... Lionel Barrymore was born. Interred at Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, USA, in the Main Mausoleum, Block 352. He was one of the very few screen actors in the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s who had a prolific career despite being in a wheelchair. Lionel Barrymore seemed to be the most reticent, private, and reluctant of the three children of Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew (1856-1893), all of whom were destined to act for a living. Lionel Barrymore was born April 28, 1878, in Philadelphia. His name appeared in the Looney Toons Cartoon. He was buried a Roman Catholic next to his second wife and his brother. Born on April 12, 1878 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as Lionel Herbert Blythe. In addition to winning a Best Actor Academy Award (for A Free Soul (1931)), Lionel also was an Oscar-nominated director (for Madame X (1929)) and a prolific composer of songs as well as an accomplished graphic artist. Lionel Barrymore was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. John, despite his reputation as the greatest actor of his generation, was never even nominated, handicapped in those days by being a freelance actor with no ties to a studio, which practiced block voting for Oscars. Lionel Barrymore. Acted from wheelchair from 1938 due to the effects of arthritis and hip injury. Lionel Barrymore 2021 - Biography at Wikipedia (Wiki, Age, Birthday) Lionel Barrymore - actor, director Lionel Barrymore was born on April 12, 1878 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States In addition to acting, Barrymore made etchings and drawings and also composed music. Her grandfather was John Barrymore, star of “Grand Hotel”, “Twentieth Century” and “Dinner at Eight” among others. While their parents were … Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Drew Barrymore was his daughter by his third wife, Ildiko Jaid Barrymore. Blythe immigrated to the US in 1874, joined the New York acting troupe of noted producer Augustin Daly, and adopted the stage name of Maurice Barrymore. Updates? Young Lionel … At Metro Pictures, he helmed many pictures, including directing his sister Ethel in Life's Whirlpool (1917) (1917). Just so, the last words of a director or producer are "Make another take!". Both Barrymore’s parents were actors. Location of death:Van Nuys, CA. AKALionel Herbert Blythe. Lionel Barrymore, original name Lionel Herbert Blythe, (born April 28, 1878, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died November 15, 1954, Van Nuys, California), American stage, film, and … Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen, and radio who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ‘A Free Soul.’ Both were masters of the radio waves, FDR with his fireside chats, Lionel with his annual broadcast of "A Christmas Carol" in which he played Scrooge.During the 1930s and 1940s, the aging Barrymore played grouchy old men, for MGM and on loan-out (including John Huston's Key Largo (1948) with Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson at Warner Bros.). This is the age of insincerity. Drew Barrymore was his daughter by his third wife, Ildiko Jaid Barrymore. Lionel Barrymore (Lionel Herbert Blythe) was born on 28 April 1878 Sunday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. and died on 15 November 1954 Monday. Born Lionel Herbert Blythe on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, PA, Barrymore was the eldest son of actors Maurice and Georgina Drew, who used Barrymore as their stage name. Don't ever forget that acting is the greatest profession ever invented. Blythe immigrated to the US in 1874, joined the New York acting troupe of noted producer Augustin Daly, and adopted the stage name of Maurice Barrymore. He was also a radio actor and was noted for his annual radio performance as Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. [on how he intends to perform his role in 'Arsene Lupin'] Oh, I'll stumble around, growl a little, limp a little bit. Born in Philadelphia April 28, 1878, he was the eldest of the three children of Maurice (Blythe) and Georgie (Drew) Barrymore. Lionel Barrymore. In 1926 Barrymore left Broadway permanently for Hollywood and began a long line of outstanding screen characterizations. On radio, the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in annual broadcasts of "A Christmas Carol". In his later years Barrymore projected an image of an irascible (but usually lovable) curmudgeon, a role in which he exploited to the fullest his distinctive traits—a tall stooped posture (though, because of arthritis and other injuries, he usually performed in a wheelchair from 1938 on), shaggy eyebrows, and a hoarse, rasping voice. He missed only twice, In 1936 brother John replaced him because of the Christmas Eve death of his wife and in 1938 by Reginald Owen, whose MGM version was then in theatrical release. Lionel’s father, Maurice Barrymore (1849-1905), was born Herbert Arthur Blythe in India, where Lionel’s grandfather was a surveyor for the British East India Company. Relationships. Community. No other profession has that power. Her mother had wanted to be an actress and encouraged Irene to follow her dreams. 1. |  Barrymore … child->parent relationship with Barrymore, Maurice (born 21 September 1849) The three Barrymore siblings appeared in only one film together: Screen, stage, radio, vaudeville actor, film producer, and screenwriter. A chance to work with both Lionel and John lured her back in front of cameras for "Rasputin and the Empress" (1932), although not for long. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. John Drew Barrymore (born John Blyth Barrymore Jr.; June 4, 1932 – November 29, 2004) was an American film actor and member of the Barrymore family of actors, which included his father, John Barrymore, and his father's siblings, Lionel and Ethel.He was the father of four children, including actor John Blyth Barrymore and actress Drew Barrymore. Born April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Corrections? Learn about Lionel Barrymore (Movie Actor): Birthday, bio, family, parents, age, biography, born (date of birth) and all information about Lionel Barrymore She is also the great grand niece of Oscar winners Lionel Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Lionel Barrymore was born on April 28, 1878 and died on November 15, 1954. He was the oldest child of stage perfomer Maurice Blythe who had gained fame as Maurice Barrymore and … Along with Ethel Barrymore and John Barrymore, he shares a prominent place in American acting in the first half of the 20th Century. Barrymore was born to a celebrated acting family though she never really knew her famous ancestors. Birthplace:Philadelphia, PA. Died:15-Nov-1954. (John had passed away from the deleterious effects of alcoholism in 1942.) Lionel Barrymore, horoscope for birth date 12 April 1878, born in Philadelphia, with Astrodatabank biography - Astro-Databank Horoscope and astrology data of Lionel Barrymore born on 12 April 1878 … ("Barrymore" was a stage name). He was the elder brother of Ethel and John Barrymore, the uncle of John Drew Barrymore and Diana Barrymore, and the granduncle (or great-uncle) of Drew Barrymore. Perhaps the least flamboyant member of the Barrymore acting family, he was best known to modern audiences for his performance as Mr. Potter in the classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). That was his last silent picture as director; he would not sit in the director's chair again until the advent of the talkies. Born Lionel Herbert Blythe on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, PA, Barrymore was the eldest son of actors Maurice and Georgina Drew, who used Barrymore as their stage name. Barrymore's five-year dalliance with silent films in the late-teens was pushed aside in favor of theater and family. Marriage ended in divorce. Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; 1878–1954) was an actor of stage, screen and radio. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). His father was born in Amritsar, Punjab, India and his mother was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. His talents extended to the authoring of the … His portrayal of the avaricious Mr. Potter in Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life belongs to this period. I can remember when nobody believed an actor and didn't care what he believed. Along with Ethel Barrymore and John Barrymore, he shares a prominent place in American acting in the first half of the 20th Century. Irene Fenwick was a silent screen actress who married Lionel Barrymore. Had extreme problems with his income taxes, and during the last 15 years of his life routinely turned over all of his paycheck to the Internal Revenue Service except for a small sum to maintain his living expenses. Irene Fenwick was a silent screen actress who married Lionel Barrymore. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Maurice Barrymore and Georgina Barrymore were both … His debut with the famous Mrs. Malaprop of her time His film career included 15 Dr. Kildare movies, as well as You Can't Take It with You (1938). He was memorable as Rasputin the 1932 film Rasputin and the Empress (1932), in which he co-starred with John and Ethel. Cause of death:Heart Failure. Early life. Lionel’s father, Maurice Barrymore (1849-1905), was born Herbert Arthur Blythe in India, where Lionel’s grandfather was a surveyor for the British East India Company. ("Barrymore… Spent most of his screen career under contract to MGM (1926-52). Lionel Barrymore would have been 76 years old at the time of death or 137 years old today. He apparently never got over the loss of his two girls (he never had any other children), and he divorced Doris in 1923 and married actress Irene Fenwick, a former lover of his brother John. Lionel Barrymore (April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American Academy Award-winning actor of stage, radio and film. He now is best known for his portrayal of the evil banker Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), though he once was renowned for playing Ebeneezer Scrooge each year on the radio broadcast of Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" as well as appearing as the irascible Doctor Gillespie in the Doctor Kildare movie series.He was born Lionel Herbert Blythe on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, the son of actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew Barrymore. - IMDb Mini Biography By: When she was a teenager she started acting in … He is also survived by John D. Barrymore, a son by his first wife, actress Cara Williams (the 1960 … The legendary Lionel Barrymore, one of the great cinema character actors, was the oldest of the three Barrymmore siblings. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... John Barrymore (left) and Lionel Barrymore in. His parents were actors Georgiana Drew Barrymore and Maurice Barrymore. Lionel Barrymore was an American actor, director, screenwriter. Drew Blythe Barrymore (born February 22, 1975 (birth time source: the Wilsons, birth certificate, Astodatabank)) is an American actress, screenwriter, film director, producer, model and author who is a descendant of the Barrymore family of well-known American stage and cinema actors, and is the granddaughter of film legend John Barrymore. Lionel Barrymore was born April 28, 1878, in Philadelphia. At the time he made his first films, movies were considered beneath the dignity of a stage actor.Lionel and Doris suffered tragedy as their children, two daughters, did not survive infancy. Lionel Barrymore was born Lionel Herbert Blythe on this day April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of actors Georgiana Drew (née Blythe) and Maurice Barrymore . Everybody works until his last breath, and when one day they die, they die like Napoleon/s grenadiers, who died with the words "Vive l'Empereur!" The theater was not in my blood, I was related to the theater by marriage only; it was merely a kind of in-law of mine I had to live with. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - for motion pictures at 1724 Vine Street and for radio at 1651 Vine Street. Hup234! This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lionel-Barrymore, Turner Classic Movies - Biography of Lionel Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Watch a scene from “Dr. I wanted to paint or draw. He was well-known for playing Doctor Gillespie in the Doctor Kildare movies of the 1930s and 1940s. First Name Lionel #6. When you act, you move millions of people, shape their lives, give them a sense of exaltation. His performance as Macbeth in a 1921 production of The Scottish Play was unsuccessful, and he began focusing more on films, which he first began making at Biograph in 1911 under the direction of D.W. Griffith. (Ethel, like Lionel, would win an Oscar. His success as a movie actor was assured when he joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1926, two years after the studio's formation, having already developed a strong relationship with Louis B. Mayer at Metro Pictures. Along with his … He also appeared with John in the classics Grand Hotel (1932) and Dinner at Eight (1933), although in the latter film, they had no scenes together.In the 1930s, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt was asked if he thought Lionel Barrymore was the greatest actor in America, FDR replied, "I am the greatest actor in America." Along with his … He also directed several films, wrote scripts, created etchings, sketches and … Portrayed Dr. Gillespie on the syndicated radio show "The Story of Dr. Kildare" (1950-1951), and in the late 30s/40s movie series. His last movie was the musical comedy Main Street to Broadway (1953), in which he appeared with his sister Ethel. Link to Wikipedia biography. He found that he was unable to earn a living as a painter, however, and he returned to the United States and to acting. After 1938's _Captains Courageous (1938)_, he was never filmed standing again, playing his roles in a wheelchair. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Actor. He also was loaned out to director Frank Capra for You Can't Take It with You (1938) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and to producer David O. Selznick for the Technicolor Western potboiler Duel in the Sun (1946).With the arrival of the talkies, Lionel's stage-trained, mellifluous voice proved to be a great asset, though initially the studio assigned him to directing assignments. Young Lionel wanted to … Lionel Barrymore: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. His birth certificate lists 14 February as … Omissions? He was the oldest child of stage perfomer Maurice Blythe who had gained fame as Maurice Barrymore and his wife Georgina Drew the daughter of celebrated actor John Drew. By the time of Doctor Kildare, Barrymore was disabled, having broken his hip twice, with his deteriorating condition exacerbated by arthritis. Lionel Barrymore was born Lionel Herbert Blythe in Philadelphia, the son of actors Georgiana Drew Barrymore and Maurice Barrymore.He was the elder brother of Ethel and John Barrymore, the uncle of John Drew Barrymore and Diana Barrymore, and the great-uncle of Drew Barrymore.Barrymore was raised a Roman Catholic. Born to John Drew Barrymore and Ildiko Jaid Mako Barrymore, Drew's mom was only a sometime actress, who became Drew's manager, and used her daughter's fame to have a … In 1930, he lived at 802 N. Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills. Famed actor, composer, artist, author and director. (He appeared in Frank Capra's 1938 Best Picture Academy Award winning You Can't Take It with You (1938) on crutches, which caused him a great deal of pain.) He first acted with his kid brother John in the 1905 play "Pantaloon".Lionel never developed the heightened reputation as a stage actor enjoyed by his siblings John (who still reigns as the definitive American Hamlet) and sister Ethel. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. On Broadway, Lionel established a solid reputation as a dramatic character actor, appearing often with Doris. He would remain a contract player with MGM until his death 30 years later, though he occasionally was loaned out.At MGM, he became a star in the talkies and continued as a stalwart character lead and supporting player for parts of four decades, appearing opposite the studio's biggest stars, including John Gilbert, Lon Chaney (for whom he served as a pallbearer at his funeral), Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, Marie Dressler, Norma Shearer, Clark Gable, and Spencer Tracy. Born:28-Apr-1878. He was born Lionel Herbert Blythe on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, the son of actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew Barrymore. Though raised a Catholic, he attended Philadelphia's Episcopal Academy. William Edward Blythe (1818–1873), married Matilda Chamberlayne (1822-1849); they had seven children; Herbert Arthur Chamberlayne Blythe (aka Maurice Barrymore (1849–1905)) ∞ married Georgiana Emma Drew, and had three children: Lionel, Ethel, and John.. Lionel Barrymore (1878–1954) ∞ Married Doris Rankin (first wife), and had two daughters. Along with Ethel Barrymore and John Barrymore, he shares a prominent place in American acting in the first half of the 20th Century. About. What is your favorite Lionel Barrymore film? Patriarch of the Barrymore … Born to John Drew Barrymore and Ildiko Jaid Mako Barrymore, Drew's mom was only a sometime actress, who became Drew's manager, and used her daughter's fame to have … Although he appeared in a few plays in his teens, he did not intend to enter the family profession and instead studied painting in Paris for three years. |  Lionel Barrymore and John appeared without Ethel Barrymore in Arsène Lupin (1932), Night Flight (1933), Dinner at Eight (1933) and Grand Hotel (1932). Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; 1878–1954) was an actor of stage, screen and radio. Fenwick has several surviving features, mainly because she worked for Edison-Kleine, an affiliate of the Edison Company, which has numerous surviving shorts, which is fortunate considering the vintage of these films. Actor. Help Center Contributor Zone Polls. He directed Gilbert in His Glorious Night (1929) and guided Ruth Chatterton to consideration for an Oscar in Madame X (1929), for which he garnered his own Oscar nod as Best director. She was born Irene Frizzel on September 5, 1887 in Chicago, Illinois. Lionel Barrymore (April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. Born Today Most Popular Celebs Most Popular Celebs Celebrity News. Diana Barrymore … He also directed several films, wrote scripts, created etchings, sketches and composed music. [when asked by a writer to compose his own epitaph] Well, I've played everything but a harp. Barrymore died of a heart attack on 15 November 1954, Van Nuys, CA. Barrymore was born into an acting family on 28 April 1878 in Philadelphia. Kildare's Strange Case” (1940). I don't believed that's true today and I don't think that it ever was. His early notable films included Sadie Thompson (1928) and The Mysterious Island (1929). Why, the fact that he was an actor made everything he said open to question, because acting was thought to be a vocation embraced exclusively by scatter-brains, wastrels and scamps. ... 1929 The Hollywood Revue of 1929 Lionel Barrymore - Director of … From 1938, his screen roles were written to accommodate his disability. While he was gaining his reputation on the stage, screen and in radio, he also received recognition for his artistic and musical achievements. Son of Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Barrymore; grandson of Louisa Drew and stage actor John Drew (1827-1862); nephew of, Reared Roman Catholic by their mother, the three Barrymore siblings all had suffered the stigma of divorce (doubtless connected to the family business) and only. Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. Lionel Barrymore 2021 - Biography at Wikipedia (Wiki, Age, Birthday) Lionel Barrymore - actor, director Lionel Barrymore was born on April 12, 1878 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for A Free Soul (1931). Lionel Barrymore was born on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, United States, is Actor. Lionel Barrymore was born Lionel Herbert Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of actors Georgiana Drew Barrymore and Maurice Barrymore . Drew Blythe Barrymore (born February 22, 1975) is an American actress, producer, director, talk show host and entrepreneur, who is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA nomination. Their second child, Mary, died within a few months of her birth in 1916. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Nobody gives up a job, even if he's ninety, or sick, or has money like Midas. Though raised a … )He wed the actress Doris Rankin, whose sister Gladys was married to Lionel's uncle Sidney Drew, and they moved to Paris in the latter part of the fist decade of the 20th Century, returning to The States in 1910. Along with Ethel Barrymore and John Barrymore, he shares a prominent place in American acting in the first half of the 20th Century. ... Born in 1878 #13. After a brief courtship, Barrymore and Georgie married on 31 December 1876, and had three children: Lionel (born 1878), Ethel (born 1879), and John (born 1882). He was the elder brother of Ethel and John Barrymore, the uncle of John Drew Barrymore and Diana Barrymore, and the granduncle (or great-uncle) of Drew Barrymore. Other memorable movies were Captains Courageous (1937), The Valley of Decision (1945), Duel in the Sun (1947), and Key Largo (1948). Lionel along with his sister Ethel and brother John, all aspired for careers away from the stage but were all forced into the family vocation. When was Lionel Barrymore born? Take advantage of our Presidents' Day bonus! Famed actor, composer, artist, author and director. As a screen actor, he was ranked among the best. He is also survived by John D. Barrymore, a son by his first wife, actress … He was born Lionel Herbert Blythe on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, the son of actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew Barrymore. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul (1931), and remains best known to … You can't retire in Hollywood. He appeared with his brother, John, in Grand Hotel (1932) and with both John and their sister, Ethel, in Rasputin and the Empress (1932). In the popular and long-running Dr. Kildare film series, which began with Young Dr. Kildare in 1938, he played Dr. Gillespie. Personal life Barrymore was born Lionel Herbert Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of actors Georgiana Drew and Maurice Barrymore (née Blythe). He was the son of actors Maurice Barrymore (Herbert Arthur Chamberlayne Blythe) and Georgiana Drew (Georgiana Emma Drew). Her mother had wanted to be an … ", "Farewell Symphony (1-act opera)", "Elegie (piano pieces)", "Rondo for Piano" and "Scherzo Grotesque". He was also later to be known as the quietest of the triumvirate of Lionel, Ethel and John, born … Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He returned to acting full-time in 1931, giving the performance that won him a Best Actor Oscar in A Free Soul (1931) with Shearer and Gable. His talents extended to the authoring of the novel "Mr. Cartonwine: A Moral Tale" as well as his autobiography. Lionel Barrymore was born on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, United States, is Actor. ("Barrymore" was … This role led directly to his being cast as Mr. Potter in "It's A Wonderful Life". She is a member of the Barrymore family of actors, and the granddaughter of John Barrymore.. Barrymore … His parents were actors Georgiana Drew and Maurice Barrymore, who had been born Maurice Blythe. He played Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" on the radio annually for 20 years between 1934 and 1953. His parents were actors Georgiana Drew and Maurice Barrymore, who had been born Maurice Blythe. Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. … Barrymore was a member of the historical actor's club of New York, The Lambs, in 1900 and remained a member until his death. We Barrymores (1951), by Lionel Barrymore as told to Cameron Shipp, is basically an autobiography but contains much information on his famous siblings, John and Ethel. He was 76 years old when he died. Started as a stock player at the Biograph Company. He was born Lionel Herbert Blythe on April 28, 1878, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. into the prominent theatrical Barrymore family. In non-MGM films, he appeared with Gloria Swanson in Sadie Thompson (1928) and was reunited with D.W. Griffith in the director's Drums of Love (1928). He won an Academy … He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul (1931), and remains perhaps best known for the role of the villainous Mr. Potter character in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.He was a member of the theatrical Barrymore family. Biography of Lionel Barrymore (excerpt) Lionel Barrymore (April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American Academy Award-winning actor of stage, radio and film. He soon established his reputation as an actor in New York City in such plays as Peter Ibbetson (1917), The Copperhead (1918), and The Jest (1919). He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul (1931), and remains best known to modern audiences for the role of the villainous Mr. Potter character in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. I didn't want to act. Their first child, named Ethel after his sister, was born and died in 1908. The marriage strained his relationship with his brother, and they were not reconciled until 1926.In addition to acting at Biograph, Lionel also tried his hand at directing. William Edward Blythe (1818–1873), married Matilda Chamberlayne (1822-1849); they had seven children View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, 20th Century Icons Born in the 19th Century in the 22nd Century. She was born Irene Frizzel on September 5, 1887 in Chicago, Illinois. He appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: Starred in seven Oscar Best Picture nominees: Counting unofficial nominees, is the first person to have Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (for. He was born Lionel Herbert Blythe on April 28, 1878 in Philadelphia, the son of actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew Barrymore. Publicity Listings https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/lionel-barrymore-7259.php Today, 1878-Lionel Barrymore, eldest of the famed acting clan that includes Ethel, John and, later, Drew, is born Lionel Herbert Blythe in Philadelphia.