John Sidney Blyth Barrymore February 15 1882 May 29 1942 was an acclaimed American actor He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III His success continued with motion pictures in various genres in both the silent and sound eras Barrymores personal life has been the subject of much writing before and since his passing in 1942 Today John Barrymore is mostly known for his roles in movies like Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde 1920 Grand Hotel 1932 Dinner at Eight 1933 Twentieth Century 1934 and Don Juan 1926 the first ever movie to use a Vitaphone soundtrack A member of a multigeneration theatrical dynasty he was the brother of Lionel Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore and was the paternal grandfather of Drew Barrymore
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