The New York Times (May 30, 1942)
John Barrymore dies in Hollywood
Actor, 60, in stage and screen career, kept the tradition of famous theatre family
Hollywood, May 29 (AP) –
John Barrymore, veteran star of the stage, screen and radio, died tonight at 10:20 PWT. His age was 60.
Only his brother, Lionel, also a veteran actor, was at his bedside, in addition to his professional attendants, when the end came after several hours of unconsciousness.
His physician, Dr. Hugo M. Kersten, said the immediate cause of death was myocarditis, with chronic nephritis, cirrhosis of the liver and gastric ulcers as recent contributing factors.
Barrymore’s daughter, Diana, had returned to the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital a few minutes before his death, but was not in her father’s room at the end. She had visited the hospital several times previously today, as had several of the actor’s close friends, and sheafs of letters and telegrams were received from other relatives and friends over the nation.
It was not until 10:40, 20 minutes after Barrymore’s death, that Dr. Kersten notified the reporters on another floor of the hospital.
Dr. Kersten said Barrymore’s last word was spoken to his brother Lionel yesterday, when he greeted him with the weak “hello.” He lapsed into unconsciousness and did not regain his faculties again.
Close associates said funeral plans had not been concluded but that the ceremony undoubtedly would be held next Monday.
Barrymore, before his death, received the last sacraments of the Catholic faith, from which he had been away many years. They were administered by the Rev. John O’Donnell, pastor of a church a few blocks from the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. Father O’Donnell, a frequent visitor to the actor’s bedside, was reluctant to discuss the matter, but said:
Yes, it’s so. It’s no more than we do for a thousand others, but I suppose that because Barrymore is an international celebrity it’s news.
The priest, formerly pastor of the church opposite the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio, was often called the technical adviser on motion pictures. He met scores of stars, among them Barrymore. And so, he said, he only went to call on Barrymore as a friend. Father O’Donnell said:
I was there the other night and he was in fine shape. Lionel was visiting him too, and John doesn’t a long time talking about his college days. He was very gay.
Last role on the radio
Barrymore had confined his activities lately to the radio where he was the butt of comedy on Rudt Vallee’s program. He got many of the laughs, but veteran theatregoers who has seen him in his prime, dominant as the greatest Shakespearean actor of his day, winced at his burlesque of former roles.
Occasionally, Lionel had to come to John’s assistance on the air lanes, for illness kept getting in its licks, but on May 19 came the finishing stage. John showed at the broadcasting starion for rehearsal although reeling from pain. When everyone was ready to go ahead, he came from his dressing room, took a few steps toward the studio, then staggered backward. Vallee rushed to him. He turned his once-magnificent face upward, years streaming down his sallow, deeply lined cheeks.
He faltered:
I guess this is one time I miss my cue.
John Barrymore was through. Taken to a hospital, he failed to make any gain from complications in chest, liver and kidneys. He was conscious only part of the time. His tired heart, overtaxed by excesses of living, began to fail and stimulants had to be used to keep it going.