Harold George Bryant Davenport (January 19, 1866 â€" August 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 (1939) and Grandpa in Meet Me in St. Louis
(1944). Bette Davis once called Davenport "without a doubt [. . .] the
greatest character actor of all time."Harry Davenport was born in
Canton, Pennsylvania, where his family lived during the holidays. He
also grew up in Philadelphia. Harry came from a long line of stage
actors; his father was thespian Edward Loomis Davenport and his
mother, Fanny Vining Davenport, was an English actress and a
descendant of the renowned 18th century Irish stage actor Jack
Johnson. His sister was actress Fanny Davenport.He made his stage
debut at the age of five in the play Damon and Pythias. Davenport made
his Broadway debut in The Voyage of Suzette (1894) and appeared there
in numerous plays.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. 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.
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 (1939) and Grandpa in Meet Me in St. Louis
(1944). Bette Davis once called Davenport "without a doubt [. . .] the
greatest character actor of all time."Harry Davenport was born in
Canton, Pennsylvania, where his family lived during the holidays. He
also grew up in Philadelphia. Harry came from a long line of stage
actors; his father was thespian Edward Loomis Davenport and his
mother, Fanny Vining Davenport, was an English actress and a
descendant of the renowned 18th century Irish stage actor Jack
Johnson. His sister was actress Fanny Davenport.He made his stage
debut at the age of five in the play Damon and Pythias. Davenport made
his Broadway debut in The Voyage of Suzette (1894) and appeared there
in numerous plays.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. 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.
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