How tall was John Barrymore

John Barrymore's Height

5ft 9 ¾ (177.2 cm)

American actor, best remembered for roles in films like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Grand Hotel, Dinner at Eight, Twentieth Century, Sherlock Holmes, Marie Antionette, The Mad Genius, A Bill of Divorcement, Svengali, and Romeo and Juliet. He was described in his day generally as standing 5ft 11 and weighing 170 pounds.

Portrait of John Barrymore

You May Be Interested

Height of Cary Grant
Cary Grant
6ft 1 (185 cm)
Height of Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
6ft 1 ¼ (186 cm)
Height of Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
5ft 8 (173 cm)
Height of Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
5ft 4 (163 cm)

Add a Comment14 comments

Average Guess (18 Votes)
5ft 9.76in (177.2cm)
Rich Paul said on 24/Aug/20
John Barrymore couldn’t have been more than around 5’7’’ because with actors who were close to six feet he looked like a shrimp. His height on this page needs to be reduced. I believe because of his strong screen presence and commanding voice, people always assumed he was a lot taller.
Buster Maxxwell said on 22/Aug/20
Steve, I could not view your photo, but would love to see it. Does anyone know how they got Barrymore to look so tall (with skinny legs) in Svengali? His legs look so long... I'm not convinced simple "lifts" are the answer... although there is no break in his pants line where his feet "should" be. Onstage, I used to wear lifts inside boots with ample heels, which gave a very nice illusion, but "The Great Profile" looks otherworldly tall....? Thanks, gentlemen.
Steve said on 25/Dec/14
Check this out:

Click Here

And here from Svengali, those 'elevators' look downright painful.

Click Here
Steve said on 25/Dec/14
With Howard Hawks who was reportedly 6' 1 & 1/2" and Carol Lombard.

Click Here

I doubt Hawks was that tall. Check him out with the Duke.

Click Here
Steve said on 25/Dec/14
Trust me. He was no more than 5'7". He wore elevator shoes.

With 6'1" Basil Rathbone, 5'10" Leslie Howard and 5'10" Reginald Denny:

Click Here

And remember, John was wearing lifts.
Arch Stanton said on 18/Dec/14
5'7" LOL. There's a scene in Arsene Lupin in which one of the actors in it is described as 6 ft and 190 pounds and Barrymore looks just under 2 inches shorter. So probably the actor was 5'11.5 or something but rounded up.
Steve said on 25/Nov/14
Closer to being 5'7.
Arch Stanton said on 8/Nov/14
He does look 5'9".5 or so next to Hepburn in moderate heels but the comparison with Henry Stephenson, listed at 6'2" doesn't add up. Stephenson towered him by easily 5 inches. See 40 minutes range for example Click Here
Arch Stanton said on 8/Nov/14
He was fantastic in A Bill of Divorcement, best performance I've seenm played the confused nutcase to perfection.
Arch Stanton said on 8/Nov/14
Rob can you squeeze in George Cukor's A Bill of Divorcement ? He was in it with an early Katherine Hepburn. Better known than Svengali I reckon.
Sam said on 27/Oct/14
He could look nearer 5'9" than 5'10" next to Carole Lombard though.
Click Here
Sam said on 27/Oct/14
He was really good in Twentieht Century, which suited his status as the archetypal ham.
Sam said on 24/Oct/14
In Arch's photo (good find!) with Disney and his two siblings, he does look this range.
Arch Stanton said on 23/Oct/14
Spot on Big Rob I reckon, thanks! 5 ft 11 I think would have been a shoe measurement.

Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films.

Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media.

Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are © to their respective owners.