Henry Byron Warner (born Henry Byron Lickfold, 26 October 1876 – 21 December 1958) was an English film and theatre actor. He was popular during the silent era and played Jesus Christ in '' The King of Kings''. In later years, he successfully moved into supporting roles and appeared in numerous films directed by Frank Capra. Warner's most recognizable role to modern audiences is Mr. Gower in the perennially shown film ''

It's a Wonderful Life ''It's a Wonderful Life'' is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and booklet ''The Greatest Gift'', which Philip Van Doren Stern self-published in 1943 and is in turn loos ...

'', directed by Capra. He appeared in the original 1937 version of '' Lost Horizon'' as Chang, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Early life

Born in

St John's Wood St John's Wood is a district in the City of Westminster, London, lying 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of Charing Cross. Traditionally the northern part of the ancient parish and Metropolitan Borough of Marylebone, it extends east to west from ...

, London, England in 1876, H. B. Warner was educated at Bedford School. His father, Charles Warner, was an actor, and although Henry initially thought about studying medicine, he eventually performed on the stage. He had an older sister, Grace Warner (1873-1925), who was a stage actress and manager.

Stage

Warner's stage debut came in ''It's Never Too Late to Mend'' when he was 21. He acted in several plays before coming to the United States for the 1905–1906 season. His Broadway credits include ''Silence'' (1924), ''You and I'' (1922), ''Danger'' (1921), ''Sleeping Partners'' (1918), ''Out There'' (1917), and ''Blackbirds'' (1912).

Film

Warner began his film career in

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

s in 1914 when he debuted in '' The Lost Paradise''. He played lead roles in the silent era and also appeared in numerous Broadway plays. His greatest success was the role of Jesus in

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...

's silent epic '' The King of Kings'' in 1927. He received good reviews for this role, but with the advent of sound era, he turned toward supporting roles, mostly because of his age. He usually was cast in dignified roles in numerous films of the 1930s and 1940s. He played in the 1930 version of '' Liliom'' (as the Heavenly Magistrate), in '' Five Star Final'' (1931, as Michael Townsend), in '' Grand Canary'' (1934, as Dr. Ismay), and the 1935 version of ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in ...

'' as Gabelle. He portrayed the strict judge in '' Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'' (1936). He appeared in the original 1937 version of '' Lost Horizon'' as Chang, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Among his later films were '' You Can't Take It With You'' (1938), '' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939), ''

The Rains Came ''The Rains Came'' is a 1939 20th Century Fox film based on an American novel by Louis Bromfield (published in June 1937 by Harper & Brothers). The film was directed by Clarence Brown and stars Myrna Loy, Tyrone Power, George Brent, Brenda ...

'' (1939), and ''

The Corsican Brothers ''The Corsican Brothers'' (french: Les Frères corses) is a novella by Alexandre Dumas, père, first published in 1844. It is the story of two conjoined brothers who, though separated at birth, can still feel each other's physical distress. It h ...

'' (1941). In ''

'' (1946), he played an atypical role as the drunken druggist. Occasionally, Warner was seen in sinister roles as in the 1941 film version of '' The Devil and Daniel Webster'', in which he played the ghost of

John Hathorne John Hathorne (August 1641 – May 10, 1717) was a merchant and magistrate of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Salem, Massachusetts. He is best known for his early and vocal role as one of the leading judges in the Salem witch trials. Hatho ...

. Also that year, he played the villainous role of Mr. Carrington in ''

Topper Returns ''Topper Returns'' is a 1941 fantasy comedy thriller directed by Roy Del Ruth and written by Jonathan Latimer. The third and final installment in the initial series of supernatural comedy films inspired by the novels of Thorne Smith, it succee ...

''. He had a cameo in ''

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades east to Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It is a major thoroughfare in ...

'' (1950), directed by

Billy Wilder Billy Wilder (; ; born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian-American filmmaker. His career in Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Classic Hol ...

, in which he played himself, playing cards with some other former silent film stars, including Buster Keaton and Anna Q. Nilsson. He had a cameo role in Cecil B DeMille's '' The Ten Commandments'' (1956). His last film role was an uncredited cameo in '' Darby's Rangers'' (1958).

Personal life

Warner was married twice, first to the former Mrs. F. R. Hamlin, who died in 1914, and from 1915 until 1933 to Marguerite L. 'Rita' Stanwood. On 21 December 1958, Warner died in Los Angeles, California of a heart attack, and is interred in a private vault at the

Chapel of the Pines Crematory Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, in the U.S. state of California, in the historic West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown. It is beside Angelus- ...

in Los Angeles, California. For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Warner has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6600 Hollywood Boulevard.Hollywood Walk of Fame
/ref>

Filmography

*'' The Lost Paradise'' (1914) as Reuben Warren *'' The Ghost Breaker'' (1914) as Warren Jarvis *'' The Market of Vain Desire'' (1916) as John Armstrong *''

Shell 43 ''Shell 43'' is a 1916 American war film written by C. Gardner Sullivan, from a story by Edward Sloman, and starring H.B. Warner, Enid Markey, and John Gilbert. Plot An English spy (played by H.B. Warner) works behind German lines during Worl ...

'' (1916) as William Berner * '' The Raiders'' (1916) as Scott Wells *''

The Beggar of Cawnpore ''The Beggar of Cawnpore'' is a 1916 American silent film directed by Charles Swickard and starring H.B. Warner, Lola May and Wyndham Standing. It is set against the backdrop of the 1857 Indian Mutiny. Cast * H.B. Warner as Dr. Robert Lowndes ...

'' (1916) as Dr. Robert Lowndes *'' The Vagabond Prince'' (1916) as Prince Torio * ''

The Danger Trail ''The Danger Trail'' is a 1917 American silent adventure film directed by Frederick A. Thomson and starring H.B. Warner, Violet Heming and Lawson Butt. It is based on the 1910 novel of the same title by James Oliver Curwood. It is a Northern ...

'' (1917) as John Howland * '' Wrath'' (1917) as Feodor * '' The Seventh Sin'' (1917) as The Grand Duke * '' God's Man'' (1917) as Arnold L'Hommedieu * '' For a Woman's Honor'' (1919) as Captain Clyde Mannering *'' The Man Who Turned White'' (1919) as Captain Rand *'' A Fugitive from Matrimony'' (1919) as Stephen Van Courtlandt *'' Haunting Shadows'' (1919) as John Glenarm *'' The Pagan God'' (1919) as Bruce Winthrop * '' The Gray Wolf's Ghost'' (1919) as Doctor West *'' The White Dove'' (1920) as Sylvester Lanyon *'' One Hour Before Dawn'' (1920) as George Clayton *''

Felix O'Day ''Felix O'Day'' is a lost 1920 silent film directed by Robert Thornby and starring H. B. Warner. The film was released through Pathé Exchange. It is based on a novel of the same name. Cast * H. B. Warner - Felix O'Day *Marguerite Snow - La ...

'' (1920) as Felix O'Day *'' Uncharted Channels'' (1920) as Timothy Webb Jr *'' Dice of Destiny'' (1920) as Jimmy Doyle *'' When We Were 21'' (1921) as Richard Carewe *'' Zaza'' (1923) as Bernard Dufresne *'' Is Love Everything?'' (1924) as Jordan Southwick *''

Whispering Smith ''Whispering Smith'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Leslie Fenton and starring Alan Ladd as a railroad detective assigned to stop a gang of train robbers. The supporting cast includes Robert Preston, Brenda Marshall and Donald C ...

'' (1926) as 'Whispering Smith' *''

Silence Silence is the absence of ambient audible sound, the emission of sounds of such low intensity that they do not draw attention to themselves, or the state of having ceased to produce sounds; this latter sense can be extended to apply to the c ...

'' (1926) as Jim Warren *'' The King of Kings'' (1927) as

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religiou ...

*'' Sorrell and Son'' (1927) as Stephen Sorrell *''

French Dressing French dressing, in consumer-facing American cuisine and store-bought products in the United States, is a creamy dressing that varies in color from pale orange to bright red. It is made of oil, vinegar, sugar, and other flavorings, with the colo ...

'' (1927) as Phillip Grey *'' Man-Made Women'' (1928) as Jules Moret *''

Romance of a Rogue ''Romance of a Rogue'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by King Baggot and starring H.B. Warner, Anita Stewart, and Charles K. Gerrard.''Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema'', p. 25 It is based on the 1923 novel by the Br ...

'' (1928) *'' The Naughty Duchess'' (1928) as Duke de St. Maclou *'' Conquest'' (1928) as James Farnham *''

The Doctor's Secret The Doctors Secret may refer to: * The Doctor's Secret (1909 film), ''The Doctor's Secret'' (1909 film), a French silent short film * The Doctor's Secret (1913 film), ''The Doctor's Secret'' (1913 film), an American silent short film * The Doctor's ...

'' (1929) as Richard Garson *''

Stark Mad ''Stark Mad'' is a 1929 American pre-Code adventure film produced and distributed by Warner Bros., directed by Lloyd Bacon, and starring H. B. Warner, Louise Fazenda, Jacqueline Logan and Henry B. Walthall. This lurid jungle melodrama was an att ...

'' (1929) as Prof. Dangerfield *''

The Divine Lady ''The Divine Lady'' is a 1929 American pre-Code Vitaphone sound film with a synchronized musical score, sound effects, and some synchronized singing, but no spoken dialogue. It stars Corinne Griffith and tells the story of the love affair betwe ...

'' (1929) as Sir William Hamilton *'' The Trial of Mary Dugan'' (1929) as District Attorney Galway *'' The Gamblers'' (1929) as James Darwin *'' The Argyle Case'' (1929) as Hurley *'' The Show of Shows'' (1929) as The Victim - Guillotine Sequence *'' Tiger Rose'' (1929) as Dr. Cusick *'' Wedding Rings'' (1929) as Lewis Dike *'' The Green Goddess'' (1930) as Major Crespin *'' The Furies'' (1930) as Oliver Bedlow *'' The Second Floor Mystery'' (1930) as Inspector Bray *'' Wild Company'' (1930) as Henry Grayson *'' On Your Back'' (1930) as Raymond Pryor *'' Liliom'' (1930) as Chief Magistrate *''

The Princess and the Plumber ''The Princess and the Plumber'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Alexander Korda and written by Howard J. Green. The film stars Charles Farrell, Maureen O'Sullivan, H. B. Warner, Joseph Cawthorn, Bert Roach and Lucien Pri ...

'' (1930) as Prince Conrad of Daritzia *'' A Woman of Experience'' (1931) as Major Hugh Schmidt *''

The Reckless Hour ''The Reckless Hour'' is a 1931 pre-Code film directed by John Francis Dillon and produced and distributed by First National Pictures. Cast *Dorothy Mackaill as Margaret Nichols *Conrad Nagel as Edward Adams * H. B. Warner as Walter Nichols *J ...

'' (1931) as Walter Nichols *'' Five Star Final'' (1931) as Michael Townsend *'' Expensive Women'' (1931) as Melville Raymond *'' Charlie Chan's Chance'' (1932) as Inspector Fife *'' The Menace'' (1932) as Inspector Tracy *''

A Woman Commands ''A Woman Commands'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Pola Negri, Roland Young, and Basil Rathbone. Some additional scenes were directed by an uncredited Harry Joe Brown. Cast *Pola Negri as Madame Maria ...

'' (1932) as Col. Stradimirovitsch *'' Unholy Love'' (1932) as Dr. Daniel Gregory * ''

Cross-Examination In law, cross-examination is the interrogation of a witness called by one's opponent. It is preceded by direct examination (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, South Africa, India and Pakistan known as examination-in-chief) and ...

'' as Gerald Waring *''

Tom Brown of Culver ''Tom Brown of Culver'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by William Wyler.Film details
culver.lib.in.us; accesse ...

'' (1932) as Dr. Brown *'' The Crusader'' (1932) as Phillip Brandon *''

The Phantom of Crestwood ''The Phantom of Crestwood'' is a 1932 American pre-Code murder-mystery film released by Radio Pictures, directed by J. Walter Ruben, and starring Ricardo Cortez, Karen Morley, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Anita Louise, H.B. Warner, and Pauli ...

'' (1932) as Priam Andes *''

The Son-Daughter ''The Son-Daughter'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Clarence Brown and written by John F. Goodrich, Claudine West, and Leon Gordon, adapted from the play of the same name by David Belasco. The film stars Helen Hayes, Ramon N ...

'' (1932) as Sin Kai *'' Supernatural'' (1933) as Dr. Carl Houston *''

Jennie Gerhardt ''Jennie Gerhardt'' is a 1911 novel by Theodore Dreiser. Plot summary Jennie Gerhardt is a destitute young woman. While working in a hotel in Columbus, Ohio, Jennie meets George Brander, a United States Senator, who becomes infatuated with her. ...

'' (1933) as William Gerhardt *''

Christopher Bean ''Christopher Bean'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code comedy film directed by Sam Wood and written by Laurence E. Johnson and Sylvia Thalberg, based on the 1932 play, ''The Late Christopher Bean'', by Sidney Howard. The film stars ...

'' (1933) as Maxwell Davenport *'' Sorrell and Son'' (1933) as Captain Stephen Sorrell *'' Grand Canary'' (1934) as Dr. Ismay *''

In Old Santa Fe ''In Old Santa Fe'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by David Howard, starring Ken Maynard, George "Gabby" Hayes and Evalyn Knapp and featuring the first screen appearance of Gene Autry, singing a bluegrass rendition of "Wyoming Wal ...

'' (1934) as Charlie Miller *'' Behold My Wife'' (1934) as Hubert Carter *''

Night Alarm ''Night Alarm'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and starring Bruce Cabot as a down on his luck reporter, Hal Ashby, who tries to make a name for himself by investigating a series of bizarre arson attacks. The film, ...

'' (1934) as Henry B. Smith *''

Born to Gamble ''Born to Gamble'' (1935) is an American film directed by Phil Rosen and released by Republic Pictures. Plot Four brothers feel cursed by their family's gambling bug. All four try to overcome the addiction: only one, the youngest, is successful ...

'' (1935) as Carter Mathews *''

'' (1935) as Gabelle *'' The Garden Murder Case'' (1936) as Major Fenwicke-Ralston *'' Rose of the Rancho'' (1936) as Don Pasqual Castro *'' Moonlight Murder'' (1936) as Godfrey Chiltern *'' Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'' (1936) as Judge May *'' Blackmailer'' (1936) as Michael Rankin *'' Along Came Love'' (1936) as Dr. Martin *'' Lost Horizon'' (1937) as Chang *'' Our Fighting Navy'' (1937) as British Consul Brent *''

Victoria the Great ''Victoria the Great'' is a 1937 British historical film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Anton Walbrook and Walter Rilla. When Laurence Housman's play ''Victoria Regina'' was banned by the Lord Chamberlain (in 1935 the royal ...

'' (1937) as Lord Melbourne *'' Girl of the Golden West'' (1938) as Father Sienna *''

The Adventures of Marco Polo ''The Adventures of Marco Polo'' is a 1938 adventure film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Gary Cooper, Sigrid Gurie, and Basil Rathbone. It was one of the most elaborate and costly of Samuel Goldwyn's productions. Plot Nicolo Polo shows t ...

'' (1938) as Chen Tsu *'' Kidnapped'' (1938) as Angus Rankeillor *''

The Toy Wife ''The Toy Wife'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Luise Rainer and Melvyn Douglas. The period film was produced by Merian C. Cooper and written by Zoë Akins. Plot Set before the American Civil War, ''The T ...

'' (1938) as Victor Brigard *'' Bulldog Drummond in Africa'' (1938) as Col. J.A. Nielsen *''

Army Girl ''Army Girl'' (also released as ''The Last of the Cavalry'') is a 1938 American comedy film directed by George Nicholls Jr. and starring Madge Evans and Preston Foster. It was a high budget film by Republic Pictures. Plot Captain Dike Conger, ...

'' (1938) as Col. Armstrong *'' You Can't Take It With You'' (1938) as Ramsay *'' Arrest Bulldog Drummond'' (1938) as Colonel Nielsen *'' Let Freedom Ring'' (1939) as Rutledge *'' Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police'' (1939) as Colonel Nielson *'' The Gracie Allen Murder Case'' (1939) as Richard Lawrence *'' Bulldog Drummond's Bride'' (1939) as Colonel Nielson *'' Nurse Edith Cavell'' (1939) as Hugh Gibson *''

'' (1939) as Maharajah *'' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939) as Senator Agnew *'' New Moon'' (1940) as Father Michel *''

'' (1941) as Mr. Carrington *'' The Devil and Daniel Webster'' (1941) as Justice John Hathorne *''

City of Missing Girls ''City of Missing Girls'' is a 1941 American film directed by Elmer Clifton. Plot The police led by Captain McVeigh and the Assistant District Attorney James J. Horton are baffled by the disappearances of several young girls with some being fou ...

'' (1941) as Captain McVeigh *''

South of Tahiti ''South of Tahiti'' is a 1941 American south seas adventure film directed by George Waggner and starring Brian Donlevy. It helped launch Maria Montez as a pin-up star. She played a leading role; response was such that Universal then cast her in ...

'' (1941) as High Chief Kawalima *''

'' (1941) as Dr. Enrico Paoli *'' Crossroads'' (1942) as Prosecuting Attorney *'' A Yank in Libya'' (1942) as Herbert Forbes *'' The Boss of Big Town'' (1942) as Jeffrey Moore *'' Hitler's Children'' (1943) as The Bishop *'' Women in Bondage'' (1943) as Pastor Renz *'' Action in Arabia'' (1944) as Abdul El Rashid *'' Enemy of Women'' (1944) as Col. Eberhart Brandt *'' Faces in the Fog'' (1944) as Defense Attorney Rankins *''

Rogues' Gallery A rogues' gallery (or rogues gallery) is a police collection of mug shots or other images of criminal suspects kept for identification purposes. History In 1855, Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, established a ...

'' (1944) as Prof. Reynolds *'' Captain Tugboat Annie'' (1945) as Judge Abbott *''

Strange Impersonation ''Strange Impersonation'' is a 1946 American film noir drama film directed by Anthony Mann and starring Brenda Marshall, William Gargan and Hillary Brooke. Plot The distinguished chemical research scientist Nora Goodrich is postponing her marria ...

'' (1946) as Dr. Mansfield *'' Gentleman Joe Palooka'' (1946) as Sen. McCarden *''

'' (1946) as Mr. Gower *'' Driftwood'' (1947) as Rev. J. Hollingsworth *'' High Wall'' (1947) as Mr. Slocum *'' The Prince of Thieves'' (1948) as Gilbert Head *'' The Judge Steps Out'' (1949) as Chief Justice Hayes *'' El Paso'' (1949) as Judge Fletcher *'' Hellfire'' (1949) as Brother Joseph *''

'' (1950) as Himself *'' The First Legion'' (1951) as Fr. Jose Sierra * ''

Savage Drums ''Savage Drums'' is a 1951 American adventure film directed by William Berke and starring Sabu, Lita Baron, H.B. Warner. The film was released by the independent producer Robert L. Lippert. Although Lippert had previously announced his films wo ...

'' (1951) as Maou *'' Here Comes the Groom'' (1951) as Uncle Elihu *'' Journey Into Light'' (1951) as Wiz - the Wino *'' The Ten Commandments'' (1956) as

Amminadab Amminadab () is a minor character referred to in the Book of Exodus. He is the father-in-law of High Priest Aaron, brother of Moses. Amminadab is also mentioned in the Book of Ruth, (and also in Gospel of Mathew and Gospel of Luke), as the fa ...

References

External links

* *
Photographs and literature
{{DEFAULTSORT:Warner, H B 1876 births 1958 deaths English male film actors English male silent film actors English male stage actors People from St John's Wood 20th-century English male actors Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory Male actors from London People educated at Bedford School British expatriate male actors in the United States