Before Drew Barrymore captivated audiences and stole hearts, there was John Drew Barrymore! Here’s everything to know about Drew Barrymore’s father.
John Drew Barrymore was an Irish actor, film producer, and member of the famous Barrymore family of actors. Although he lived in the spotlight, his life was far from perfect.
Who Was John Drew Barrymore?
John Drew Barrymore, born John Blyth Barrymore Jr., was a member of the Barrymore family of actors, which included his father, John Barrymore, and his father’s siblings, Lionel and Ethel. He was born June 4, 1932, in Los Angeles to parents John Barrymore (born John Blyth) and Dolores Costello, a silent film actress.
In 1935 when he was barely 18 months, his parents separated, causing him to have a very estranged relationship with his father. Coming from a long line of actors, his passion for acting came at a young age. He made his acting debut at 17 as John Barrymore Jr.
He attended private schools, including the Hollywood Professional School. His mother, however, did not like the idea of John acting. She convinced him to join the military instead. She sent him to St. John’s Military Academy.
At 13 years of age, John and his cousin Dirk Drew Davenport enlisted in the United States Navy to fight in World War II, posing as 17-year-olds. They successfully fooled the military for several weeks as they were tall and did not look below the minimum enlistment age. However, the military discovered their real age and sent them home immediately.
John Drew Barrymore’s Turbulent Career
One could say John was born with a natural acting talent, thanks to a line of acting ancestors. However, he did not put it to great use as he was majorly inconsistent throughout his active years. He had a lot of controversies and lawsuits that did nothing but impede his career.
John’s film career began with a small role in “The Sundowners” (1950), a Western film with Robert Preston. He went on to feature in a couple more films, but they were not successful. Seeking greener pastures, John moved on to TV movies and shows, guest-starring on shows like “Schlitz Playhouse” and “The 20th Century-Fox Hour.”
In 1955, Lanny Budd Productions sued John for not making a series of European movies. The actor counter-sued, but there is no report of who won the case or if the charges were dropped.
In 1953, he was briefly jailed for failing to appear on three old traffic charges, and in March 1959, he was arrested for suspected hit-and-run drunk driving. Due to unknown reasons, John changed his middle name from “Blyth” to “Drew” in 1958.
John Drew Barrymore’s Movies
Despite John’s acting shortcomings, he had some successful projects, featured in many movies, and even directed some. Some of his projects and roles include:
- The Sundowners (1950) – Jeff Cloud, the Younger Brother
- High Lonesome (1950) – Cooncat
- Quebec (1951) – Mark Douglas
- While the City Sleeps (1956) – Robert Manners
- Wagon Train (1958, episode: “The Ruttledge Munroe Story”) – Ruttledge Munroe
- Rawhide (1959–1965, TV series) – Danny Hawks/Harry Eccles/Harry Tasunka
- The Night They Killed Rasputin (1960) – Prince Felix Yousoupoff
- The Centurion (1961) – Diaeus
- Gunsmoke (1965, TV series) – Mace Gore/Anderson
- Winchester ’73 (1967, TV movie) – Preacher
- The Clones (1973) – Brooks Brothers Hippie
- Kung Fu (1974, episode: “A Dream Within a Dream”) – Alex McGregor
- Baby Blue Marine (1976)
John Drew Barrymore’s Spouses and Children
John’s personal life was just as turbulent as his career. He was married four times and divorced four times as well. Here is a quick breakdown of the actor’s nuclear family.
Cara Williams (1953–1959)
John married the talented, blue-eyed redhead American actress Cara Williams in 1953. They have one son, John Blyth Barrymore III (born May 15, 1954). They were together until 1959, when Williams filed for divorce.
Gabriella Palazzoli (1960–1970)
Barely a year after his first divorce, John married Palazzoli, and the two were together for ten years. They had a child, Blyth Dolores Barrymore, born in 1960. They got divorced in 1970.
Ildiko Jaid Mako (1971–1984)
In 1971, the “Weapons of War” star got married for the third time to actress, Jaid Mako. They had their only child together, Drew Barrymore, on February 22, 1975.
Drew is an actress like her parents and has been in over 50 movies in her highly successful career.
Nina Wayne (1985–1994)
John married actress Nina Wayne in 1985. They were married for nine years and had just one child, Brahma (Jessica) Blyth Barrymore. Sadly, she passed away on July 29, 2014. She was found dead in a car from what appeared to be a suicide.
How Did John Drew Barrymore Die?
John’s death did not come as a surprise to many. He suffered from the same addiction problems that had destroyed his father. He continued to appear occasionally onscreen but became reclusive, disappearing into the wilderness to live a mystical existence.
As his physical and mental health deteriorated, the actor became estranged from his entire family, including his children, while his lifestyle worsened.
His daughter Drew reportedly paid all his medical bills and took care of him for a long time. Like his fellow actor Fernando del Solar, John’s life was ultimately claimed by cancer. He passed away at the age of 72 in 2004. Drew spread his ashes at Joshua Tree National Park, John’s favorite place.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to television.