John Blyth Barrymore

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John Blyth Barrymore
Blyth Barrymore in 1982
Born
John Blyth Barrymore III

(1954-05-15) May 15, 1954 (age 69)
OccupationActor
Years active1967–present
Parent(s)John Drew Barrymore
Cara Williams
FamilyBarrymore

John Blyth Barrymore III (born May 15, 1954) is an American film and television actor. He is known for his role as Zeke in the 1970s television series Kung Fu, which was his first role on television.

Biography[edit]

John Blyth Barrymore III was born to John Drew Barrymore and Cara Williams.[1] As such, he is from the famous Barrymore family: He is the half-brother of American actress Drew Barrymore, as well as the grandnephew of Ethel Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore.[2] He is of partial Irish descent through his great-grandfather, actor Maurice Costello. John has stated that he does not remember if he met his aunt Diana Barrymore, who was also an actress.[3]

Like his father, John has had a sporadic career in film and television, mainly appearing in shlock horror movies and comedies. John found himself homeless in 2012. While on skid row, he took to wearing a shirt printed "I'm Drew Barrymore's brother".[4][5][6]

After John and Drew's half-sister Jessica Barrymore was found dead in her vehicle in 2014, he publicly criticized Drew for not being receptive to forming a relationship with either him or Jessica.[7]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1967 Me and Benjy Petie Television Film
1975 Kung Fu Zeke 4 episodes
1976 Baby Blue Marine Idiot #2
1978 The One Man Jury Policeman #1
1978 Feedback Hoodlum
1979 Nocturna Punk vampire
1980 Lou Grant Harold Episode: "Cameras"
1981 Americana John / Jack
1981 Smokey Bites the Dust Harold
1981 Full Moon High Student
1982 Lou Grant Marc Pauley Episode: "Dogs"
1982 Trick or Treats Mad Doctor
1984 Hard to Hold Recording Engineer
1990 Cry-Baby Additional voices Uncredited
1990 Crazy People Additional voices
1997 Hybrid Dr. Paul Hamilton
2017 Lasagna Cat Himself (fictionalized) Episode: "07/27/1978"

Further reading[edit]

  • Pilato, Herbie J., The Kung Fu Book of Caine: The Complete Guide to TV's First Mystical Eastern Western. Boston: Charles A. Tuttle (1993); ISBN 0-8048-1826-6

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mank, Gregory William (2014). The Very Witching Time of Night: Dark Alleys of Classic Horror Cinema. McFarland. pp. 63–64. ISBN 978-0-7864-4955-2.
  2. ^ Vare, Ethlie Ann (2011). Love Addict: Sex, Romance, and Other Dangerous Drugs. Health Communications, Inc. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-7573-1595-4.
  3. ^ "Interview with Actor John Blyth Barrymore". Eerie Digest. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  4. ^ "Drew Barrymore's Brother on Welfare". Inside Edition. February 1, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  5. ^ "DREW BARRYMORE HAS A HALF BROTHER ON SKID ROW". Janet Charlton's Hollywood. December 7, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  6. ^ "Drew Barrymore Bans Family From Wedding". The Gossip Jacker. June 8, 2012. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  7. ^ "Abandoned And Alone: Drew Barrymore Had Been 'Avoiding' Sister Jessica Before Her Tragic Death, Says Brother John". Radar Online. August 6, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2015.