John Barrymore | 1882–1942 |
Bert Sharkey. John Barrymore as Hamlet. Engraving, early 20th century. Folger Shakespeare Library.
John Barrymore as Hamlet. Autographed photo, 1922. Folger Shakespeare Library.
MGM/Photofest. © MGM.
John Barrymore seemed born to stardom. His grandmother Mrs. John Drew managed a theater for 30 years; his parents, Georgiana Drew and Maurice Barrymore, were leading performers, as were his older brother, Lionel, and older sister, Ethel. He showed little real interest in acting until his mid-30s, when he suddenly became a serious performer, ultimately producing stunning interpretations of Richard III and Hamlet in 1920 and 1922. Barrymore then left for Hollywood, returning only once to the American stage. On the screen, he briefly revisited Shakespeare in an Oscar-nominated performance as Mercutio in MGM’s 1936 Romeo and Juliet.