Acting
H.B. Warner
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).
Filmography
The Resurrection of Christ
Film · 2026
Lux Æterna: The Art of Filmmaking
Film · 2019
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Film · 1987
The Ten Commandments
Film · 1956
The First Legion
Film · 1951
Journey Into Light
Film · 1951
Savage Drums
Film · 1951
Here Comes the Groom
Film · 1951
Sunset Boulevard
Film · 1950
El Paso
Film · 1949
Hellfire
Film · 1949
The Prince of Thieves
Film · 1948
High Wall
Film · 1947
Driftwood
Film · 1947
The Judge Steps Out
Film · 1947
It's a Wonderful Life
Film · 1946
Strange Impersonation
Film · 1946
Prospecting for Petroleum
Film · 1946
Gentleman Joe Palooka
Film · 1946
Captain Tugboat Annie
Film · 1945
Rogues' Gallery
Film · 1944
Enemy of Women
Film · 1944
Faces in the Fog
Film · 1944
Action in Arabia
Film · 1944
Hitler's Children
Film · 1943
Women in Bondage
Film · 1943
Crossroads
Film · 1942
The Boss of Big Town
Film · 1942
A Yank in Libya
Film · 1942
The Corsican Brothers
Film · 1942
All That Money Can Buy
Film · 1941
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
Film · 1941
City of Missing Girls
Film · 1941
Topper Returns
Film · 1941
South of Tahiti
Film · 1941
New Moon
Film · 1940
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Film · 1939
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Film · 1939
Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police
Film · 1939
Bulldog Drummond's Bride
Film · 1939
Let Freedom Ring
Film · 1939
Nurse Edith Cavell
Film · 1939
The Rains Came
Film · 1939
You Can't Take It with You
Film · 1938
Arrest Bulldog Drummond
Film · 1938
The Girl of the Golden West
Film · 1938
Bulldog Drummond in Africa
Film · 1938
The Adventures of Marco Polo
Film · 1938
The Toy Wife
Film · 1938
Army Girl
Film · 1938
Kidnapped
Film · 1938
Lost Horizon
Film · 1937
Victoria the Great
Film · 1937
Our Fighting Navy
Film · 1937
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Film · 1936
The Garden Murder Case
Film · 1936
Along Came Love
Film · 1936
Moonlight Murder
Film · 1936
Rose of the Rancho
Film · 1936
Blackmailer
Film · 1936
A Tale of Two Cities
Film · 1935
Born to Gamble
Film · 1935
In Old Santa Fe
Film · 1934
Behold My Wife!
Film · 1934
Night Alarm
Film · 1934
Grand Canary
Film · 1934
Sorrell and Son
Film · 1934
Viva Villa!
Film · 1934
Supernatural
Film · 1933
Jennie Gerhardt
Film · 1933
Christopher Bean
Film · 1933
Justice Takes a Holiday
Film · 1933
The Phantom of Crestwood
Film · 1932
Cross-Examination
Film · 1932
The Menace
Film · 1932
The Son-Daughter
Film · 1932
Unholy Love
Film · 1932
The Crusader
Film · 1932
Charlie Chan's Chance
Film · 1932
Tom Brown of Culver
Film · 1932
A Woman Commands
Film · 1932
Five Star Final
Film · 1931
Expensive Women
Film · 1931
The Reckless Hour
Film · 1931
A Woman of Experience
Film · 1931
The Furies
Film · 1930
Liliom
Film · 1930
The Green Goddess
Film · 1930
The Second Floor Mystery
Film · 1930
Wild Company
Film · 1930
On Your Back
Film · 1930
The Princess and the Plumber
Film · 1930
The Doctor's Secret
Film · 1929
Tiger Rose
Film · 1929
The Trial of Mary Dugan
Film · 1929
The Show of Shows
Film · 1929
Stark Mad
Film · 1929
The Argyle Case
Film · 1929
The Gamblers
Film · 1929
Wedding Rings
Film · 1929
Romance of a Rogue
Film · 1928
The Divine Lady
Film · 1928
Conquest
Film · 1928
Man-Made Women
Film · 1928
The Naughty Duchess
Film · 1928
French Dressing
Film · 1927
The King of Kings
Film · 1927
Sorrell and Son
Film · 1927
Whispering Smith
Film · 1926
Silence
Film · 1926
Is Love Everything?
Film · 1924
The Man from Broadway
Film · 1924
Zaza
Film · 1923
When We Were Twenty-One
Film · 1921
One Hour Before Dawn
Film · 1920
Felix O'Day
Film · 1920
Dice of Destiny
Film · 1920
The Pagan God
Film · 1919
The Gray Wolf's Ghost
Film · 1919
For a Woman's Honor
Film · 1919
A Fugitive from Matrimony
Film · 1919
The Man Who Turned White
Film · 1919
Haunting Shadows
Film · 1919
Danger Trail
Film · 1917
Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath
Film · 1917
The Seventh Sin
Film · 1917
God's Man
Film · 1917
Shell 43
Film · 1916
The Beggar of Cawnpore
Film · 1916
The Raiders
Film · 1916
The Vagabond Prince
Film · 1916
The Market of Vain Desire
Film · 1916
The Lost Paradise
Film · 1914
The Ghost Breaker
Film · 1914
English Nell
Film · 1900