Early films Barrymore's film career began with a small role in
The Sundowners (1950), a Western with
Robert Preston. As he was a minor he needed his mother's permission. His fee was $7,500. He was promoted to leading man in just his second movie, the Western
High Lonesome (1950), written and directed by
Alan Le May, who also wrote Barrymore's next film,
Quebec (1951). He starred in
The Big Night (1951), co-written and directed by
Joseph Losey, and was in
Thunderbirds (1952) with
John Derek at
Republic. In 1953, he was briefly jailed for failing to appear on three old traffic charges.
Television Barrymore's films were not particularly successful. He moved into television, guest-starring on shows like
Schlitz Playhouse and
The 20th Century-Fox Hour. He performed in TV movies, including
The Reluctant Redeemer (1954),
The Adventures of Lt. Contee (1955), and appeared in several episodes of
Matinee Theatre. In 1957 he directed an episode of
Matinee Theatre, "One for All". "Television gives me the chance to do what movies didn't," he said. In 1955, Barrymore was sued by
Lanny Budd Productions for not making a series of movies in Europe. Barrymore counter-sued. In 1966, he was cast in the role of Lazarus in the
Star Trek: The Original Series episode
The Alternative Factor but did not show up on the first day of shooting. He was suspended from acting for six months after
Star Trek filed a grievance. The role was then recast with
Robert Brown in the part. Barrymore returned to features with supporting parts in
While the City Sleeps (1956), for director
Fritz Lang, and
The Shadow on the Window (1957). In 1957, he appeared in a production of
Romeo and Juliet at the
Pasadena Playhouse with
Margaret O'Brien. He guest starred in
Playhouse 90 (the original production of
The Miracle Worker),
Climax!,
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, and
Wagon Train. In 1958, he changed his middle name to Drew, although he had been credited in past works as Blyth. He had a supporting role in
High School Confidential! (1958) at
MGM, and the lead in
Never Love a Stranger and MGM's interracial drama,
Night of the Quarter Moon (1959) with
Julie London. In December 1958, he was sentenced to three weekends in prison after a drunken public fight with his wife in a parking lot. In January 1959, his ex-wife sued for nonpayment of alimony. In March 1959, he was arrested for suspected hit-and-run drunk driving. In October 1959, he quit the touring company of
Look Homeward, Angel after a week and a half of rehearsals.
Europe Barrymore traveled to Italy to star in
The Cossacks (1960) with
Edmund Purdom. He stayed in Italy for the next few years with lead or main cast roles including appearances in
The Night They Killed Rasputin (1960, playing
Felix Yusupov), ''
The Pharaohs' Woman (1961), The Centurion (1961), The Trojan Horse (1961, playing Ulysses), Pontius Pilate (1961, playing both Judas and Jesus), Invasion 1700 (1962) and Rome Against Rome'' (1964). During his five years in Europe, Barrymore appeared in the UK film
The Christine Keeler Story (1963, filmed in Denmark) as
Stephen Ward.
Return to Los Angeles Barrymore returned to Los Angeles. He announced he made 16 films abroad, but "I'm not going to do anything bad any more. I feel I'm straightened out and down the block. Somewhere around the block I lost half my ego, so I don't work for applause." He also said he had started to write scripts. He guest starred on episodes of various television series, including
Gunsmoke,
Rawhide,
The Wild Wild West,
Run for Your Life,
Jericho, and
Dundee and the Culhane, and appeared in the 1967 television film ''
Winchester '73''. Barrymore's antisocial and erratic behavior continued to obstruct his professional progress. In the 1960s, he was occasionally incarcerated for
drug use, public drunkenness, and
spousal abuse. In 1964, he went to prison for possession of marijuana. After the SAG suspension was served to Barrymore in 1967, he sporadically worked on-screen, sometimes with a few years between appearances. In 1967, he was imprisoned for possession of drugs following a car crash. In 1969, he was again arrested for possession of drugs after another car accident.
Later years and death Barrymore eventually withdrew from acting, with his final two appearances being a 1974 episode of
Kung Fu and an uncredited role in the 1976 film
Baby Blue Marine. Barrymore had the same addiction problems that had destroyed his father. Although he continued to appear occasionally onscreen, he became reclusive. He was estranged from his family, including his children, and his lifestyle continued to worsen as his physical and mental health deteriorated. In 2003, his daughter
Drew moved him near her home, despite their estrangement. She paid his medical bills until his death from
cancer the following year at age 72. She 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. ==Personal life==