James Stewart
James Maitland Stewart was born May 20, 1908 in Indiana, PA, USA, and passed away in Beverly Hills CA, USA, as the result a pulmonary embolus on July 2, 1997. His gentle, small town demeanor served him well in portraying a variety of characters in his long and distinguished career. He grew up in Indiana, Pennsylvania and never forgot his old hometown. He was an amateur magician and appeared in Triangle Club shows while at Princeton, where he studied architecture. After graduation, classmate Joshua Logan persuaded him to join the University Players, whose members included Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan. Fonda and Stewart roomed together when they went to work on Broadway in 1932 and films in 1935. Margaret Sullavan insisted he be given roles in her films, which was a great help to him. His "aw shucks" appeal also made him a favorite with casting directors. Great roles and honors began in the late 1930s and continued throughout his career. When he won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1940, he sent it to his father in Indiana, PA, who put it in his hardware store. The award remained there for 25 years.
James with Grace Kelly.
He was the first Hollywood star to enter the service for World War II, joining in 1940. He was initially refused entry into the Air Force because he weighed 5 pounds less than the required 148 pounds, but he talked the recruitment officer into admitting him. He eventually became a colonel and earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Croix de Guerre and seven battle stars. In 1959, serving in the Air Force Reserve, he became a brigadier general, the highest ranking entertainer in the U.S. military. After the war, he portrayed a wide variety of characters, including the beloved George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life (IAWL) and had the lead in four Hitchcock films, Rope, Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo.
James with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in "The Philadelphia Story".
On August 9, 1949, he married Gloria Hatrick McLean, who had two children from a previous marriage, and Gloria and he had twin daughters, Judy and Kelly. His beloved Gloria died February 16, 1994. In the 1950s, he shrewdly negotiated for a percentage of the profits of his films and became wealthy as a result. His career remained active through the 1970s, and he appeared occasionally in the '80s and even the early '90s. He also was an author of poetry. The James Stewart Museum was dedicated in Indiana, PA on May 20, 1995. He is missed by all who admired his work and his exemplary life.
Biography Courtesy: Meredy.
James with Jean Arthur in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington".
Crystal's Favorite James Stewart Films:
You Can't Take It with You (1938) - Tony Kirby
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - Jefferson Smith
The Philadelphia Story (1940) - Macaulay Connor
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - George Bailey
Harvey (1950) - Elwood P. Dowd
Rear Window (1954) - L. B. Jefferies
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - Ransom Stoddard
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