Born at 3:42pm-PDT.
Father of John Blyth Barrymore.
Father of actress Drew Barrymore.
Father of Blythe Dolores, from his marriage to Gabriella Palazzoli.
Former father-in-law of 'Tom Green', 'Jeremy Thomas', Jacqueline Manes and 'Justine Pogrow'.
Had another daughter, Jessica with actress Nina Wayne.
He inherited a chest full of family memorabilia and collectibles when his mother, actress Dolores Costello, died in 1979. They included family photos, journals, movie stills, and letters. He had a friend, Carol Stein Hoffman, turn the archives into a coffee table book entitled "The Barrymores: Hollywood's First Family," which was published in 2001.
His career was ruined by drug busts.
His father, the legendary actor John Barrymore, had left specific instructions in his will that his body be cremated and his ashes be laid to rest next to his father and mother in the family cemetery in Philadelphia. However, due to the fact that his brother Lionel Barrymore and sister Ethel Barrymore were Catholic and cremation had not at that time been sanctioned by the Catholic Church, the executors (Lionel and Mervyn LeRoy) pulled some fancy judicial manipulations, and Barrymore's remains were entombed at Calvary Cemetery, in Los Angeles after his death in 1942. In 1980, Barrymore decided -- after hearing a rendition of "The Cremation of Sam McGee" -- that it was high time to have his Dad cremated. He recruited his son, John Blyth Barrymore, to help. The gravediggers removed the "Good Night, Sweet Prince" marble monument from the front of the crypt, and the smell assaulted them. Barrymore had been dead for 38 years, and the body was still decomposing. The casket was solid bronze, and although it had a glass liner, it must have cracked or something, because the fluids from the body had leaked out and had formed a kind of glue between the casket and the floor of the crypt. T
In 2003, wheelchair bound, he appeared in a Los Angeles court hearing to determine who will act as his guardian. He suffers from both physical and mental illness.
In daughter Drew's memoir "Little Girl Lost," she offered a blistering account of her absent father, including his considerable brushes with the law, his alcoholism, drug abuse and penchant for domestic violence. She summed up their relationship as "abusive" and "chaotic." Drew herself battled alcohol and substance abuse at age 12. Ironically, in his final years, daughter Drew helped pay his bills for an assisted-living facility.
Made his TV debut on Pantomime Quiz on February 22, 1952.
Nephew of Helene Costello - his mother's sibling.
Nephew of Lionel Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore - his father's siblings.
Son of actor John Barrymore and actress Dolores Costello.
Was cast in the starring role of Lazarus in a "Star Trek" (1966) episode called the "Alternative Factor." He walked off the set and didn't return. Another actor had to be found at the last minute to replace him.
When they were both 13 years old, John and his cousin, Dirk Drew Davenport, successfully enlisted in the US Navy (it was during WW2), presenting themselves as 17 year olds. Being tall and well-built (especially for thirteen), it was several weeks before the Navy (and their family) uncovered their patriotic charade.