Harry Warner

Early Life

Harry, born Hirsz Mojżesz Wonsal, was born in the town of Krasnosielc, in the Mlawa District of Poland, which was then part of the Russian Empire. His family belonged to the Jewish community. His father was Benjamin Wonsal, and his mother was Pearl Leah, nee Eichelbaum. In the early 1880s, he and his family immigrated to Canada and later moved to the United States.

In May 1956, Harry and his brother Albert sold their share in Warner Bros. and left the family business. Jack, their brother, secretly acquired 90% of the company's stock and appointed himself as the company's president. Harry found out about this in a newspaper, and the shock of the revelation led to his sudden heart attack. Just a day later, while he was in the hospital, Harry suffered a stroke. As a result of the stroke, he lost his ability to walk and needed a cane for mobility.

Harry Warner passed away on July 27, 1958, due to cerebral thrombosis, although some close associates suggested that he died from a heart attack. His wife claimed after the funeral that "Harry didn't die; Jack killed him." Harry's significant contributions to the film industry are commemorated by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is buried in the "Beth Olam" cemetery in East Los Angeles, California.

Harry Warner's life story is a testament to the enduring impact of Jewish immigrants in shaping the American entertainment industry during its formative years.