
H.B. Warner
Biography
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 (122 movies)

Sunset Boulevard
1950

It's a Wonderful Life
1946

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939

Lost Horizon
1937

One Hour Before Dawn
1920

Lux Æterna: The Art of Filmmaking
2019

Strange Impersonation
1946

Prospecting for Petroleum
1946

Rogues' Gallery
1944

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936

The Phantom of Crestwood
1932

You Can't Take It with You
1938

Romance of a Rogue
1928

High Wall
1947

The Doctor's Secret
1929

A Tale of Two Cities
1935

All That Money Can Buy
1941

Danger Trail
1917

Five Star Final
1931

Crossroads
1942

Arrest Bulldog Drummond
1938

New Moon
1940

The Girl of the Golden West
1938

French Dressing
1927

Tiger Rose
1929

The Boss of Big Town
1942

The King of Kings
1927

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
1941

The Gracie Allen Murder Case
1939

Expensive Women
1931

Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police
1939

Is Love Everything?
1924

Whispering Smith
1926

Felix O'Day
1920

The Furies
1930

The Divine Lady
1928

Driftwood
1947

Bulldog Drummond's Bride
1939

Supernatural
1933

The Trial of Mary Dugan
1929

Bulldog Drummond in Africa
1938

The Garden Murder Case
1936

Liliom
1930

The Green Goddess
1930

Cross-Examination
1932

The Adventures of Marco Polo
1938

Enemy of Women
1944

The Reckless Hour
1931

In Old Santa Fe
1934

Behold My Wife!
1934

The Toy Wife
1938

Zaza
1923

Sorrell and Son
1927

The Second Floor Mystery
1930

Born to Gamble
1935

Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath
1917

The Seventh Sin
1917

Along Came Love
1936

Jennie Gerhardt
1933

Army Girl
1938

Let Freedom Ring
1939

Moonlight Murder
1936

The Menace
1932

El Paso
1949

The Son-Daughter
1932

Unholy Love
1932

The Crusader
1932

The Pagan God
1919

City of Missing Girls
1941

Nurse Edith Cavell
1939

Topper Returns
1941

The Show of Shows
1929

Charlie Chan's Chance
1932

The First Legion
1951

Hitler's Children
1943

A Yank in Libya
1942

God's Man
1917

Shell 43
1916

Captain Tugboat Annie
1945

A Woman of Experience
1931

The Rains Came
1939

Night Alarm
1934

Wild Company
1930

The Corsican Brothers
1941

Journey Into Light
1951

Stark Mad
1929

The Judge Steps Out
1947

Kidnapped
1938

Faces in the Fog
1944

Rose of the Rancho
1936

The Argyle Case
1929

Victoria the Great
1937

The Raiders
1916

Women in Bondage
1943

Savage Drums
1951

Tom Brown of Culver
1932

A Woman Commands
1932

Hellfire
1949

The Lost Paradise
1914

Here Comes the Groom
1951
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