تولد
October 26, 1876 in London, England, UK
محل تولد
New York City , New York , USA
Henry Byron Warner was the definitive cinematic Jesus Christ in Cecil B. DeMille's König der Könige (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 König der Könige (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 the United States in the early 1900s, after touring the British Empire. Billed as Harry Warner, he made his Broadway debut in the US 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 König der Könige (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 Hauptmann Sorrell und sein Sohn (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 geht in die Stadt (1936). Cast again by Capra, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in In den Fesseln von Shangri-La (1937). He also appeared in Lebenskünstler (1938), and Mr. Smith geht nach Washington (1939). Other major talkies included Der Teufel und Daniel Webster (1941) and Ich suche meinen Mörder (1941). Other than Jesus, the role he is best remembered role for today is in Ist das Leben nicht schön? (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 Boulevard der Dämmerung (1950) as himself. His last credited role was as Amminadab in DeMille's Die zehn Gebote (1956), a remake of the earlier silent Die zehn Gebote (1923). He last role was an uncredited bit part in Von Panzern überrollt (1958). Henry Warner died on December 21, 1958 in Woodland Hills, California. He was 82 years old. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Jon C. Hopwood
