H.B. Warner

Acting

Born Oct 25, 1876

From London, England, UK

Died Dec 21, 1958

Henry Byron Warner (often credited as H.B. Warner) 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).

H.B. Warner

Known For

The Ten Commandments

It's a Wonderful Life

Sunset Boulevard

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

You Can't Take It with You

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

The King of Kings

Lost Horizon

Crossroads

Hellfire

Filmography — Acting

The Ten Commandments

It's a Wonderful Life

Sunset Boulevard

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

You Can't Take It with You

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

The King of Kings

Lost Horizon

Crossroads

Hellfire

The Adventures of Marco Polo

The Show of Shows

All That Money Can Buy

The Rains Came

A Tale of Two Cities

Topper Returns

Savage Drums

El Paso

Rose of the Rancho

Viva Villa!

Five Star Final

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

Driftwood

Victoria the Great

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime

The Corsican Brothers

Kidnapped

Supernatural

The Trial of Mary Dugan

Journey Into Light

The Gracie Allen Murder Case

High Wall

The Garden Murder Case

Liliom

Faces in the Fog

Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police

Strange Impersonation

Bulldog Drummond's Bride

Bulldog Drummond in Africa

Here Comes the Groom

Nurse Edith Cavell

New Moon

Sorrell and Son

The Boss of Big Town

The Doctor's Secret

Army Girl

Stark Mad

Action in Arabia

City of Missing Girls

The Judge Steps Out

The Prince of Thieves

The Reckless Hour

The Girl of the Golden West

The First Legion

The Toy Wife

Behold My Wife!

Christopher Bean

Women in Bondage

Expensive Women

The Divine Lady

The Princess and the Plumber

The Furies

Charlie Chan's Chance

Arrest Bulldog Drummond

Whispering Smith

Rogues' Gallery

The Phantom of Crestwood