can't Take It with You · as Mr. Ramsey |
| 1938 | Army Girl · as Col. Armstrong |
| 1938 | Bulldog Drummond in Africa · as Colonel J. A. Nielsen |
| 1938 | The Toy Wife · as Victor Brigard |
| 1938 | Kidnapped · as Angus Rankeiller |
| 1938 | The Adventures of Marco Polo · as Chen Tsu |
| 1938 | The Girl of the Golden West · as Father Sienna |
| 1937 | Victoria the Great · as Lord Melbourne |
| 1937 | Torpedoed · as British Consul Brent |
| 1937 | Lost Horizon · as Chang |
| 1936 | Along Came Love · as Dr. Martin |
| 1936 | Mr. Deeds Goes to Town · as Judge May |
| 1936 | Moonlight Murder · as Godfrey Chiltern |
| 1936 | The Garden Murder Case · as Major Fenwicke-Ralston |
| 1935 | A Tale of Two Cities · as Theophile Gabelle |
| 1935 | Born to Gamble · as Carter Mathews |
| 1934 | Night Alarm · as Henry B. Smith |
| 1934 | Behold My Wife! · as Hubert Carter |
| 1934 | In Old Santa Fe · as Charlie Miller |
| 1934 | Grand Canary · as Dr Ismay |
| 1934 | Viva Villa! · as Man |
| 1933 | Christopher Bean · as Maxwell Davenport |
| 1933 | Jennie Gerhardt · as William Gerhardt |
| 1933 | Supernatural · as Dr. Carl Houston |
| 1932 | The Son-Daughter · as Sin Kai |
| 1932 | The Phantom of Crestwood · as Priam Andes |
| 1932 | The Crusader · as Phillip Brandon |
| 1932 | Tom Brown of Culver · as Dr. Brown |
| 1932 | Unholy Love · as Dr. Daniel Gregory |
| 1932 | Cross-Examination · as Gerald Waring |
| 1932 | A Woman Commands · as Col. Stradimirovitsch |
| 1932 | The Menace · as Inspector Tracy |
| 1932 | Charlie Chan's Chance · as Inspector Fife |
| 1931 | Expensive Women · as Melville Raymond |
| 1931 | Five Star Final · as Michael Townsend |
| 1931 | The Reckless Hour · as Walter Nichols |
| 1931 | A Woman of Experience · as Hugh Schmidt |
| 1930 | Liliom · as Chief Magistrate |
| 1930 | Wild Company · as Henry Grayson |
| 1930 | The Second Floor Mystery · as Inspector Bray |
| 1930 | The Green Goddess · as Major Crespin |
| 1929 | Show of Shows · as The Victim - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited) |
| 1929 | The Gamblers · as James Darwin |
| 1929 | The Trial of Mary Dugan · as District Attorney Galway |
| 1928 | The Divine Lady · as Sir William Hamilton |
| 1927 | Sorrell and Son · as Stephen Sorrell |
| 1927 | The King of Kings · as Jesus, The Christ |
| 1923 | Zaza · as Bernard Dufresne |
| 1919 | Haunting Shadows · as John Glenarm |
| 1919 | A Fugitive from Matrimony · as Stephen Van Courtlandt |
| 1919 | The Man Who Turned White · as Captain Rand |
| 1914 | The Ghost Breaker · as Warren Jarvis |
| 1914 | Harp of Tara · as Father Daly |