George W. Barbier (November 19, 1864 – July 19, 1945) was an American stage and film actor who appeared in 88 films.

Early life and education Barbier was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He entered the Crozer Theological Seminary in Upland, Pennsylvania to study for the ministry but gave it up to go on the stage.

Career

Barbier began his career in light opera and spent several years in repertory and stock companies. He eventually played on Broadway, where he appeared in seven productions between 1922 and 1930, among them The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Front Page and The Man Who Came Back.

He signed a contract with Paramount Pictures in 1929 and later worked as a character actor for most of the major studios. His first film was The Big Pond (1930). The weighty, white-haired Barbier often played pompous, but mostly kind-hearted businessmen or patriarchs in supporting roles. George Barbier appeared in 88 films until his death in 1945.

Personal life Barbier married Caroline "Carrie" Thatcher (June 1868, Pennsylvania – June 8, 1939), a stage actress; theirs was reportedly "one of the most successful marriages in Hollywood."

Barbier was originally interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California but was disinterred and reburied in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Complete filmography

The Big Pond (1930) as Mr. Billings The Sap from Syracuse (1930) as Senator Powell The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) as King Adolf XV 24 Hours (1931) as Hector Champion Girls About Town (1931) as Webster Touchdown (1931) as Jerome Gehring No One Man (1932) as Alfred Newbold Strangers in Love (1932) as Mr. Merrow One Hour with You (1932) as Police Commissioner The Broken Wing (1932) as Luther Farley The Strange Case of Clara Deane (1932) as Richard Ware Million Dollar Legs (1932) as Mr. Baldwin Skyscraper Souls (1932) as Charlie Norton Madame Racketeer (1932) as Warden George Waddell (uncredited) The Phantom President (1932) as Boss Jim Ronkton The Big Broadcast (1932) as Clapsaddle Evenings for Sale (1932) as Henrich Fischer No Man of Her Own (1932) as Mr. Randall Hello, Everybody! (1933) as Mr. Blair A Lady's Profession (1933) as James Garfield Under the Tonto Ridge (1933) as Weston A Bedtime Story (1933) as Toy Seller Sunset Pass (1933) as Judge Mama Loves Papa (1933) as Mr. Kirkwood Turn Back the Clock (1933) as Pete Evans This Day and Age (1933) as Judge Michael Maguire Love, Honor, and Oh Baby! (1933) as Jasper B. Ogden Tillie and Gus (1933) as Captain Fogg Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen (1934) as MacCready Journal of a Crime (1934) as Chautard Many Happy Returns (1934) as Horatio Allen The Cat's-Paw (1934) as Jake Mayo Elmer and Elsie (1934) as John Kincaid Ladies Should Listen (1934) as Joseph Flamberg She Loves Me Not (1934) as J. Thorval Jones The Merry Widow (1934) as King Achmed II College Rhythm (1934) as John P. Stacey McFadden's Flats (1935) as Mr. Hall Life Begins at 40 (1935) as Colonel Joseph Ambercrombie Hold 'Em Yale (1935) as Mr. Van Cleve Broadway Gondolier (1935) as Music Critic Hayward Old Man Rhythm (1935) as John Roberts Sr. The Crusades (1935) as Sancho, King of Navarre Hollywood Extra Girl (1935, Documentary Short) (uncredited) Here Comes Cookie (1935) as Harrison Allen Millions in the Air (1935) as Calvin Keller The Milky Way (1936) as Wilbur Austin The Preview Murder Mystery (1936) as Jerome Hewitt Wife vs. Secretary (1936) as J. D. Underwood The Princess Comes Across (1936) as Captain Nichols Early to Bed (1936) as Horace Stanton Spendthrift (1936) as Uncle Morton Middleton Three Married Men (1936) as Mr. Carey On the Avenue (1937) as Commodore Caraway Waikiki Wedding (1937) as J. P. Todhunter Hotel Haywire (1937) as I. Ketts It's Love I'm After (1937) as William West A Girl with Ideas (1937) as John Morton Tarzan's Revenge (1938) as Roger Reed The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) as Kublai Khan Hold That Kiss (1938) as Mr. Piermont Little Miss Broadway (1938) as Fiske My Lucky Star (1938) as George Cabot Sr. Hold That Co-ed (1938) as Major Hubert Breckenridge Straight, Place and Show(1938) as Mr. Drake Sweethearts (1938) as Benjamin Silver Thanks for Everything (1938) as Joe Raines Wife, Husband and Friend (1939) as Major Blair S.O.S. Tidal Wave (1939) as Uncle Dan Carter News Is Made at Night (1939) as Clanahan Smuggled Cargo (1939) as C.P. Franklin Remember? (1939) as Mr. McIntyre Village Barn Dance (1940) as Uncle Si The Return of Frank James (1940) as Judge Repent at Leisure (1941) as Robert Cornelius 'R.C,' Baldwin Million Dollar Baby (1941) as Marlin Sing Another Chorus (1941) as Arthur Peyton Week-End in Havana (1941) as Walter McCracken Marry the Boss's Daughter (1941) as J. W. Barrett The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) as Dr. E. Bradley Song of the Islands (1942) as Jefferson Harper Sr. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) as A. L. Erlanger The Magnificent Dope (1942) as James Roger Barker Thunder Birds (1942) as Col. Cyrus P. 'Gramps' Saunders Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943) as Col. Weatherby (uncredited) Week-End Pass (1944) as Commander "Paps' Bradley Her Lucky Night (1945) as J.L. Wentworth Blonde Ransom (1945) as Uncle William Morrison (final film role)

References

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