Ivor Barnard

Ivor Barnard (13 June 1887 – 30 June 1953) was an English stage, radio and film actor whose career spanned more than four decades. Born in Marylebone, London, he became an original member of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where his performances as Shylock and Caliban earned critical acclaim and demonstrated his remarkable versatility. He later originated the role of the Water Rat in the first London production of A. A. Milne’s Toad of Toad Hall, cementing his reputation as a reliable character actor. In 1929 Barnard’s talent crossed the Atlantic when John Drinkwater wrote the part of Blanquet in Bird in Hand especially for him; the production enjoyed a successful run in London’s West End before transferring to the Morosco Theatre in New York, where a young Laurence Olivier appeared as the juvenile lead. Throughout his theatrical years, Barnard balanced classical repertory work with emerging opportunities in radio, showcasing a voice that suited both Shakespearean tragedy and contemporary drama, and establishing him as a respected figure in Britain’s performing arts community.