# John Barrymore dead. No, it's not 1942. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258 "2004-11-30T01:58:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/21 "2004-11-30T21:27:14Z")
> [@aaslatten](#): > > So apparently John D. Barrymore (the one who just died) had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (along with his father, uncle, aunt, and his daughter Drew). Anybody know why? I thought he was pretty much a failed B-level actor. I think all you have to do is pony up the cash to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s not that big an “honor.” ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/22 "2004-11-30T21:38:12Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I think all you have to do is pony up the cash to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s not that big an “honor.” Didn’t Godzilla just get one? I wouldn’t want to be the one to reject _his_ loan application. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/23 "2004-11-30T21:46:43Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I think all you have to do is pony up the cash to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s not that big an “honor.” So I could get one? How much? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/24 "2004-11-30T22:59:44Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > I believe **John Drew Barrymore** appeared in a few “Gunsmoke” episodes and an episode of “Wild, Wild West”. So, it’s possible to see him in one of his rare acting jobs. Here is his IMDB’s listing: > [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000857/](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000857/) I remember seeing him in an episode of Kung Fu. He played a sculptor with a thick scottish brogue. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/25 "2004-11-30T23:31:17Z")
He apparently had not worked as an actor since the mid-70’s IMDB notes that he “suffers from both physical and mental illnesses” which is an odd way to advertise yourself to in the Industry. Can anyone fill in the gaps on the last 30 years ? Was he officially retired? Institutionalized? Working in Real Estate … ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/26 "2004-12-01T00:02:10Z")
_The National Enquirer_, Nov. 14, 2000: [Drew Rides to Her Dad’s Rescue](http://www.nationalenquirer.com/stories/feature.cfm?instanceid=7162) ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/27 "2004-12-01T01:47:17Z")
> [@aaslatten](#): > > So apparently John D. Barrymore (the one who just died) had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (along with his father, uncle, aunt, and his daughter Drew). Anybody know why? I thought he was pretty much a failed B-level actor. Plus, it helps to have connections in Hollywood. Like being a member of a very famous acting family. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/28 "2004-12-01T02:46:16Z")
> [@jimmmy](#): > > IMDB notes that he “suffers from both physical and mental illnesses” which is an odd way to advertise yourself to in the Industry. That’s 'cause the IMDb biographical entries for movie personages aren’t advertisements. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/29 "2004-12-01T14:58:30Z")
He only got a crappy little obit in the _NY Times_, but at least with a nice photo. The _LA Times_ gave him a nice spread, though. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/30 "2004-12-01T16:12:12Z")
Hey, lady. My etchings aren’t getting any younger. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/31 "2004-12-01T17:14:37Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I think all you have to do is pony up the cash to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who ponied up for John D? It’s not like he ever had any money. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258/32 "2004-12-01T17:37:25Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Who ponied up for John D? It’s not like he ever had any money. I think you need a petition _and_ some money. It was probably a nice gesture on the part of Drewski and her friends. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-barrymore-dead-no-its-not-1942/277258.md?page=1)