The First Family of Acting

By Tom Morrow

The Barrymore family was to be the most prolific producers of stage, screen and TV actors ever. Most of the world knows present-day Drew Barrymore, but she is merely the latest of a very, very long line of actors from the combined Drew and Barrymore families.
Space in column for their story is far too small to do it justice, so I’m limiting it to the five Barrymores who many of today’s movie lovers will recognize.
Beginning with the two brothers and sister act of John, Lionel, and Ethel Barrymore, their faces will be recognizable to those of you who love old classic movies.
Lionel (1878–1954), and Ethel (1879–1959) was followed by John the youngest of the three. Their father was Maurice Barrymore, an Indian-born British actor who had been born Herbert Blyth, and had adopted Barrymore as a stage name after seeing it on a poster in the Haymarket Theatre of London.
John was known as “the great profile” because of his distinctive Roman nose. “Jack” as he was known to fellow thespians was born Feb. 14, 1882. He made dozens of movies, both silent and sound, but became such an alcoholic he had to have his lines pasted various place on the set for him to read. If you watch one of his later films you’ll note he’s not looking at the other actors but staring off over their shoulders to see what line he has next. One of his most noted movies was “Grand Hotel,” (1932) co-starring Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford and brother Lionel. It won the Oscar for “Best Picture of the Year.”
Early in his career, Jack’s portrayal of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” led to him being called the “greatest living American tragedian.”
Barrymore’s alcohol dependence meant most studios were unwilling to employ him, but MGM risked casting him in the role of Mercutio in their 1936 film “Romeo and Juliet.” To minimize disruption to the schedule, the studio put Barrymore into a sanatorium for alcoholics, but he continued to drink covertly and was disruptive on set. Opinions on his portrayal were divided.
Ethel was the aunt of actor John Drew Barrymore, and great-aunt of today’s actress Drew Barrymore. Ethel was a stage, screen and radio actress whose career spanned six decades, and was regarded as “The First Lady of the American Theatre.” She appeared in a number of noteworthy films and radio programs.
In early days, Sir Winston Churchill was among Ethel’s many friends in England. Churchill reportedly proposed to her in 1900, but she makes no mention of that in her autobiography, though she includes a photograph of herself and Churchill on the lawn at Blenheim Palace in 1899.
Lionel Barrymore (April 28, 1878 – Nov. 15, 1954) was an actor as well as a film director. 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 unforgettable role of the villainous Mr. Potter in Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
John Drew Barrymore (June 4, 1932 – Nov. 29, 2004), son of Jack Barrymore, joined the acting family but wasn’t as successful as older members. He was the father of today’s Drew Barrymore. He was a leading man in his second movie, “High Lonesome” (1950). He starred in “The Big Night” (1951), and was in “Thunderbirds” (1952).
Granddaughter of Jack Barrymore, Drew Blythe Barrymore (born Feb. 22, 1975) currently is an American actress, producer, director, author, entrepreneur and most recently host of a CBS talk show. She achieved fame as a child actress with her first role in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982). She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a British BAFTA nomination.
In 1991, following a highly publicized, somewhat notorious childhood marked by drug and alcohol abuse, Drew Barrymore released an autobiography, “Little Girl Lost,” when she was 16. Drew appeared in a string of successful films throughout the decade, including “Boys on the Side” (1995), “Mad Love” (1995), “Scream” (1996), and “Ever After” (1998). Barrymore collaborated with Adam Sandler on films, including “The Wedding Singer” (1998), “50 First Dates” (2004) and “Blended” (2014).
In 1995, Barrymore co-founded the production company Flower Films, which have produced several projects in which she has starred. In 2013, Barrymore launched a range of cosmetics under the Flower banner, which has grown to include lines in makeup, perfume and eyewear. Her other business ventures include a range of wines and a clothing line. In 2015, she released her memoir, “Wildflower.” Barrymore received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.
The long ancestorial line of the Drew and Barrymore families make for fascinating reading, especially the careers of “Jack,” Lionel and Ethel. Drew Barrymore seems destined to be one of the most successful in that long family tree.