Born in Philadelphia on Aug. 15, 1879. She is regarded as one of the greatest Broadway stars of all time.

Ethel was the second child of actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Dew. She was the sister of John and Lionel Barrymore, aunt of John Drew Barrymore, great aunt of Drew Barrymore and niece of John Drew Jr. and Sidney Drew.

Her first Broadway performance was "The Imprudent Couple" in 1895. Then she moved into films and made her film debut in "The Nightingale" in 1914. All of her silent films have been lost except for 1917's "The Call of Her People".

She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1944 for her role in "None But the Lonely Heart". She wasn't a big fan of the film and never understood why it was such a success.

She passed away on June 18, 1959 of cardiovascular disease. Her last film was in 1957, "Johnny Trouble".