H.B. Warner

H.B. Warner

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).

Acting

1987

1951

1951

The First Legion
Movie

Father José Sierra

1950

1949

Hellfire
Movie

Brother Joseph

1949

El Paso
Movie

Judge Fletcher

1947

High Wall
Movie

Mr. Slocum

1947

Driftwood
Movie

Rev. Hollingsworth

1944

Rogues' Gallery
Movie

Professor Reynolds

1944

Action in Arabia
Movie

Abdul al-Rashid

1942

1941

1941

1941

Topper Returns
Movie

Mr. Carrington

1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie

Senate Majority Leader

1939

1938

Army Girl
Movie

Col. Armstrong

1938

The Toy Wife
Movie

Victor Brigard

1938

Kidnapped
Movie

Angus Rankeiller

1937

1936

The Garden Murder Case
Movie

Major Fenwicke-Ralston

1935

A Tale of Two Cities
Movie

Theophile Gabelle

1934

1934

In Old Santa Fe
Movie

Charlie Miller

1933

Christopher Bean
Movie

Maxwell Davenport

1933

Christopher Bean
Movie

Maxwell Davenport

1933

Christopher Bean
Movie

Maxwell Davenport

1933

Supernatural
Movie

Dr. Carl Houston

1932

The Crusader
Movie

Phillip Brandon

1932

A Woman Commands
Movie

Col. Stradimirovitsch

1932

The Menace
Movie

Inspector Tracy

1932

1931

Expensive Women
Movie

Melville Raymond

1931

Five Star Final
Movie

Michael Townsend

1930

Wild Company
Movie

Henry Grayson

1930

1929

Tiger Rose
Movie

Dr. Cusick

1929

The Show of Shows
Movie

The Victim - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited)

1929

The Gamblers
Movie

James Darwin

1929

The Gamblers
Movie

James Darwin

1929

The Gamblers
Movie

James Darwin

1929

Stark Mad
Movie

Prof. Dangerfield

1928

The Divine Lady
Movie

Sir William Hamilton

1928

Conquest
Movie

James Farnham

1927

The King of Kings
Movie

Jesus, The Christ

1926

Silence
Movie

Jim Warren

1923

Zaza
Movie

Bernard Dufresne

1920

1919

A Fugitive from Matrimony
Movie

Stephen Van Courtlandt

1919

The Gray Wolf's Ghost
Movie

Doctor West / Harry West

1919

For a Woman's Honor
Movie

Captain Clyde Mannering

1919

For a Woman's Honor
Movie

Captain Clyde Mannering

1919

For a Woman's Honor
Movie

Captain Clyde Mannering

1916

The Beggar of Cawnpore
Movie

Dr. Robert Lowndes

Infos

Full Name
H.B. Warner
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
10/25/1875
Date of Death
12/21/1958
Also Known As

Harry Byron Lickfold

Henry B. Warner

H. B. Warner

Henry Byron Warner