Harold George Bryant Davenport (January 19, 1866August 9, 1949) was an American film and stage actor who worked in show business from the age of six until his death. After a long and prolific Broadway career, he came to Hollywood in the 1930s, where he often played grandfathers, judges, doctors, and ministers. His roles include Dr. Meade in ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...

'' (1939) and Grandpa in ''

Meet Me in St. Louis ''Meet Me in St. Louis'' is a 1944 American Christmas film, Christmas musical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Divided into a series of seasonal vignettes, starting with Summer 1903, it relates the story of a year in the life of the Smith famil ...

'' (1944).

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

once called Davenport "without a doubt . .the greatest character actor of all time."

Early life

Harry Davenport was born in

Canton, Pennsylvania Canton is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The population was 1,723 at the 2020 census. Geography Canton is located in southwestern Bradford County at (41.655805, -76.850706), in ...

, where his family lived during the holidays. He also grew up in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

. Harry came from a long line of stage actors; his father was thespian

Edward Loomis Davenport Edward Loomis Davenport (1816September 1, 1877) was an American actor. Life and career Born in Boston, he made his first appearance on the stage in Providence, Rhode Island in support of Junius Brutus Booth. Afterwards he went to England, where ...

and his mother, Fanny Vining Davenport, was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

actress and a descendant of the renowned 18th-century Irish stage actor Jack Johnson. His sister was actress

Fanny Davenport Fanny Lily Gipsey Davenport (April 10, 1850 – September 26, 1898) was an English-American stage actress. Life The eldest child of Edward Loomis Davenport and Fanny Elizabeth (Vining) Gill Davenport, Fanny Lily Gypsey Davenport was born on A ...

Career

He made his stage debut at the age of five in the play ''

Damon and Pythias The story of Damon (; grc-gre, Δάμων, gen. Δάμωνος) and Pythias (; or ; or Phintias, ) is a legend in Greek historic writings illustrating the Pythagorean ideal of friendship. Pythias is accused of and charged with plotting against ...

''. Davenport made his

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

debut in ''The Voyage of Suzette'' (1894) and appeared there in numerous plays.

Film career

Stage actor Harry Davenport (SAYRE 22101)

Harry Davenport was one of the best-known and busiest "old men" in Hollywood films during the 1930s and 1940s. He started his film career at the age of 47, debuting in the 1913 silent short film ''Kenton's Heir''. The next year, he starred in ''Fogg's Millions'' co-starring

Rose Tapley Rose Elizabeth Tapley (June 30, 1881 – February 23, 1956) was an American actress of the stage and an early heroine of silent films. Early life Tapley was born in Salem, Massachusetts. She was the cousin of Captain Robert Bartlett, comm ...

. The film became the first in a series of silent comedy shorts. In addition, he also directed some silent features and many shorts between 1915 and 1917, including many of the films in the ''Mr. and Mrs. Jarr'' series. Harry Davenport played Dr. Meade in ''

'' (1939). Some of his other film roles are a lone resident in a ghost town in '' The Bride Came C.O.D.'' (1942), filmed on location in Death Valley, and the aged

Louis XI of France Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (french: le Prudent), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII. Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revo ...

in ''

The Hunchback of Notre Dame ''The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'' (french: Notre-Dame de Paris, translation=''Our Lady of Paris'', originally titled ''Notre-Dame de Paris. 1482'') is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. It focuses on the unfortunate story ...

'' (1939) with Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara and

Cedric Hardwicke Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke (19 February 1893 – 6 August 1964) was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned nearly 50 years. His theatre work included notable performances in productions of the plays of Shakespeare and Shaw, and ...

. He also had supporting roles in

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

's thriller '' Foreign Correspondent'' (1940),

William A. Wellman William Augustus Wellman (February 29, 1896 – December 9, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and military pilot. He was known for his work in crime, adventure, and action genre films, often focusing on avi ...

's western ''

The Ox-Bow Incident ''The Ox-Bow Incident'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by William A. Wellman, starring Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews and Mary Beth Hughes, with Anthony Quinn, William Eythe, Harry Morgan and Jane Darwell. Two cowboys arrive in a Western ...

'' (1943) and in ''

Kings Row ''Kings Row'' is a 1942 film starring Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan and Betty Field that tells a story of young people growing up in a small American town at the turn of the twentieth century. The picture was directed by Sam Wood ...

'' (1943) with

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

. Davenport also played the grandfather of

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in '' The ...

Vincente Minnelli Vincente Minnelli (born Lester Anthony Minnelli; February 28, 1903 – July 25, 1986) was an American stage director and film director. He directed the classic movie musicals ''Meet Me in St. Louis'' (1944), ''An American in Paris'' (1951), ''Th ...

's classic ''

'' (1944) and the great-uncle of

Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. Trained as a dancer, Loy devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. ...

and

Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Black (born Shirley Jane Temple;While Temple occasionally used "Jane" as a middle name, her birth certificate reads "Shirley Temple". Her birth certificate was altered to prolong her babyhood shortly after she signed with Fox in ...

in ''

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer ''The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer'' (released as ''Bachelor Knight'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1947 American screwball romantic comedy-drama film directed by Irving Reis and written by Sidney Sheldon. The film stars Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, a ...

'' (1947). His last film, Frank Capra's '' Riding High'' (1950), was released after his death. Harry Davenport appeared in over 160 films. Asked why he made so many films at his age, he replied:

I hate to see men of my age sit down as if their lives were ended and accept a dole. An old man must show that he knows his job and is no loafer. If he can do that, they can take their pension money and buy daisies with it.

Actors' Equity Association

In 1913, he co-founded, along with actor

Eddie Foy Edwin Fitzgerald (March 9, 1856 – February 16, 1928Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; and McNeilly, Donald. ''Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America''. Routledge Press, September 2006, . pp. 406–410), ...

, the

Actors' Equity Association The Actors' Equity Association (AEA), commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing those who work in live theatrical performance. Performers appearing in live stage productions without a boo ...

, an American labor union for actors. The original organization, known as

the White Rats The White Rats was a fraternal organization formed by vaudeville performers, led by George Fuller Golden, as a labor union to support the rights of male performers. Women and African-American performers were not allowed to join. The White Rats att ...

, was spearheaded by Davenport. After a nine-month stretch, the actors' group united in defiance of the appalling treatment of actors by theater owners such as the

Shubert family The Shubert family was responsible for the establishment of the Broadway district, in New York City, as the hub of the theater industry in the United States. They dominated the legitimate theater and vaudeville in the first half of the 20th cen ...

and

David Belasco David Belasco (July 25, 1853 – May 14, 1931) was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director, and playwright. He was the first writer to adapt the short story ''Madame Butterfly'' for the stage. He launched the theatrical career of ...

, among others, by refusing to appear on stage by striking. The actions of the association caused the closure of all the theatres on

, the only exception being theaters owned by

George M. Cohan George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878November 5, 1942) was an American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and theatrical producer. Cohan began his career as a child, performing with his parents and sister in a vaudev ...

's company.

Personal life

He and his wife Alice were wed in 1893. They had one daughter,

Dorothy Davenport Fannie Dorothy Davenport (March 13, 1895 – October 12, 1977) was an American actress, screenwriter, film director, and producer. Born into a family of film performers, Davenport had her own independent career before her marriage to the film a ...

, who also became an actress. After divorcing Alice in 1896, he married actress

Phyllis Rankin Phyllis McKee Rankin''M'Kee Rankin's House On Fire'', New York Times, April 2, 1891, pg. 8. (August 31, 1874 – November 17, 1934) was a Broadway actress and singer from the 1880s to the 1920s. Early life Phyllis McKee Rankin was the second dau ...

, that same year. They had three biological children: Ned, Ann, and Kate, who all became actors. Harry also adopted Phyllis's son, Arthur Rankin (actor father of Arthur Rankin, Jr., founder of the

Rankin/Bass Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment (founded and formerly known as Videocraft International, Ltd. and Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc.) was an American production company located in New York City, and known for its seasonal television specials, usual ...

animation studio). Actress Anne Seymour (born Anne Seymour Eckert) and her brother, radio personality Bill Seymour, were Harry Davenport's great-niece and great-nephew by their mother, May Davenport. Through his marriage to Phyllis, he was the brother-in-law of Lionel Barrymore, who was married at the time to Phyllis' sister Doris. Phyllis's father, McKee Rankin, had been the top actor at the Arch Street Theater, which was run by Lionel's grandmother and Sidney's mother, Louisa Lane Drew. He was the grandfather of producer Dirk Wayne Summers,

Arthur Rankin Jr. Arthur Gardner Rankin Jr. (July 19, 1924 – January 30, 2014) was an American director, producer and writer, who mostly worked in animation. Co-creator of Rankin/Bass Productions with his friend Jules Bass, he created stop-motion animatio ...

, and Wallace Reid Jr. After Phyllis's death, Davenport moved to Los Angeles and lived with his now-grown children. He died of a sudden

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

at age 83, one hour after he asked his agent Walter Herzbrun about a new film role. He was buried in Kensico Cemetery,

Westchester County, New York Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...

. In the obituary, a newspaper called him the "white-haired character actor" with "the longest acting career in American history".

Filmography

Actor

* ''Kenton's Heir'' (1913, Short) as The Doctor * ''Too Many Husbands'' (1914, Short) as Dr. Crane * ''The Accomplished Mrs. Thompson'' (1914, Short) * ''Fogg's Millions'' (1914, Short) * ''Rainy, the Lion Killer'' (1914, Short) as Jack Brown * ''The Professional Scapegoat'' (1914, Short) as The Lawyer *''

'' (1914) as Phillistus * '' C.O.D.'' (1914) as C.O. Darlington * ''The Jarr Family Discovers Harlem'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr Brings Home a Turkey'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr and the Lady Reformer'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr Takes a Night Off'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr's Magnetic Friend'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''The Closing of the Circuit'' (1915, Short) as Mary's Father * ''The Jarrs Visit Arcadia'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr and the Dachshund'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr Visits His Home Town'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mrs. Jarr's Auction Bridge'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mrs. Jarr and the Beauty Treatment'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr and the Ladies' Cup'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Philanthropic Tommy'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Moreland * ''Mr. Jarr and Love's Young Dream'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr and the Captive Maid'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr and Gertrude's Beaux'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr's Big Vacation'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr and Circumstantial Evidence'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mr. Jarr and the Visiting Firemen'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''Mrs. Jarr and the Society Circus'' (1915, Short) as Mr. Jarr * ''

Father and the Boys ''Father and the Boys'' is a 1915 American silent comedy film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Ida May Park, and co-starring Lon Chaney and Digby Bell. It is based on a popular 1908 Broadway play produced by Charles Frohman, called ''Fath ...

'' (1915) as Tobias Ford * ''One Night'' (1916) * ''Fashion and Fury'' (1916, Short) as The Gardener * ''O'Hagan's Scoop'' (1916, Short) as The City Editor * ''

The Wheel of the Law ''The Wheel of the Law'' is a lost 1916 American silent drama film produced and distributed by Metro Pictures and starring Emily Stevens. It was directed by George D. Baker. Cast * Emily Stevens as Mona Mainard *Frank R. Mills as John Norton (* ...

'' (1916) as John Daniels * ''The Father of Her Child'' (1916, Short) as Farmer Gray * ''The Heart of a Fool'' (1916, Short) as Abe Peters, aka Gash * ''

Sowers and Reapers ''Sowers and Reapers'' is a lost 1917 silent film feature produced by Rolfe Photoplays and distributed by Metro Pictures. George D. Baker directed and Emmy Wehlen starred.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1911-20'' published by ...

'' (1917) as Henry Ainsworth * ''

The Planter ''The Planter'' is a lost film, lost 1917 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Thomas N. Heffron and John Ince (actor), John Ince. It was produced by F. N. Manson and Harry Drum and distributed through Mutual. Cast *Tyrone Power, S ...

'' (1917) as Short * '' The Unknown Quantity'' (1919) as Septimus Kinsolving * ''

A Girl at Bay ''A Girl at Bay'' is a lost 1919 silent film drama directed by Tom Mills and starring Corinne Griffith. It was produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America.Pictorial History of the Silent Screen, p.176 c.1953 by Daniel Blum Cast ...

'' (1919) as Frank Galt * ''

Among Those Present ''Among Those Present'' is a 1921 American "three-reeler" silent comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis and Mary Pickford . Plot Mrs. O'Brien (Herring) is eager to be accepted as part of high societ ...

'' (1921, Short) (uncredited) * ''

My Sin ''My Sin'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Abbott, and written by Abbott, Owen Davis, Adelaide Heilbron. It was adapted from the play, ''Her Past'', written by Frederick J. Jackson. The film stars Tallulah Bankhead, Fre ...

'' (1931) as Roger Metcalf * ''

His Woman ''His Woman'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romance drama film directed by Edward Sloman and starring Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert. Based on the novel ''His Woman'' by Dale Collins, the story is about a tough sea captain who discovers a baby ...

'' (1931) as Customs Inspector (uncredited) * '' The Wiser Sex'' (1932) as Rolfe's Defense Attorney (uncredited) * '' Get That Venus'' (1933) as Mr. Rendleby * '' The Scoundrel'' (1935) as Slezack * ''

The Case of the Black Cat ''The Case of the Black Cat'' is a 1936 American mystery film directed by William C. McGann and an uncredited Alan Crosland, based on the 1935 Perry Mason novel '' The Case of the Caretaker's Cat'' by Erle Stanley Gardner. The film stars Ricardo ...

'' (1936) as Peter Laxter * ''

Legion of Terror ''Legion of Terror'' is a 1936 American drama/action film, directed by Charles C. Coleman. The film, which stars Bruce Cabot, Marguerite Churchill, Ward Bond, and Crawford Weaver, is a fictionalized story about the real-life Ku Klux Klan splin ...

'' (1936) as Senator Morton (uncredited) * ''

Three Men on a Horse ''Three Men on a Horse'' is a three-act farce co-authored by John Cecil Holm and George Abbott. The comedy focuses on a man who discovers he has a talent for choosing the winning horse in a race as long as he never places a bet himself. Originally ...

'' (1936) as Williams * ''

Four Days' Wonder ''Four Days' Wonder'' is a 1936 American comedy mystery film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Jeanne Dante, Kenneth Howell and Martha Sleeper. Produced by Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, ...

'' (1936) as Ticket Agent * '' King of Hockey'' (1936) as Tom McKenna * ''

Under Cover of Night ''Under Cover of Night'' is a 1937 American action film directed by George B. Seitz, written by Bertram Millhauser, and starring Edmund Lowe, Florence Rice, Nat Pendleton, Henry Daniell, Sara Haden and Dean Jagger. It was released on January 8, ...

'' (1937) as Dr. Reed * ''

Paradise Express ''Paradise Express'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Joseph Kane. Plot summary The Moon Valley Railroad is losing money to the Armstrong Trucking Company, which is owned by gangsters. When the railroad goes into receivership, it is ...

'' (1937) as Jed Carson * ''

Her Husband's Secretary ''Her Husband's Secretary'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Lillie Hayward. The film stars Jean Muir, Beverly Roberts, Warren Hull, Joseph Crehan, Clara Blandick and Addison Richards. The film was release ...

'' (1937) as Dan Kingdon * '' Maytime'' (1937) as Opera Director (uncredited) * ''

As Good as Married ''As Good as Married'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Edward Buzzell and starring John Boles, Doris Nolan and Walter Pidgeon. The film was distributed by Universal Pictures. Filming started in December 1936.Of Local Origin New York ...

'' (1937) as Jessup * '' Armored Car'' (1937) as Pop Logan * ''

Fly-Away Baby ''Fly-Away Baby'' (a.k.a. ''Fly Away Baby'') is a 1937 American crime-mystery film starring Glenda Farrell as reporter Torchy Blane, along with her detective boyfriend, Steve McBride ( Barton MacLane) solving a murder and smuggling case during a ...

'' (1937) as Colonel Higgam * ''

They Won't Forget ''They Won't Forget'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Claude Rains, Gloria Dickson, Edward Norris, and Lana Turner, in her feature debut. It was based on a novel by Ward Greene called ''Death in the Deep Sou ...

'' (1937) as Confederate Soldier * ''

White Bondage ''White Bondage'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Nick Grinde and written by Anthony Coldeway. The film stars Jean Muir, Gordon Oliver, Howard Phillips, Joe King, Harry Davenport and Virginia Brissac. The film was released by Warner B ...

'' (1937) as Pop Craig * ''

The Life of Emile Zola ''The Life of Emile Zola'' is a 1937 American biographical film about the 19th-century French author Émile Zola starring Paul Muni and directed by William Dieterle. It premiered at the Los Angeles Carthay Circle Theatre to great critical and ...

'' (1937) as Chief of Staff * '' Mr. Dodd Takes the Air'' (1937) as Doc Jeremiah George Quinn * ''

Fit for a King ''Fit for a King'' is a 1937 American film starring Joe E. Brown and directed by Edward Sedgwick. Plot summary Newspaper reporter "Scoop (term), Scoops" (Brown) is sent out on assignment, to investigate the failed assassination attempts on Arc ...

'' (1937) as Archduke Julio * ''

Radio Patrol ''Radio Patrol'' is a police comic strip carried in newspapers from August 7, 1933 to December 16, 1950 in the dailies, with a Sunday strip that ran from November 25, 1934 to October 20, 1946. It was created by artist Charles Schmidt and writer E ...

'' (1937, Serial) as John P. Adams * ''

The Perfect Specimen ''The Perfect Specimen'' is a 1937 film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn and Joan Blondell. The picture is based on a novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams. It was Flynn's first comedy. Plot Gerald Wicks, the heir to a large fortune, ...

'' (1937) as Carl Carter * ''

The Great Garrick ''The Great Garrick'' is a 1937 American historical comedy film directed by James Whale and starring Brian Aherne, Olivia de Havilland, and Edward Everett Horton. The film also features Lionel Atwill, Luis Alberni, Melville Cooper, and future sta ...

'' (1937) as Innkeeper of Turk's Head (uncredited) * ''

First Lady First lady is an unofficial title usually used for the wife, and occasionally used for the daughter or other female relative, of a non-monarchical A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state fo ...

'' (1937) as Charles * ''

Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California; operational headquarters in Manhattan; and managerial offices throughout the United States and intern ...

'' (1937) as Ingalls - Banker * ''

Man-Proof ''Man-Proof'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe. The film is based on the 1937 novel ''The Four Marys'' written by Fannie Heaslip Lea. Plot The daughter of wealthy and famous novelist Meg Swift, Mimi is a young ...

'' (1938) as Hitch-Hiking Old Man (uncredited) * '' Gold Is Where You Find It'' (1938) as Dr. Parsons * '' Reckless Living'' (1938) as 'General' Jeff * ''

The First Hundred Years ''The First Hundred Years'' is the first ongoing TV soap opera in the United States that began as a daytime serial, airing on CBS from December 4, 1950 until June 27, 1952. A previous daytime drama on NBC, '' These Are My Children'', aired in 1 ...

'' (1938) as Uncle Dawson * ''

The Higgins Family ''The Higgins Family'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Gus Meins and written by Paul Gerard Smith and Jack Townley. The film stars James Gleason, Lucile Gleason, Russell Gleason, Lynne Roberts, Harry Davenport and William Bakewell. T ...

'' (1938) as Grandpa William Jordan * ''

The Rage of Paris ''The Rage of Paris'' is a 1938 American comedy film made by Universal Pictures. The movie was directed by Henry Koster, and written by Bruce Manning and Felix Jackson. It won the Venice Film Festival for Special Recommendation. Re-issued by R ...

'' (1938) as Pop - the Caretaker * ''

Young Fugitives ''Young Fugitives'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by John Rawlins and written by Ben Grauman Kohn and Charles Grayson. The film stars Robert Wilcox, Dorothea Kent, Harry Davenport, Larry J. Blake, Clem Bevans and Mira McKinney. The ...

'' (1938) as Joel Bentham * '' Marie Antoinette'' (1938) as Monsieur de Cosse (uncredited) * '' You Can't Take It with You'' (1938) as Night Court Judge * '' The Sisters'' (1938) as Doc Moore * '' The Cowboy and the Lady'' (1938) as Uncle Hannibal Smith * ''

Orphans of the Street ''Orphans of the Street'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by John H. Auer and written by Eric Taylor, Jack Townley and Olive Cooper. The film stars Tommy Ryan, Robert Livingston, June Storey, Ralph Morgan, Harry Davenport and James Bur ...

'' (1938) as Doc Will Ramsey * ''

Long Shot In photography, filmmaking and video production, a wide shot (sometimes referred to as a full shot or long shot) is a shot that typically shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in some relation to its surro ...

'' (1939) as Henry Sharon * '' Made for Each Other'' (1939) as Dr. Healy (uncredited) * ''

Tail Spin ''Tail Spin'' (also known as ''Tailspin'') is a 1939 aviation film. The screenplay was written by Frank Wead and directed by Roy Del Ruth. It was based on the book, "Women with Wings: A novel of the modern day aviatrix" (Ganesha Publishing, 193 ...

'' (1939) as T.P. Lester * ''

The Story of Alexander Graham Bell ''The Story of Alexander Graham Bell'' is a somewhat fictionalized 1939 biographical film of the famous inventor. It was filmed in black-and-white and released by Twentieth Century-Fox. The film stars Don Ameche as Bell and Loretta Young as Mab ...

'' (1939) as Judge Rider * '' Juarez'' (1939) as Dr. Samuel Basch * ''

My Wife's Relatives ''My Wife's Relatives'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Gus Meins and written by Jack Townley. The film stars James Gleason, Lucile Gleason, Russell Gleason, Harry Davenport, Lynne Roberts and Tommy Ryan. The film was released on May ...

'' (1939) as Grandpa Ed Carson * '' Exile Express'' (1939) as Dr. Hite * '' Should Husbands Work?'' (1939) as Grandpa Higgins * ''

Death of a Champion ''Death of a Champion'' is a 1939 American film starring Lynne Overman, Virginia Dale, Joseph Allen, and Donald O'Connor. Its plot concerns an effort by detectives to discover who killed a famous show dog. The film also stars Robert Paige, w ...

'' (1939) as Guy Lanyard * '' The Covered Trailer'' (1939) as Grandpa Ed Carson * ''

'' (1939) as Dr. Meade * ''

'' (1939) as

King Louis XI Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (french: le Prudent), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII. Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revol ...

* '' Money to Burn'' (1939) as Grandpa Ed Carson * '' Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet'' (1940) as Judge * ''

Granny Get Your Gun ''Granny Get Your Gun'' is a 1940 American comedy western film directed by George Amy and written by Kenneth Gamet. The film stars May Robson, Harry Davenport, Margot Stevenson, Hardie Albright, Clem Bevans and Clay Clement. It is based primaril ...

'' (1940) as Nate * ''

Too Many Husbands ''Too Many Husbands'' (released in the United Kingdom as ''My Two Husbands'') is a 1940 American romantic comedy film about a woman who loses her husband in a boating accident and remarries, only to have her first spouse reappear—yet another var ...

'' (1940) as George * '' Grandpa Goes to Town'' (1940) as Grandpa * ''

All This, and Heaven Too ''All This, and Heaven Too'' is a 1940 American drama film made by Warner Bros.-First National Pictures, produced and directed by Anatole Litvak with Hal B. Wallis as executive producer. The screenplay was adapted by Casey Robinson from the 193 ...

'' (1940) as Pierre * ''

Lucky Partners ''Lucky Partners'' is a 1940 American comedy romance drama film directed by Lewis Milestone for RKO Radio Pictures. The film is based on the 1935 Sacha Guitry film ''Good Luck'', and stars Ronald Colman and Ginger Rogers in their only film toget ...

'' (1940) as Judge * '' Foreign Correspondent'' (1940) as Mr. Powers * ''

Earl of Puddlestone ''Earl of Puddlestone'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Gus Meins and written by Ewart Adamson and Val Burton. The film stars James Gleason, Lucile Gleason, Russell Gleason, Harry Davenport (actor), Harry Davenport, Lois Ranson and Tomm ...

'' (1940) as Grandpa Ed Carson * ''

I Want a Divorce ''I Want a Divorce'' is a 1940 Paramount film directed by Ralph Murphy. The screenplay was written by Frank Butler (based on a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns). The film starred then-married actors Joan Blondell and Dick Powell, who would later ...

'' (1940) as Grandpa Brokaw * ''

Meet John Doe ''Meet John Doe'' is a 1941 American comedy-drama film directed and produced by Frank Capra, written by Robert Riskin, and starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. The film is about a "grassroots" political campaign created unwittingly by ...

'' (1941) as Former Bulletin Owner (uncredited) * ''

I Wanted Wings ''I Wanted Wings'' is a 1941 American drama film directed by Mitchell Leisen and based on a book by Lieutenant Beirne Lay Jr. The film stars Ray Milland and William Holden. The supporting cast includes Wayne Morris, Brian Donlevy, Constance Mo ...

'' (1941) as 'Sandbags' Riley * '' That Uncertain Feeling'' (1941) as Jone * '' The Bride Came C.O.D.'' (1941) as Pop Tolliver * '' Hurricane Smith'' (1941) as Robert Ingersoll Reed * ''

One Foot in Heaven ''One Foot in Heaven'' is a 1941 American biographical film starring Fredric March, Martha Scott, Beulah Bondi, Gene Lockhart and Elisabeth Fraser. The film was adapted by Casey Robinson from the autobiography by Hartzell Spence. It was directed ...

'' (1941) as Elias Samson * '' Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake'' (1942) as Amos Kidder * ''

'' (1942) as Colonel Skeffington * ''

Larceny, Inc. ''Larceny, Inc.'' is a 1942 American film. Originally released on May 2, 1942, by Warner Bros., the film is a cross between comedy and gangster genres. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, the film stars Edward G. Robinson, Jane Wyman, Broderick Crawford, a ...

'' (1942) as Homer Bigelow * ''

Ten Gentlemen from West Point ''Ten Gentlemen from West Point'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring George Montgomery, Maureen O'Hara and John Sutton. Its cinematography was nominated for an Academy Award in 1943. George Montgomery replac ...

'' (1942) as Bane * ''

Tales of Manhattan ''Tales of Manhattan'' is a 1942 American anthology film directed by Julien Duvivier. Thirteen writers, including Ben Hecht, Alan Campbell, Ferenc Molnár, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Donald Ogden Stewart, worked on the six stories in this film. Ba ...

'' (1942) as Professor Lyons * '' The Amazing Mrs. Holliday'' (1943) as Commodore Thomas Spencer Holliday * '' Shantytown'' (1943) as 'Doc' Herndon * ''

'' (1943) as Arthur Davies * ''

We've Never Been Licked ''We've Never Been Licked'' (or ''Texas Aggies'', ''Texas to Tokyo'', and ''Fighting Command'') is a 1943 World War II propaganda film produced by Walter Wanger and released by Universal Pictures. Released in the UK under the title, ''Texas to To ...

'' (1943) as Pop Lambert * '' Headin' for God's Country'' (1943) as Clem Adams * ''

Princess O'Rourke ''Princess O'Rourke'' is a 1943 American romantic comedy film directed and written by Norman Krasna (in Krasna's directorial debut), and starring Olivia de Havilland, Robert Cummings and Charles Coburn. Krasna won the 1944 Oscar for Best Origina ...

'' (1943) as Supreme Court Judge * ''

Gangway for Tomorrow Broadly speaking, a gangway is a passageway through which to enter or leave. Gangway may refer specifically refer to: Passageways * Gangway (nautical), a passage between the quarterdeck and the forecastle of a ship, and by extension, a passage th ...

'' (1943) as Fred Taylor * ''

Government Girl ''Government Girl'' is a 1943 American romantic-comedy film, produced and directed by Dudley Nichols and starring Olivia de Havilland and Sonny Tufts. Based on a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns, and written by Dudley Nichols and Budd Schulberg, t ...

'' (1943) as Senator MacVickers * ''

Jack London John Griffith Chaney (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916), better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to ...

'' (1943) as Prof. Hilliard * '' December 7th'' (1943) as Mr. 'C' * '' Kismet'' (1944) as Agha * '' The Impatient Years'' (1944) as Minister * ''

'' (1944) as Grandpa * ''

Music for Millions ''Music for Millions'' is a 1944 musical film, musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Margaret O'Brien, José Iturbi, Jimmy Durante, June Allyson, Marsha Hunt (actress, born 1917), Marsha Hunt, Hugh Herbert, Harry Davenport (ac ...

'' (1944) as Doctor * ''

The Thin Man Goes Home ''The Thin Man Goes Home'' is a 1945 comedy- mystery film directed by Richard Thorpe. It is the fifth of the six '' Thin Man'' films starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Dashiell Hammett's dapper ex-private detective Nick Charles and his ...

'' (1945) as Dr. Bertram Charles * ''

This Love of Ours ''This Love of Ours'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Merle Oberon, Claude Rains, Charles Korvin and Carl Esmond. The film's composer, Hans J. Salter, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original ...

'' (1945) as Dr. Wilkerson * ''

She Wouldn't Say Yes ''She Wouldn't Say Yes'' is a 1945 screwball comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring Rosalind Russell and Lee Bowman. Plot A psychiatrist, Dr. Susan Lane, is leaving a military hospital after spending two weeks working with patients ...

'' (1945) as Albert * ''

Too Young to Know ''Too Young to Know'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by Frederick de Cordova, and written by Jo Pagano, and starring Joan Leslie, Robert Hutton, Dolores Moran, Harry Davenport, Rosemary DeCamp and Barbara Brown. It was released by Warner ...

'' (1945) as Judge Boller * '' The Enchanted Forest'' (1945) as Old John * ''

Pardon My Past ''Pardon My Past'' is a 1945 comedy film about a penniless veteran who gets mistaken for a millionaire by the latter's family and an unpaid Bookmaker, bookie. Plot Eddie York and Chuck Gibson are two ex-soldiers leaving the service to become mi ...

'' (1945) as Grandpa Pemberton * ''

Adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

'' (1945) as Dr. Ashlon * '' Claudia and David'' (1946) as Dr. Harry * ''

Courage of Lassie ''Courage of Lassie'' is a 1946 Technicolor MGM feature film starring Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan, and dog actor Pal in a story about a collie named Bill and his young companion, Kathie Merrick. When Bill is separated from Kathie followin ...

'' (1946) as Judge Payson * ''

G.I. War Brides ''G.I. War Brides'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by George Blair and written by John K. Butler. The film stars Anna Lee, James Ellison, Harry Davenport, William "Bill" Henry, Stephanie Bachelor, Doris Lloyd and Robert Armstrong. ...

'' (1946) as Grandpa Giles * ''

Faithful in My Fashion ''Faithful in My Fashion'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Donna Reed, Tom Drake and Edward Everett Horton. Plot Jeff (Tom Drake) arrives home to New York City after being away in the Army for several years. ...

'' (1946) as Great Grandpa * '' Three Wise Fools'' (1946) as The Ancient * '' Lady Luck'' (1946) as Judge Martin * ''

A Boy and His Dog ''A Boy and His Dog'' is a cycle of narratives by author Harlan Ellison. The cycle tells the story of an amoral boy (Vic) and his telepathic dog (Blood), who work together as a team to survive in the post-apocalyptic world after a nuclear wa ...

'' (1946, Short) as Squire Jim Kirby * '' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1947) as Dr. Matthew Sulven * '' Stallion Road'' (1947) as Dr. Stevens * '' Keeper of the Bees'' (1947) as Michael Worthington * ''

'' (1947) as Judge Thaddeus Turner * ''

That Hagen Girl ''That Hagen Girl'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Peter Godfrey. The screenplay by Charles Hoffman was based on the novel by Edith Kneipple Roberts. The film focuses on small-town teenaged girl Mary Hagen (Shirley Temple), whom gos ...

'' (1947) as Judge Merrivale * ''

The Fabulous Texan ''The Fabulous Texan'' is a 1947 American Western film directed by Edward Ludwig and written by Lawrence Hazard and Horace McCoy. The film stars Wild Bill Elliott, John Carroll, Catherine McLeod, Albert Dekker, Andy Devine and Patricia Knig ...

'' (1947) as Rev. Baker * ''

Three Daring Daughters ''Three Daring Daughters'' (UK title: ''The Birds and the Bees'') is a 1948 musical Technicolor film directed by Fred M. Wilcox and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The screenplay was written by Albert Mannheimer, Frederick Kohner, Sonya Levien ...

'' (1948) as Dr. Cannon * '' The Man from Texas'' (1948) as 'Pop' Hickey * ''

That Lady in Ermine ''That Lady in Ermine'' is a 1948 American Technicolor musical film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The screenplay by Samson Raphaelson is based on the 1919 operetta ''Die Frau im Hermelin'' by Rudolph Schanzer and Ernst Welisch. Although Lubitsc ...

'' (1948) as Luigi * ''

For the Love of Mary ''For the Love of Mary'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Frederick de Cordova and starring Deanna Durbin, Edmond O'Brien, Don Taylor, and Jeffrey Lynn. Written by Oscar Brodney, the film is about a young woman who takes a jo ...

'' (1948) as Justice Peabody * ''

The Decision of Christopher Blake ''The Decision of Christopher Blake'' is a 1948 American drama film based upon the Moss Hart play. It was adapted by Ranald MacDougall and directed by Peter Godfrey. The film stars Alexis Smith, Robert Douglas, Cecil Kellaway, Ted Donaldson, ...

'' (1948) as Courtroom Attendant * '' Down to the Sea in Ships'' (1949) as Benjamin Harris * '' Little Women'' (1949) as Dr. Barnes * ''

That Forsyte Woman ''That Forsyte Woman'' (released in the United Kingdom as ''The Forsyte Saga'') is a 1949 romance film directed by Compton Bennett and starring Greer Garson, Errol Flynn, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Young and Janet Leigh. It is an adaptation of the ...

'' (1949) as Old Jolyon Forsyte * '' Tell It to the Judge'' (1949) as Judge MacKenzie Meredith * '' Riding High'' (1950) as Johnson (final film)

Director

* ''The Island of Regeneration'' (1915) * ''The Jarr Family Discovers Harlem'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr Brings Home a Turkey'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr and the Lady Reformer'' (1915, Short) * ''The Enemies'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr Takes a Night Off'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr's Magnetic Friend'' (1915, Short) * ''The Closing of the Circuit'' (1915, Short) * ''The Jarrs Visit Arcadia'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr and the Dachshund'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr Visits His Home Town'' (1915, Short) * ''Mrs. Jarr's Auction Bridge'' (1915, Short) * ''Mrs. Jarr and the Beauty Treatment'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr and the Ladies' Cup'' (1915, Short) * ''Philanthropic Tommy'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr and Love's Young Dream'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr and the Captive Maid'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr and Gertrude's Beaux'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr's Big Vacation'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr and Circumstantial Evidence'' (1915, Short) * ''Mr. Jarr and the Visiting Firemen'' (1915, Short) * ''Mrs. Jarr and the Society Circus'' (1915, Short) * ''The Woman in the Box'' (1915, Short) * ''

The Making Over of Geoffrey Manning ''The Making Over of Geoffrey Manning'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by William P. S. Earle and starring Harry T. Morey, L. Rogers Lytton, Belle Bruce, Ned Finley, and Logan Paul. The film was released by V-L-S-E on December 2 ...

'' (1915) * ''For a Woman's Fair Name'' (1916) * ''The Supreme Temptation'' (1916) * ''Myrtle the Manicurist'' (1916, Short) * ''The Rookie'' (1916, Short) * ''The Resurrection of Hollis'' (1916, Short) * ''O'Hagan's Scoop'' (1916, Short) * ''Carew and Son'' (1916, Short) * ''Letitia'' (1916, Short) * ''The Heart of a Fool'' (1916, Short) * '' A Woman Alone'' (1917) * ''Tillie Wakes Up'' (1917) * ''The Millionaire's Double'' (1917) * ''The False Friend'' (1917) * ''A Son of the Hills'' (1917) * ''A Man's Law'' (1917)

References

External links

* *
Obituary

"Harry Davenport Biography" by Hal Erickson, Allmovie

Harry Davenport and Phyllis Rankin family papers, 1857-circa 1946
held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division,

New York Public Library for the Performing Arts The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, is located in Manhattan, New York City, at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on the Upper West Side, between the Metro ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davenport, Harry 1866 births 1949 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors American people of English descent Silent film directors People from Canton, Pennsylvania Male actors from Philadelphia 19th-century American male actors American male stage actors 20th-century American male actors Burials at Kensico Cemetery Film directors from Pennsylvania