Barrymore family

Designations
Official nameBarrymores, The
TypeCity
CriteriaPerformers
DesignatedOctober 1, 1996[1]
LocationNW corner, N 6th & Arch Sts., Philadelphia
39°57′10″N 75°09′00″W / 39.95279°N 75.15013°W / 39.95279; -75.15013
Marker TextThree famous actors, Philadelphia-born, were the third generation of this "Royal Family of the American Stage." Lionel (1878–1954), Ethel (1879–1959), and John (1882–1942) performed on stage, screen, radio. Their grandparents, the Drews, managed the Arch Street Theatre here.
EtymologyFrom the surname of actor William Barrymore

The Barrymore family, and the related Drew family, form a British-American acting dynasty which traces its acting roots to the mid-19th century London stage. After migrating across the Atlantic Oceanto the United States, members of the family subsequently appeared in motion pictures, beginning in the Nickelodeon with silent film period of the 1890s to 1929, then into the modern sound film ("talkies") era of black & white then color.

The surname Barrymore originated from an actor named William Barrymore (c.1759-1830). The inter-related Drew family traces also to the Irish actor John Drew Sr. (1827-1862).

  1. ^ "Pennsylvania Historical Marker Search". PHMC. Retrieved 3 November 2018.