Henry Travers
ActingAbout Henry Travers
British-born Henry Travers was a veteran of the English stage before emigrating to the U.S. in 1917. He gained more stage experience there on Broadway working with the Theatre Guild, and began his long film career with Reunion in Vienna (1933). Travers' kindly, grandfatherly demeanor became familiar to filmgoers over the next 25 years, especially in films like High Sierra (1941), where he played Joan Leslie's kindly but slyly observant uncle, and the generous Mr. Bogardus in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945), but it's as the somewhat befuddled angel Clarence Oddbody assigned to James Stewart in the classic It's a Wonderful Life (1946) that Travers will forever be known. After a long and successful career, he retired from the screen in 1949, and died in Hollywood in 1965.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Henry Travers reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Henry Travers's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 44% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Henry Travers remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in It's a Wonderful Life, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Henry Travers Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Henry Travers's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Henry Travers.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | James Stewart: A Wonderful Life | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Girl from Jones Beach | Judge Bullfinch | Flop | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Accused | Blakely - Romley's Assistant (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Beyond Glory | Pop Dewing | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Flame | Dr. Mitchell | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Clarence | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Yearling | Mr. Boyles | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Gallant Journey | Thomas Logan | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Bells of St. Mary's | Horace P. Bogardus | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Naughty Nineties | Capt. Sam Jackson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Thrill of a Romance | Hobart Glenn | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Very Thought of You | Pop Wheeler | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Dragon Seed | Third Cousin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | None Shall Escape | Father Warecki | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Madame Curie | Eugene Curie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Moon Is Down | Mayor Orden | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Shadow of a Doubt | Joseph Newton | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Random Harvest | Dr. Sims | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Pierre of the Plains | Percival Wellsby | Flop | Similar → |
| 1942 | Mrs. Miniver | Mr. Ballard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Ball of Fire | Prof. Jerome | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | I'll Wait for You | Mr. Miller | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Bad Man | Mr. Hardy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob | Abel Martin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | High Sierra | Pa | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Wyoming | Sheriff | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Anne of Windy Poplars | Matey | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Edison, the Man | Ben Els | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Primrose Path | Gramp | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Remember? | Judge Milliken | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Rains Came | Rev. Homer Smiley | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Stanley and Livingstone | John Kingsley | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | On Borrowed Time | Dr. Evans | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Dark Victory | Dr. Parsons | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Dodge City | Dr. Irving | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | You Can't Get Away with Murder | Pop | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Sisters | Ned Elliott | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Too Many Parents | Wilkins | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | Seven Keys to Baldpate | Lem Peters | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Pursuit | Tom Reynolds | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Four Hours to Kill! | Mac Mason | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | Captain Hurricane | Capt. Ben | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | After Office Hours | Cap | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Maybe It's Love | Mr. Halevy | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Ready for Love | Judge Pickett | Flop | Similar → |
| 1934 | Born to Be Bad | Fuzzy | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Death Takes a Holiday | Baron Cesarea | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | The Invisible Man | Dr. Cranley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Another Language | Pop Hallam | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Reunion in Vienna | Father Krug | Hit | Similar → |
Henry Travers - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Henry Travers?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Henry Travers is "It's a Wonderful Life" with a rating of 8.3/10.
How many movies has Henry Travers acted in?
Henry Travers has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Henry Travers?
Other notable films include "The Invisible Man", "Shadow of a Doubt", and "On Borrowed Time".