
H.B. Warner
Actor · Died December 21, 1958, aged 82 · London, England, UK
Henry Byron Warner (often credited as H.B. Warner) was an English actor. He was the definitive cinematic Jesus Christ in Cecil B. DeMille's 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 J.B. Warner as Jesus in The King of Kings (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 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 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 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 Can't 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 It's 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). H.B. Warner appeared in Sunset Blvd. (1950) as himself. His last credited role was as Amminadab in DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956), a remake of the earlier silent The Ten Commandments (1923). He last role was an uncredited bit part in Darby's Rangers (1958).
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Biography from TMDB.
- October 25, 1876
- December 21, 1958 (aged 82)
- London, England, UK
- Actor
- 41 on MovieCove · 134 credits in all
Known for
What are H.B. Warner's films like?
Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 34
A split, not a type: Light 19 · Serious 10 · Dark 6
A split, not a type: Grounded 21 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 2
Gentle 8 · Charged 21 · Intense 6
Steady 19 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 6
Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 1
Casual 24 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 1
Easy watch 18 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 3
Resolved 31 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1
Roles they play
Usually the Mentor: 5 of 12 analyzed roles.
Show the 12 rolesHide the roles
- Mentoras Henry Grayson in Wild Company (1930)
- Mentoras Dr. Daniel Gregory in Unholy Love (1932)
- Mentoras Charlie Miller in In Old Santa Fe (1934)
- Threshold guardianas Chang in Lost Horizon (1937)
- Threshold guardianas Colonel Nielson in Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938)
- Threshold guardianas Colonel Nielson in Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939)
- Allyas Captain McVeigh in City of Missing Girls (1941)
- Shadowas Mr. Carrington in Topper Returns (1941)
- Threshold guardianas Herbert Forbes in A Yank in Libya (1942)
- Threshold guardianas Abdul El Rashid in Action in Arabia (1944)
- Mentoras Dr. Mansfield in Strange Impersonation (1946)
- Mentoras Brother Joseph in Hellfire (1949)
Moods and endings
- Happy23
- Bittersweet7
- Tragic2
- Ambiguous2
- Cyclical1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch H.B. Warner's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) · actor · free
- Lost Horizon (1937) · actor · free
- The King of Kings (1927) · actor · free
- Topper Returns (1941) · actor · free
- The Corsican Brothers (1941) · actor · free
- Nurse Edith Cavell (1939) · actor · free
- Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939) · actor · free
- Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938) · actor · free
- Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938) · actor · free
- Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939) · actor · free
- The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) · actor · free
- In Old Santa Fe (1934) · actor · free
- +4 more
Subscription and free streaming for H.B. Warner's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
134 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

The Resurrection of Christ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

Lux Æterna: The Art of Filmmaking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

The Ten Commandments(1956)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Journey Into Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

Here Comes the Groom(1951)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
Savage Drums (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

The First Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

Sunset Boulevard(1950)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Hellfire(1949)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
El Paso(1949)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
The Prince of Thieves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

High Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

The Judge Steps Out(1948)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Driftwood(1947)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
It's a Wonderful Life(1946)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Gentleman Joe Palooka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

Strange Impersonation(1946)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Prospecting for Petroleum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

Captain Tugboat Annie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

Rogues' Gallery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

Faces in the Fog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

Enemy of Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

Action in Arabia(1944)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
Women in Bondage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

Hitler's Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

The Boss of Big Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

A Yank in Libya(1942)
Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
Crossroads(1942)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
The Corsican Brothers(1941)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
South of Tahiti (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

City of Missing Girls(1941)
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
Topper Returns(1941)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
New Moon(1940)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
The Rains Came(1939)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Nurse Edith Cavell(1939)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Bulldog Drummond's Bride(1939)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
Let Freedom Ring(1939)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Arrest Bulldog Drummond(1938)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Army Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
The Toy Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Kidnapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all filmsOur Fighting Navy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Victoria the Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Lost Horizon(1937)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Along Came Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

Blackmailer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town(1936)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Moonlight Murder(1936)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
The Garden Murder Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

Rose of the Rancho(1936)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
A Tale of Two Cities(1935)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Born to Gamble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

Night Alarm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Behold My Wife! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

In Old Santa Fe(1934)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Grand Canary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Viva Villa! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Sorrell and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Christopher Bean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Jennie Gerhardt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Supernatural (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Justice Takes a Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

The Son-Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

The Phantom of Crestwood(1932)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all filmsThe Crusader (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Tom Brown of Culver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Unholy Love(1932)
Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
Cross-Examination (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

A Woman Commands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

The Menace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Charlie Chan's Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Expensive Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Five Star Final(1931)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
The Reckless Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

A Woman of Experience (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

The Princess and the Plumber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Liliom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

On Your Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Wild Company(1930)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
The Second Floor Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

The Furies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

The Green Goddess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Wedding Rings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Tiger Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Show of Shows(1929)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
The Argyle Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

The Gamblers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

The Trial of Mary Dugan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Stark Mad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

The Doctor's Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

The Divine Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

Conquest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
The Naughty Duchess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

Romance of a Rogue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

Man-Made Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

French Dressing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

Sorrell and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

The King of Kings(1927)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Whispering Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Is Love Everything? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

The Man from Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

Zaza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

When We Were Twenty-One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)
Dice of Destiny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

Felix O'Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

One Hour Before Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)
Haunting Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

A Fugitive from Matrimony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

The Gray Wolf's Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

For a Woman's Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

The Pagan God (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

The Man Who Turned White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

Danger Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

God's Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

The Seventh Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)
The Vagabond Prince (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

Shell 43 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

The Market of Vain Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)
The Beggar of Cawnpore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

The Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

The Ghost Breaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

The Lost Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)
English Nell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1900)
Career shape
Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 134 titles from 1900 to 2026.
Film career
Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles.
- 1923Screen debut· Zaza
- 1927First top-billed film· The King of Kings
- 1927Breakout· The King of Kings
Billing
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.
How do H.B. Warner's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 41; across their 35 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up12
- 50th to 74th12
- 25th to 49th13
- Below 25th4
Shape of the crowd
16 of their 41 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved9
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser16
- Broadly Agreed9
- Mixed6
Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 34 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 51. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Is H.B. Warner's work okay for kids?
Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.
Who does H.B. Warner work with?
People who share at least 2 of H.B. Warner's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Frank Capra shares the most, 6.
Directors
- Frank CapraShared titles: Here Comes the Groom (1951), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Lost Horizon (1937), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)See all 6 shared titles with Frank Capra

- James P. HoganShared titles: Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939), Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938)See all 3 shared titles with James P. Hogan

- Jack ConwayShared titles: Crossroads (1942), Let Freedom Ring (1939)See all 2 shared titles with Jack Conway

Writers
- Herman C. McNeileShared titles: Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939), Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938), Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938)See all 4 shared titles with Herman C. McNeile

- Garnett WestonShared titles: Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939), Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938)See all 3 shared titles with Garnett Weston
- Robert RiskinShared titles: You Can't Take It with You (1938), Lost Horizon (1937), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)See all 3 shared titles with Robert Riskin

- Nat PerrinShared titles: The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939), Rose of the Rancho (1936)See all 2 shared titles with Nat Perrin
Actors
- John HowardShared titles: Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939), Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938), Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938), Lost Horizon (1937)See all 5 shared titles with John Howard

- Edward ArnoldShared titles: The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941), Let Freedom Ring (1939), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), You Can't Take It with You (1938)See all 4 shared titles with Edward Arnold

- E.E. CliveShared titles: Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939), Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938), Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938)See all 4 shared titles with E.E. Clive

- Heather AngelShared titles: Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939), Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938), Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938)See all 4 shared titles with Heather Angel

Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Dimitri TiomkinShared titles: It's a Wonderful Life (1946), The Corsican Brothers (1941), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Lost Horizon (1937)See all 5 shared titles with Dimitri Tiomkin

- Joseph WalkerShared titles: It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Lost Horizon (1937), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)See all 5 shared titles with Joseph Walker

- Gene HavlickShared titles: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Lost Horizon (1937), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)See all 4 shared titles with Gene Havlick
- Edward LindenShared titles: A Yank in Libya (1942), City of Missing Girls (1941)See all 2 shared titles with Edward Linden
Producers
- William LeBaronShared titles: Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939), Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939), Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938), Rose of the Rancho (1936)See all 5 shared titles with William LeBaron

- Stuart WalkerShared titles: Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939), Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938)See all 3 shared titles with Stuart Walker

- George M. MerrickShared titles: A Yank in Libya (1942), City of Missing Girls (1941)See all 2 shared titles with George M. Merrick
- Edward T. Lowe Jr.Shared titles: Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939), Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938)See all 2 shared titles with Edward T. Lowe Jr.






