James Stewart's biography

James Maitland Stewart is 89 years old television actor born at Indiana County. James was born on Wednesday 20th of May 1908. He is often nicknamed as `The Ordinary Hero`, Lieutenant James Stewart, Jimmy, Jimmy Stewart. According to year of birth 1908 James belongs to Greatest Generation. Birthday on 20th of May means he is Taurus. Taurus is most stable sign of Zodiac, that is the reason it is also included in the earthy sign of the Zodiac Belt. One born with this Moon Sign (Not a Rising Sign) is very stable and balanced through their mind.

He is white american. He is citizen of United States of America. He is presbyterian. His primary profession is to be television actor. You can know James also as film actor, military officer, aircraft pilot, character actor, television director, screenwriter, military personnel, stage actor, poet, voice actor. He is recently known as film director.

James Stewart's mom

James Stewart's mother's name is Elizabeth Ruth Stewart.

James Stewart's family

James Stewart's ex wife

Gloria Hatrick McLean

James Stewart and Gloria Hatrick Mclean have been together since 1949 for 45 years.

James Stewart's schools

We found 2 schools James attended. Complete list of schools: Princeton University School of Architecture, Mercersburg Academy.

Detailed informations about his schools

Daughter Kelly Stewart graduated from Stanford University, and she earned her Ph.D. from Cambridge University.

James Stewart's career

James´s main focus is to be television actor. He is famous thanks to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. You could see him also in The Philadelphia Story.

Is James Stewart gay ?

He is known to be straight.

How did James Stewart die

James died on on Wednesday 2nd of July 1997 when he was 89 years old at Beverly Hills. James Stewarts death was caused by pulmonary embolism. It happend like natural causes.

Awards and competitions

James Stewart's Awards

Hosted the Academy Awards in 1946 (alongside Bob Hope), 1958 (alongside David Niven, Jack Lemmon, Rosalind Russell, Bob Hope and "Donald Duck").
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award, by his friend President Ronald Reagan at the White House in 1985.
In March 2008 a proposal was submitted to award him the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his services to the nation.
Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1708 Vine St. on 2/8/60.
Appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: You Can't Take It with You (1938) and The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).
Was 32 when he won the Best Actor Academy Award for The Philadelphia Story (1940), making him the youngest winner at the time. He held the title for 14 years until Marlon Brando became the youngest winner for On the Waterfront (1954).
Stewart won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance for starring in "Harvey" on Broadway in 1970.

James Stewart's Rankings

In October 1997 he was ranked #10 in "Empire" (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
Ranked #3 on The 50 Greatest Screen Legends Actor list by the American Film Institute.
His performance as George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life (1946) is ranked #8 on "Premiere" magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
In 2006 his performance as James "Scottie" Ferguson in Vertigo (1958) is ranked #30 on "Premiere" magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time.
His performance as George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life (1946) is ranked #60 on "Premiere" magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

James Stewart's Nominations

James was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor for work Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in 1939
James was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor for work The Philadelphia Story in 1940
He was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor for work It's a Wonderful Life in 1946
James was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor for work Harvey in 1950
He was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for work Harvey in 1950
James was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor for work Anatomy of a Murder in 1959
He was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for work Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation in 1962

What else you don't know about James Stewart ?

His middle name is Maitland.

What James Stewart has done for a first time

One of the first (if not the first) stars to receive a percentage of the gross of his movies.
Following the release of Winchester '73 (1950), he appeared on the list of Top 10 Stars at the US box office for the first time, a position he retained until the end of the decade.
At the 1972 Republican National Convention he introduced the honored guest speaker Pat Nixon; which is historically significant considering she was the first ever Republican First Lady to give a live speech at any of the RNCs at that time.

James Stewart's Donations

Many of his works were donated to Brigham Young University in 1983, including his personal copy of It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

James Stewart's quotes

Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing a Jimmy Stewart imitation myself.
[in 1983] I'd like people to remember me as someone who was good at his job and seemed to mean what he said.
There ought to be a law against any man who doesn't want to marry Myrna Loy.
It's much easier, for example, to play a heroin addict and you're withdrawing - you tear the ceiling off - that's much easier than it is to come in and say, "Hello" or "I love you". When you judge it in that way, the heavy isn't as difficult.
I don't act. I react.
I'm the inarticulate man who tries. I don't really have all the answers, but for some reason, somehow, I make it.
The big studios were an ideal way to make films - because they were a home base for people. When you were under contract, you had no chance to relax.
If I had my career over again? Maybe I'd say to myself, "Speed it up a little".
[in 1970] I don't think there's any question that the Communists are behind a great deal of unrest in the United States. In addition, I feel they are still a potential danger in show business.
[his last words] I'm going to be with Gloria [deceased wife Gloria Stewart] now.
I am James Stewart playing James Stewart. I couldn't mess around with the characterizations. I play variations on myself.
Mr. Hitchcock [Alfred Hitchcock] did not say actors are cattle. He said they should be treated like cattle.
I have my own rules and adhere to them. The rule is simple but inflexible. A James Stewart picture must have two vital ingredients: it will be clean and it will involve the triumph of the underdog over the bully.
You hear so much about the old movie moguls and the impersonal factories where there is no freedom. MGM was a wonderful place where decisions were made on my behalf by my superiors. What's wrong with that?
[asked how he wanted to be remembered] As someone who believed in hard work and love of country, love of family and love of community.
John Wayne was the greatest cowboy. Henry Fonda was the better actor but John Wayne, well, he was a champ.
[on Joan Crawford] My first impression of Joan Crawford was of glamor.
[on Jean Arthur] Jean was the finest actress I ever worked with. No one had her humor, her timing.
[on Margaret Sullavan] She could do maybe a look, or a line or two, but they would hit like flashes or earthquakes.
I suppose people can relate to being me, while they dream about being John Wayne.
[on longtime friend Henry Fonda, a liberal Democrat] Our views never interfered with our feelings for each other, we just didn't talk about certain things.
[to longtime friend Ronald Reagan, on his inauguration as US President on 1/20/81] I cannot tell you, Mr President, just how happy I am to finally be able to call you my Commander-in-Chief.
I've always thought [John Wayne] is underrated as an actor. I think The Searchers (1956) is one of the most marvelous performances of all time.
[in 1976] I am sixty-eight years old and I feel every damn day of it.
I've always regretted that I didn't spend more time on the stage because there's nothing like that for experience - real experience - and to bring you up to snuff as far as the acting is concerned.
From 1932 through 1934 I'd only worked three months. Every play I got into folded.
[on Grace Kelly] We all say she made as good a princess as she did a movie actress, even better.
[to Frank Capra when he was offered the role of George Bailey] Frank, if you want to do a movie about me committing suicide, with an angel with no wings named Clarence, I'm your man.
[Stewart testifying before Congress about Hollywood colourizing It's a Wonderful Life (1946)] I tried to look at the colourized version, but I had to switch it off - it made me feel sick.
[It's a Wonderful Life (1946)] It didn't do well at all. I don't think it was the type of story people wanted right after the war. They wanted a war-related story or a pure slapstick, Red Skelton type of comedy. Our movie just got lost.
I was six feet three and 138 pounds. They must have thought I looked like I had just survived a famine.

James Stewart's height, body shape, eye color

Lets describe how James Stewart looks. We will focus on James´s height, body shape, eye color and hair color. He is tall as 6' 3" (191 cm). Body build is slim. His eyes are tinted blue. His hair is shade of brown - dark.

James Stewart