What's After the Movie
Harry Davenport
Harry Davenport (Harold George Bryant Davenport, 1866‑01‑19 – 1949‑08‑09) was an American stage and screen veteran whose career spanned more than eight decades, making him one of the longest‑working performers in U.S. entertainment history. Born in the Roxbury district of Boston to celebrated thespian parents Edward Loomis Davenport and English actress Fanny Vining Davenport, he was steeped in theatrical tradition from infancy; his first appearance came at age five on the boards of Philadelphia’s Chestnut Street Theatre in Damon and Pythias. After a successful Broadway run that began with The Voyage of Suzette in 1894, Davenport transitioned to silent film in 1913, debuting in the short Kenton’s Heir and soon directing a series of comedy shorts under the “Mr. & Mrs. Jarr” banner. He co‑founded the Actors’ Equity Association in 1913, helping to secure fair treatment for performers and staging historic Broadway strikes that reshaped labor relations in the theatrical world. By the 1930s, the veteran had migrated to Hollywood, where his dignified demeanor and silver‑haired visage landed him a flood of “grandfather” and authority‑figure roles; notable performances include Dr. Meade in Gone with the Wind (1939), the kindly grandfather in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), and the imperious King Louis XI in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). Bette Davis famously called him “the greatest character actor of all time,” a sentiment echoed by critics who praised his ability to infuse even the smallest parts with gravitas and warmth. Over his lifetime he appeared in more than 160 films, working with directors such as Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock, and Vincente Minnelli, and sharing screen time with stars like Judy Garland, Ronald Reagan, and Myrna Loy. His personal life was equally prolific: he married Alice Shepphard in 1893 (divorced 1896) and actress Phyllis Rankin later that year, fathering four children—including actress Dorothy Davenport—and adopting Phyllis’s son Arthur Rankin, whose lineage would later birth the famous Rankin/Bass animation studio. Davenport died of a sudden heart attack in Los Angeles at age 83, just one hour after inquiring about a new role; he was interred in Kensico Cemetery, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering dedication to the craft of acting.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Harry Davenport, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Harry Davenport rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Harold George Bryant Davenport
Born: Roxbury, Boston, U.S.
Citizenship: United States
Birthday: January 19, 1866
Occupations: Actor, Director
Years Active: 1871-1949
Children: 4
Spouses: Alice Shepphard, Phyllis Rankin
External Links and Streaming Options
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Movies Featuring Harry Davenport
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Meet Me in St. Louis
Meet John Doe
That Hagen Girl
That Lady in Ermine
Tales of Manhattan
Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake
Faithful in My Fashion
We’ve Never Been Licked
December 7th
The Ox-Bow Incident
Gangway for Tomorrow
Too Many Husbands
One Foot in Heaven
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Lucky Partners
For the Love of Mary
The Man from Texas
King of Hockey
Three Daring Daughters
Gold Is Where You Find It
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
The Cowboy and the Lady
Kings Row
Under Cover of Night
Jack London
They Won’t Forget
This Love of Ours
The Rage of Paris
Down to the Sea in Ships
I Wanted Wings
The Farmer’s Daughter
White Bondage
Paradise Express
His Woman
Larceny, Inc.
Pardon My Past
That Uncertain Feeling
You Can’t Take It with You
I Want a Divorce
Made for Each Other
Fit for a King
Claudia and David
A Boy and His Dog
Man-Proof
Tell It to the Judge
Her Husband’s Secretary
The Case of the Black Cat
The Scoundrel
Fly Away Baby
The Perfect Specimen
The Thin Man Goes Home
The Enchanted Forest
Princess O’Rourke
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
Wells Fargo
Juarez
Kismet
Mr. Dodd Takes the Air
The Sisters
Adventure
The Life of Emile Zola
Stallion Road
Saleslady
Riding High
All This, and Heaven Too
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
That Forsyte Woman
Music for Millions
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
Marie Antoinette
The First Hundred Years
She Wouldn’t Say Yes
Tail Spin
The Impatient Years
First Lady
Three Wise Fools
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Harry Davenport, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1949
Down to the Sea in Ships
Benjamin Harris
Tell It to the Judge
Judge MacKenzie Meredith
That Forsyte Woman
Old Jolyon Forsyte
1948
That Lady in Ermine
Luigi
For the Love of Mary
Justice Peabody
The Man from Texas
Pop Hickey
Three Daring Daughters
Dr. Cannon
1947
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
That Hagen Girl
Judge Merrivale
The Farmer’s Daughter
Dr. Matthew Sulven
Stallion Road
Dr. Stevens
1946
Faithful in My Fashion
Great Grandpa
Claudia and David
Dr. Harry
A Boy and His Dog
Squire Jim Kirby
Three Wise Fools
The Ancient
1945
Meet Me in St. Louis
This Love of Ours
Dr. Wilkerson
Pardon My Past
Grandpa Pemberton
The Enchanted Forest
Old John
Adventure
Dr. Ashton
She Wouldn’t Say Yes
Albert
1944
The Thin Man Goes Home
Dr. Bertram Charles
Kismet
Agha
Music for Millions
Doctor
The Impatient Years
Minister
1943
We’ve Never Been Licked
Pop Lambert
December 7th
Mr. 'C'
The Ox-Bow Incident
Arthur Davies
Gangway for Tomorrow
Fred Taylor
Jack London
Prof. Hilliard
Princess O’Rourke
Supreme Court Judge
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
Commodore Thomas Spencer Holliday
1942
Tales of Manhattan
Prof. Lyons
Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake
Amos Kidder
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Bane
Kings Row
Colonel Skeffington
Larceny, Inc.
Homer Bigelow
1941
Meet John Doe
Former Bulletin Owner (uncredited)
One Foot in Heaven
Elias Samson
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Pop Tolliver
I Wanted Wings
'Sandbags' Riley
That Uncertain Feeling
Jones
1940
Too Many Husbands
George
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet
Judge
Lucky Partners
Judge
I Want a Divorce
Grandpa Brokaw
All This, and Heaven Too
Pierre
1939
Made for Each Other
Dr. Healy (uncredited)
Juarez
Dr. Samuel Basch
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
King Louis XI
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
Judge Rider
Tail Spin
T.P. Lester
1938
Gold Is Where You Find It
Dr. Parsons
The Cowboy and the Lady
Uncle Hannibal Smith
The Rage of Paris
Pop, Caretaker
You Can’t Take It with You
Judge
Man-Proof
Hitchhiker (uncredited)
The Sisters
Doc Moore
Saleslady
Miles Cannon
Marie Antoinette
Monsieur de Cosse (uncredited)
The First Hundred Years
Uncle Dawson
1937
Under Cover of Night
Dr. Reed
They Won’t Forget
Confederate Soldier
White Bondage
Pop Craig
Paradise Express
Jed Carson
Fit for a King
Archduke Julio
Her Husband’s Secretary
Dan Kingdon
Fly Away Baby
Colonel Higgam
The Perfect Specimen
Carl Carter
Wells Fargo
Ingalls, banker
Mr. Dodd Takes the Air
Doc Quinn
The Life of Emile Zola
Chief of Staff
First Lady
Charles
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