H.B. Warner

Henry Byron Warner was the definitive cinematic Jesus Christ in Cecil B DeMilles 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 JB Warner as Jesus in The King of Kings 1927 when JB died of tuberculosis at age 29 JB was not Henrys brother JB had taken the professional last name Warner because Henrys family took him in Henry Warners 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 fathers 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 Hoyts Theatre on November 24 1902 starring James ONeill the father of playwright Eugene ONeill He was billed as HB 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 twinbill 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 DeMilles 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 Cant 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 Its 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 HB Warner appeared in Sunset Blvd 1950 as himself His last credited role was as Amminadab in DeMilles The Ten Commandments 1956 a remake of the earlier silent The Ten Commandments 1923 He last role was an uncredited bit part in Darbys Rangers 1958