James Stewart
“The everyman of American film, whose gentle drawl and decency made ordinary virtue heroic.”
After steady supporting roles, James Stewart became a leading man with Frank Capra's films of the late 1930s. 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' (1939) made him a beloved everyman star, and he won the Best Actor Oscar for 'The Philadelphia Story' (1940). Became a star in 1939.
Pennsylvania Everyman
Born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Stewart studied architecture at Princeton before turning to acting. His drawling, sincere manner made him Hollywood's quintessential decent everyman.
War Hero and Star
At the peak of his fame he enlisted and flew dangerous WWII missions. Returning home, he reinvented himself in darker postwar dramas, Westerns and Hitchcock thrillers.
Lasting Legacy
From 'It's a Wonderful Life' to 'Vertigo,' Stewart's range spanned warmth and torment. He remained a revered figure into old age, honored with both an Oscar and the Medal of Freedom.
Career Timeline
- 1908Born May 20 in Indiana, Pennsylvania
- 1932Graduates Princeton; turns to acting
- 1935Signs with MGM, moves to Hollywood
- 1939'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' makes him a star
- 1940Wins Best Actor Oscar for 'The Philadelphia Story'
- 1941Joins Army Air Forces; flies WWII combat missions
- 1946Stars in 'It's a Wonderful Life'
- 1954Begins acclaimed run of Hitchcock thrillers
- 1959Last Oscar nomination, for 'Anatomy of a Murder'
- 1985Receives Honorary Academy Award
- 1997Dies July 2 in Beverly Hills, age 89
Biggest Hits
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The Moment You Remember
The closing of <em>It's a Wonderful Life</em>, with George Bailey running through the snowy streets of Bedford Falls shouting greetings to the town he had wished away, is the moment that defines Stewart. His joyful return to his family captures the warmth that made him America's everyman.
Portrait: Studio publicity still · Public domain (PD-US, studio publicity still) · via Wikimedia Commons