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 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).
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0912478
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1562547
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Filmography (Movies)
Lux Æterna: The Art of Filmmaking
Character:The Son of God
Release Date:18/05/2019
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:13/03/1987
The Ten Commandments
Character:Amminadab
Release Date:05/10/1956
Journey Into Light
Character:Wiz, the Wino
Release Date:28/09/1951
Here Comes the Groom
Character:Uncle Elihu
Release Date:20/09/1951
Savage Drums
Character:Maou
Release Date:22/06/1951
The First Legion
Character:Father José Sierra
Release Date:04/05/1951
Sunset Boulevard
Character:H.B. Warner
Release Date:10/08/1950
Hellfire
Character:Brother Joseph
Release Date:29/05/1949
El Paso
Character:Judge Fletcher
Release Date:22/03/1949
The Prince of Thieves
Character:Gilbert Head
Release Date:16/01/1948
High Wall
Character:Mr. Slocum
Release Date:17/12/1947
The Judge Steps Out
Character:Chief Justice Hayes
Release Date:15/12/1947
Driftwood
Character:Rev. Hollingsworth
Release Date:15/09/1947
It's a Wonderful Life
Character:Mr. Gower
Release Date:20/12/1946
Gentleman Joe Palooka
Character:Sen. McCarden
Release Date:05/10/1946
Strange Impersonation
Character:Dr. Mansfield, plastic surgeon
Release Date:16/03/1946
Prospecting for Petroleum
Character:The Voice of History (voice)
Release Date:01/01/1946
Captain Tugboat Annie
Character:Judge Abbott
Release Date:17/11/1945
Rogues' Gallery
Character:Professor Reynolds
Release Date:06/12/1944
Faces in the Fog
Character:Defense Attorney Rankins
Release Date:30/11/1944
Enemy of Women
Character:Col. Eberhart Brandt
Release Date:10/11/1944
Action in Arabia
Character:Abdul al-Rashid
Release Date:18/02/1944
Women in Bondage
Character:Pastor Renz
Release Date:16/12/1943
Hitler's Children
Character:The Bishop
Release Date:06/01/1943
The Boss of Big Town
Character:Jeffrey Moore
Release Date:07/12/1942
A Yank in Libya
Character:Herbert Forbes
Release Date:24/07/1942
Crossroads
Character:Prosecuting Attorney
Release Date:23/07/1942
The Corsican Brothers
Character:Dr. Enrico Paoli
Release Date:28/11/1941
All That Money Can Buy
Character:Justice Hawthorne
Release Date:17/10/1941
South of Tahiti
Character:High Chief Kawalima
Release Date:17/10/1941
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
Character:Ray Jardin
Release Date:14/08/1941
City of Missing Girls
Character:Capt. McVeigh
Release Date:27/03/1941
Topper Returns
Character:Mr. Carrington
Release Date:21/03/1941
New Moon
Character:Father Michel
Release Date:28/06/1940
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Character:Senate Majority Leader
Release Date:19/10/1939
The Rains Came
Character:Maharajah
Release Date:15/09/1939
Nurse Edith Cavell
Character:Hugh Gibson
Release Date:31/08/1939
Bulldog Drummond's Bride
Character:Colonel Nielson
Release Date:12/07/1939
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Character:Richard Lawrence
Release Date:02/06/1939
Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police
Character:Colonel Nielson
Release Date:29/03/1939
Let Freedom Ring
Character:Rutledge
Release Date:24/02/1939
Arrest Bulldog Drummond
Character:Colonel Nielsen
Release Date:25/11/1938
You Can't Take It with You
Character:Mr. Ramsey
Release Date:01/09/1938
Army Girl
Character:Col. Armstrong
Release Date:11/08/1938
Bulldog Drummond in Africa
Character:Colonel J. A. Nielsen
Release Date:05/08/1938
The Toy Wife
Character:Victor Brigard
Release Date:10/06/1938
Kidnapped
Character:Angus Rankeiller
Release Date:27/05/1938
The Adventures of Marco Polo
Character:Chen Tsu
Release Date:07/04/1938
The Girl of the Golden West
Character:Father Sienna
Release Date:18/03/1938
Our Fighting Navy
Character:British Consul Brent
Release Date:25/09/1937
Victoria the Great
Character:Lord Melbourne
Release Date:01/09/1937
Lost Horizon
Character:Chang
Release Date:03/03/1937
Along Came Love
Character:Dr. Martin
Release Date:05/11/1936
Blackmailer
Character:Michael Rankin
Release Date:23/07/1936
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Character:Judge May
Release Date:09/04/1936
Moonlight Murder
Character:Godfrey Chiltern
Release Date:27/03/1936
The Garden Murder Case
Character:Major Fenwicke-Ralston
Release Date:21/02/1936
Rose of the Rancho
Character:Don Pasqual Castro
Release Date:09/01/1936
A Tale of Two Cities
Character:Theophile Gabelle
Release Date:25/12/1935
Born to Gamble
Character:Carter Mathews
Release Date:09/07/1935
Night Alarm
Character:Henry B. Smith
Release Date:10/12/1934
Behold My Wife!
Character:Hubert Carter
Release Date:06/12/1934
In Old Santa Fe
Character:Charlie Miller
Release Date:15/11/1934
Grand Canary
Character:Dr Ismay
Release Date:20/07/1934
Viva Villa!
Character:Man
Release Date:27/04/1934
Sorrell and Son
Character:Captain Stephen Sorrell
Release Date:05/03/1934
Christopher Bean
Character:Maxwell Davenport
Release Date:17/11/1933
Jennie Gerhardt
Character:William Gerhardt
Release Date:08/06/1933
Supernatural
Character:Dr. Carl Houston
Release Date:21/04/1933
The Son-Daughter
Character:Sin Kai
Release Date:23/12/1932
The Phantom of Crestwood
Character:Priam Andes
Release Date:14/10/1932
The Crusader
Character:Phillip Brandon
Release Date:04/10/1932
Tom Brown of Culver
Character:Dr. Brown
Release Date:30/06/1932
Unholy Love
Character:Dr. Daniel Gregory
Release Date:08/06/1932
Cross-Examination
Character:Gerald Waring
Release Date:13/02/1932
A Woman Commands
Character:Col. Stradimirovitsch
Release Date:12/02/1932
The Menace
Character:Inspector Tracy
Release Date:29/01/1932
Charlie Chan's Chance
Character:Inspector Fife
Release Date:24/01/1932
Expensive Women
Character:Melville Raymond
Release Date:24/10/1931
Five Star Final
Character:Michael Townsend
Release Date:26/09/1931
The Reckless Hour
Character:Walter Nichols
Release Date:15/08/1931
A Woman of Experience
Character:Hugh Schmidt
Release Date:08/07/1931
The Princess and the Plumber
Character:Prince Conrad of Daritzia
Release Date:21/12/1930
Liliom
Character:Chief Magistrate
Release Date:27/09/1930
On Your Back
Character:Raymond Pryor
Release Date:14/09/1930
Wild Company
Character:Henry Grayson
Release Date:05/07/1930
The Second Floor Mystery
Character:Inspector Bray
Release Date:26/04/1930
The Furies
Character:Oliver Bedlow
Release Date:16/03/1930
The Green Goddess
Character:Major Crespin
Release Date:13/02/1930
Wedding Rings
Character:Lewis Dike
Release Date:29/12/1929
Tiger Rose
Character:Dr. Cusick
Release Date:21/12/1929
The Show of Shows
Character:The Victim - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited)
Release Date:21/11/1929
The Argyle Case
Character:Hurley
Release Date:17/08/1929
The Gamblers
Character:James Darwin
Release Date:29/06/1929
The Trial of Mary Dugan
Character:District Attorney Galway
Release Date:08/06/1929
Stark Mad
Character:Prof. Dangerfield
Release Date:02/02/1929
The Doctor's Secret
Character:Richard Garson
Release Date:26/01/1929
The Divine Lady
Character:Sir William Hamilton
Release Date:26/12/1928
Conquest
Character:James Farnham
Release Date:22/12/1928
Romance of a Rogue
Character:Bruce Lowry
Release Date:01/10/1928
Man-Made Women
Character:Jules Moret
Release Date:09/09/1928
French Dressing
Character:Phillip Grey
Release Date:10/12/1927
Sorrell and Son
Character:Stephen Sorrell
Release Date:02/12/1927
The King of Kings
Character:Jesus, The Christ
Release Date:19/04/1927
Silence
Character:Jim Warren
Release Date:25/04/1926
Whispering Smith
Character:'Whispering Smith'
Release Date:28/03/1926
Is Love Everything?
Character:Jordan Southwick
Release Date:30/11/1924
The Man from Broadway
Character:James Sanford Richardson
Release Date:01/10/1924
Zaza
Character:Bernard Dufresne
Release Date:21/10/1923
When We Were Twenty-One
Character:Richard Carewe
Release Date:01/01/1921
Felix O'Day
Character:Felix O'Day
Release Date:12/09/1920
One Hour Before Dawn
Character:George Clayton
Release Date:11/07/1920
The Gray Wolf's Ghost
Character:Doctor West / Harry West
Release Date:26/10/1919
For a Woman's Honor
Character:Captain Clyde Mannering
Release Date:14/09/1919
The Pagan God
Character:Bruce Winthrop
Release Date:04/08/1919
Danger Trail
Character:John Howland
Release Date:30/04/1917
God's Man
Character:Arnold L'Hommedieu
Release Date:01/04/1917
The Seventh Sin
Character:Feodor
Release Date:17/03/1917
Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath
Character:Feodor
Release Date:05/03/1917
The Vagabond Prince
Character:Prince Tonio
Release Date:22/10/1916
Shell 43
Character:William Berner
Release Date:13/08/1916
The Market of Vain Desire
Character:John Armstrong
Release Date:28/05/1916
The Beggar of Cawnpore
Character:Dr. Robert Lowndes
Release Date:29/04/1916
The Raiders
Character:Scott Wells
Release Date:27/02/1916
The Ghost Breaker
Character:Warren Jarvis
Release Date:07/12/1914
The Lost Paradise
Character:Reuben Warren
Release Date:01/09/1914
English Nell
Character:Duke of Monmouth
Release Date:06/09/1900
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