---
name: "Richard Barthelmess"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/richard-barthelmess"
fi1m_id: "richard-barthelmess"
imdb_id: "nm0001932"
tmdb_id: 13789
wikidata_id: "Q457293"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "8 May 1895"
died: "17 August 1963"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-25T02:43:22.477170+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Richard Barthelmess

## Identity

Richard Barthelmess

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/richard-barthelmess
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** richard-barthelmess
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001932
- **TMDB ID:** 13789
- **Wikidata ID:** Q457293
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Barthelmess, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q457293, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001932/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13789

Actor. Born 8 May 1895 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 17 August 1963.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 8 May 1895, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 17 August 1963
- **Active:** 1919–1939
- **Also known as:** Richard Semler Barthelmess, Richard S. Barthelmess, Richard Semler Barthelemys
- **Frequently works with:** [D.W. Griffith](https://film.one/person/d-w-griffith.md), [Lillian Gish](https://film.one/person/lillian-gish.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Barthelmess, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q457293, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001932/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13789

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl*](https://film.one/film/broken-blossoms-or-the-yellow-man-and-the-girl.md) (73)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Richard Barthelmess was an American actor, principally known for his work in silent films. Born in New York City in 1895, he was educated at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, and began his career with stage work and small film roles before appearing opposite Alla Nazimova in War Brides (1916).

His performance as Cheng Huan in D. W. Griffith's Broken Blossoms (1919) established him as a star, and he went on to play David Bartlett in Way Down East (1920). He founded Inspiration Pictures with Charles Duell and Henry King, producing films including Tol'able David (1921). Barthelmess received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor for The Patent Leather Kid (1927) and The Noose (1928), and was among the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

He continued acting into the sound era with roles in films such as Only Angels Have Wings (1939). Barthelmess died in 1963.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, walkoffame.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl* (1919), Fi1m 73, as Cheng Huan — [page](https://film.one/film/broken-blossoms-or-the-yellow-man-and-the-girl.md)

## Complete filmography (84)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists* (1998), as The Yellow Man (archive footage)
- *The Great Chase* (1962), Actor
- *The Tingler* (1959), as David Kinemon (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *The Oscars* (1953), series, Actor
- *The Mayor of 44th Street* (1942), as Ed Kirby
- *The Spoilers* (1942), as Bronco Kid
- *The Man Who Talked Too Much* (1940), as J.B. Roscoe
- *Only Angels Have Wings* (1939), as Bat MacPherson
- *Spy of Napoleon* (1936), as Gerard de Lanoy
- *Four Hours to Kill!* (1935), as Tony Mako
- *Midnight Alibi* (1934), as Lance McGowan
- *A Modern Hero* (1934), as Pierre Radier aka Paul Rader
- *Massacre* (1934), as Chief Joe Thunderhorse
- *Heroes for Sale* (1933), as Tom Holmes
- *Central Airport* (1933), as James 'Jim' Blaine
- *The Cabin in the Cotton* (1932), as Marvin Blake
- *Alias the Doctor* (1932), as Karl Brenner
- *The Last Flight* (1931), as Cary Lockwood
- *How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 1: 'The Putter'* (1931), Actor
- *The Finger Points* (1931), as Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee
- *The Stolen Jools* (1931), as Richard Barthelmess
- *The Lash* (1930), as Francisco Delfino 'Pancho'
- *The Voice of Hollywood* (1930), Actor
- *The Dawn Patrol* (1930), as Dick Courtney
- *Son of the Gods* (1930), as Sam Lee
- *The Show of Shows* (1929), as Meet My Sister Presenter (uncredited)
- *Young Nowheres* (1929), as Albert 'Binky' Whalen
- *Drag* (1929), as David Carroll
- *Weary River* (1929), as Jerry Larrabee
- *Out of the Ruins* (1928), as Lt. Pierre Dumont
- *Wheel of Chance* (1928), as Nicolai Turkeltaub
- *The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come* (1928), as Chad Buford
- *The Noose* (1928), as Nickie Elkins
- *Scarlet Seas* (1928), as Steven Dunkin
- *The Drop Kick* (1927), as Jack Hamill
- *The Patent Leather Kid* (1927), as Patent Leather Kid
- *The White Black Sheep* (1926), as Robert Kincarin
- *The Amateur Gentleman* (1926), as Barnabas Barty
- *Ranson's Folly* (1926), as Lt. Ranson
- *Just Suppose* (1926), as Prince Rupert of Koronia
- *Camille: The Fate of a Coquette* (1926), as Gaston
- *The Beautiful City* (1925), as Tony Gillardi
- *Shore Leave* (1925), as D.X. (Bilge) Smith
- *Soul-Fire* (1925), as Eric Fane · Producer
- *New Toys* (1925), as Will Webb
- *Classmates* (1924), as Duncan Irving Jr
- *The Enchanted Cottage* (1924), as Oliver Bashforth
- *Twenty-One* (1923), as Julian McCullough
- *The Fighting Blade* (1923), as Karl Van Kerstenbroock
- *The Bond Boy* (1923), as Peter Newbolt (father) / John Newbolt
- *The Bright Shawl* (1923), as Charles Abbott
- *Fury* (1923), as Boy Leyton
- *Sonny* (1922), as Sonny Crosby / Joe
- *The Seventh Day* (1922), as John Alden Jr.
- *Tol'able David* (1921), as David Kinemon
- *Experience* (1921), as Youth
- *Way Down East* (1920), as David Bartlett
- *The Love Flower* (1920), as Bruce Sanders
- *The Idol Dancer* (1920), as Dan McGuire
- *Scarlet Days* (1919), as Don Maria Alvarez
- *I'll Get Him Yet* (1919), as Scoop McCready
- *Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl* (1919), as Cheng Huan — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/broken-blossoms-or-the-yellow-man-and-the-girl.md)
- *Peppy Polly* (1919), as Dr. James Merritt
- *Three Men and a Girl* (1919), as Christopher Kent
- *The Girl Who Stayed at Home* (1919), as Ralph Grey
- *Boots* (1919), as Everett White
- *The Hope Chest* (1918), as Tom Ballantyne
- *Wild Primrose* (1918), as Jack Wilton
- *Hit-the-Trail Holliday* (1918), as Bobby Jason
- *Rich Man, Poor Man* (1918), as Bayard Varick
- *Sunshine Nan* (1918), as MacPherson Clark
- *The Seven Swans* (1917), as Prince Charming
- *For Valour* (1917), as Henry Nobbs
- *Nearly Married* (1917), as Dick Griffon
- *Bab's Burglar* (1917), as Tommy Gray
- *Bab's Diary* (1917), as Tommy Gray
- *Camille* (1917), Actor
- *The Streets of Illusion* (1917), as Donald Morton
- *The Soul of a Magdalen* (1917), as Louis Broulette
- *The Valentine Girl* (1917), as Robert Wentworth
- *The Eternal Sin* (1917), as Gennaro
- *The Moral Code* (1917), as Gary Miller
- *Just a Song at Twilight* (1916), as George Turner
- *War Brides* (1916), as Arno

## Gallery

- ![Richard Barthelmess](https://film.one/media/person/3848245/gallery-07123097e72c.jpg) Richard Barthelmess — Warner Brothers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Richard_Barthelmess_-_publicity.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photoplay, Jan. 1923](https://film.one/media/person/3848245/gallery-867f44438dd7.jpg) Photoplay, Jan. 1923 — Abbe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Barthelmess_by_Abbe.jpg/1280px-Barthelmess_by_Abbe.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Still from the American drama film The Amateur Gentleman (1926). Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actors](https://film.one/media/person/3848245/gallery-4ffe231ac5f9.jpg) Still from the American drama film The Amateur Gentleman (1926). Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actors — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/The_Amateur_Gentleman_%28SAYRE_14458%29.jpg/1280px-The_Amateur_Gentleman_%28SAYRE_14458%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Still from the American film The Bright Shawl (1923). Subjects: motion pictures, actors](https://film.one/media/person/3848245/gallery-794f88fae2df.jpg) Still from the American film The Bright Shawl (1923). Subjects: motion pictures, actors — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/The_Bright_Shawl_%28SAYRE_14704%29.jpg/1280px-The_Bright_Shawl_%28SAYRE_14704%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Richard Barthelmess](https://film.one/media/person/3848245/gallery-d9a90a9db31f.jpg) Richard Barthelmess — Image via TMDB
- ![Lobby card for the American drama film Broken Blossoms (1919).](https://film.one/media/person/3848245/gallery-e0478ef3371e.jpg) Lobby card for the American drama film Broken Blossoms (1919). — D.W. Griffith / United Artists, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Broken_Blossoms_lobby_card.jpg/1280px-Broken_Blossoms_lobby_card.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1929: Best Actor (nominated), for *The Patent Leather Kid*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/richard-barthelmess