John Barrymore
John Barrymore (1882-1942), US actor, a member of a distinguished Anglo-American family of actors. He made his stage debut in 1903 and was soon idolized by the public for his striking good looks and dashing personality. From 1912 he acted mainly in films and on radio. His private life was notoriously unsettled and troubled by alcoholism. His films include Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920), Svengali (1931), and Grand Hotel (1932). His brother Lionel (1878-1954) was a character actor in many films, including A Free Soul (1931) and Duel in the Sun (1946). Their sister Ethel (1897-1959) was a successful actress on the New York stage from 1901. She occasionally appeared in films and won an Academy Award for her supporting role in None But the Lonely Heart (194). The dynasty has continued to the present with John Barrymore’s children Diana (1921-60) and John Jr (1932- ) and his granddaughter Drew Barrymore (1975)
