John Sidney Blyth, also known as John Barrymore, was born on February 15, 1882, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was an American stage and screen actor who rose to superstardom and subsequently declined, leaving behind a legendary tragedy in Hollywood.
As a member of the most famous theatrical family in America, Barrymore was part of a family that produced three legendary stars: John, Lionel Barrymore, and Ethel Barrymore. His father, Maurice Blyth, was a stage success under the name Maurice Barrymore, and his mother, Georgie Drew, was the daughter of actor John Drew.
Although Maurice and Georgie were well-known in the theatre, they were eclipsed by their three children, each of whom became a legendary star. John Barrymore was handsome and roguish, making his stage debut at the age of 18 in one of his father's productions. However, he was more interested in becoming an artist.
Briefly educated at King's College, Wimbledon, and at New York's Art Students League, Barrymore worked as a freelance artist and sketched for the New York Evening Journal. He gradually became drawn to his family's profession and by 1905, he had given up professional drawing and was touring the country in plays.
Barrymore survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and in 1909, became a major Broadway star in "The Fortune Hunter". In 1922, he became his generation's most acclaimed "Hamlet" in New York and London. By this time, he had become a frequent player in motion pictures, making his screen debut supposedly in An American Citizen (1914),although records indicate he may have made appearances as far back as 1912.
Barrymore became every bit the star of films that he was on stage, eclipsing his siblings in both arenas. He was known for his striking matinee-idol looks, which earned him the nickname "The Great Profile". However, he often buried his looks under makeup or distortion to create memorable characters of degradation or horror.
Barrymore was a romantic leading man into the early days of sound films, but his heavy drinking, which began in his boyhood, began to take a toll on his career. He degenerated quickly into a man old before his time, making a number of memorable appearances in character roles. However, these appearances became more memorable for the humiliation of a once-great star than for his gifts.
Barrymore's last few films were broad and distasteful caricatures of himself, although he could still rouse himself to a moving soliloquy from "Hamlet" in even the worst films. He died on May 29, 1942, mourned as much for the loss of his life as for the loss of grace, wit, and brilliance that had characterized his career at its height.
