Job Actor
Years active 1914-49
Known for Avuncular types, grandfathers, judges, doctors, ministers
Top Roles Dr. Healy, Dan Kingdon, Judge, Chief of Staff, Grandpa Prophater
Top GenresDrama, Comedy, Romance, Crime, Mystery, War
Top TopicsRomance (Comic), Book-Based, Screwball Comedy
Top Collaborators (Producer), (Producer), (Director), (Director)
Shares birthday with Jean Stapleton, B.P. Schulberg, Tippi Hedren  see more..

Harry Davenport Overview:

Character actor, Harry Davenport, was born Harold George Bryant Davenport on Jan 19, 1866 in New York City, NY. Davenport appeared in over 160 film roles. His best known films include the Night Court Judge in You Can't Take It with You (1938), Dr. Meade in Gone with the Wind (1939), Judy Garland's uncle in Meet Me in St. Louis, and Myrna Loy's and Shirley Temple's great uncle, Judge Thaddeus Turner, in The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947). Davenport died at the age of 83 on Aug 9, 1949 in Los Angeles, CA and was laid to rest in Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA.

MINI BIO:

From a long line of actors (his two wives and four children were all in the profession), the tall, distinguished Harry Davenport brought his own distinctive sense of humor to bear on many of the Hollywood roles he graced. He played Grandpa in "The Higgins Family" comedies and Grandpa again in "Meet Me in St. Louis". He also directed a few films in the silent era.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Illustrated Dictionary of Film Character Actors).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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BlogHub Articles:

Mini Tribute: Character Actor

By Annmarie Gatti on Jan 19, 2014 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Born January 19, 1866 Character Actor?! A veteran stage actor, ?made his film debut at age 48. In his 37-year film career, he appeared in over 160 films and shorts, playing his share of?grandfathers, judges and doctors. His films include?Gone with the Wind (as Dr. Meade... Read full article


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Harry Davenport Quotes:

Grandpa: [moaning] Ohhhhhhh.
Katie the Maid: What was that?
Grandpa: Here are your sacks of flour.
[Hand them to Tootie and Agnes]
Grandpa: You couldn't get me out on a night like this for a million dollars!
Agnes Smith: Did anyone here a noise just now?
Grandpa: Did it sound like this?
[moans again]
Grandpa: Ohhhhhh?
Agnes Smith: Uh-huh.
Grandpa: [Shakes his head] I didn't hear it.
Grandpa: If you wet the flour before you throw it, it makes it harder for the victim to remove it.


Joan Winfield: Don't you get lonesome being here all alone?
Pop Tolliver: No, I like people. Not seeing many of 'em keeps me liking 'em.


Pierre: There on the left, the lights in her rooms are burning, and there on the right, the lights in his room are burning and between them is that long passage where the lights never burn. Suppose some night you saw that passage lighted? Would you share your feeling then with all the world?
Henriette Deluzy-Desportes: You'd better go now, Pierre.
Pierre: I'll go. I'll go, because I see it's too late to give you any warning. Your caught in the net and you don't even wish to escape. Goodnight mademoiselle.


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Harry Davenport Facts
Harry Davenport was a co-founder along with Eddie Foy of what would later become known as Actors Equity Association. The original organization, which Mr. Davenport spearheaded, was known as The White Rats. It was this group of actors who finally, after a nine month effort, united in their opposition to the treatment of actors by the likes of the Shubert brothers, David Belasco and others, and refused to appear on stage by striking. Their actions resulted in the closing of all of the Broadway theaters, with the exception of George M. Cohan and his company. In answer to the actors strike, the Broadway producers were forced to give in to such demands as plumbing in the dressing rooms, a six-day work week, and other such necessities that were considered outrageous by the theatrical owners and producers.

Son of Edward Loomis (E.L.) Davenport & Fanny Elizabeth Vining. Brother of Blanche, Flo, May, Fannie, Lillie & Edgar. Father of Dorothy Davenport and actress Kate Davenport. Father-in-law of Wallace Reid. Grandfather of Wallace Reid Jr.. Grandfather of actor/producer/director Dirk Wayne Summers. Great-great-grandfather of Thomas Grant and Tyler Grant.

Father-in-law of Wallace Reid.

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