James Stewart
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Last Updated: 9/15/25
Real Name: James Maitland Stewart
Born: May 20, 1908
Died: July 2, 1997 (aged 89)
Height: 6' 3"
Grade: A+
Actor/Movie Star: 50%-50%
Prime Years: 1939-40, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1958-59, 1962, and 1965
Most Famous Film: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Most Infamous Film: The Big Sleep (1978)
Masterpiece: It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Harvey (1950), and
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Outstanding: Vertigo (1958) and The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
Honorable: Call Northside 777 (1948), Rear Window (1954), and
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
Opinion:
If there's a contest for "Most Beloved Actor of All Time," James Stewart would win in a landslide.
I don't know how anyone can not like him. He made so many great movies that had become enduring classics, no
matter what the genre was. Why is that? He was very personable, especially in the folksy way he talked and
approached people. It's the most winning trait of his career, making James Stewart one of a kind.
Confirmed:
Of Scottish, Irish, and English ancestry, was born and raised in Indiana, Pennsylvania, to Presbyterians. His
family had a strong military history with some having fought for the Union in the Civil War. Father
graduated from Princeton University and was very involved with the town's activities while mother was a music
enthusiast, playing the piano and singing. They traveled a great deal with their children. The Big Warehouse
(formally J.M. Stewart & Co. Hardware Store) was a family-run store owned by the Stewarts that lasted for
generations until it closed down in 1969 when James Stewart's father died.
Professed no acting ambitions during childhood. Liked to watch movies and called Ruth Roland his favorite
movie star. Was a big fan of the circus, hence his future appearance in The Greatest Show on Earth,
and his family often had circus performers over for dinner. Learned how to play the accordion after receiving
it as a gift from one of them. Became addicted to airplanes during WWI that would be a lifelong hobby to the
point that he wanted to become a pilot. Felt inspired by Charles Lindbergh's solo transatlantic flight on
May 20, 1927 (ironically on his 19th birthday), leading to a future film The Spirit of St. Louis. Liked
to put on theatrical and carnival shows for others. Would assemble things from scratch, eventually doing that
for model airplanes with Henry Fonda endlessly years later.
Wasn't good academically and yet went to Princeton University, thanks to his family connections. While
there, was in the orchestra (accordion), the drama club, and the yearbook club as a cartoonist (later art
editor) of people because he could draw well. Played football and track as well. Was bullied and made fun of
constantly because of his height and slow speaking style, having been nicknamed "Elmer" in derision. Graduated
in 1932 with a bachelor's degree in architecture. One of his classmates was José Ferrer who also studied the
same subject. Did a lot of plays, at first, for his accordion talent and then made the transition to pure acting.
Fell in love with future actress Margaret Sullavan (who would be Henry Fonda's first wife)
who left early for Broadway with the help of fellow classmate Joshua Logan [famous for winning the Pulitzer
Prize by co-writing the musical South Pacific]. That's when he started to make the jump to acting as
a viable career in order to follow her, beginning in the summer of 1932. Made friends with Henry Fonda right
away, and they remained best friends ever since. Appeared in plays on Broadway for four years.
While in New York City, performed errands for gangsters and slept with hookers. Afterwards, began to hate
gangsters and showed admiration for the FBI, most especially J. Edgar Hoover, hence a future movie called
The FBI Story. Was one of the fewest who could stand up to Bugsy Siegel because of their conflicting
interest in Jean Harlow which began a long-standing rivalry that ended on June 20, 1947, when Siegel was
killed by the Mafia. For years, tried to get him caught by the FBI.
Got signed up by Hollywood, thanks to Hedda Hopper whom he starred in a play with, in 1935. However, MGM couldn't
figure out what to do with James Stewart for a while because he was so tall and thin. Established his screen
debut in The Murder Man starring Spencer Tracy. Made major strides in acting during the third film
of his career, Next Time We Love, thanks to Margaret Sullavan's coaching. Worked his way up in small roles.
Learned how to fly in 1936, receiving his pilot license. Appeared in Best Picture winner
You Can't Take It with You, the first of two in his career. Achieved a significant breakthrough in
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, earning himself the first of five Best Actor Oscar nominations.
In 1939, invested money into flying schools to create a cache of pilots that would be taken advantage of by
the Air Force to prepare for the United States' participation in WWII. Scored the first and only Oscar of his
career for his performance in The Philadelphia Story although he didn't think highly of his work,
preferring Henry Fonda's in The Grapes of Wrath. Would get his second, a special honorary Oscar,
in 1985 "for his 50 years of memorable performances, for his high ideals both on and off the screen, with
respect and affection of his colleagues." Gave up his acting career to join the Air Force in 1941. Louis B.
Mayer tried to dissuade him, but James Stewart wouldn't hear of it.
Felt frustrated for a long time that he was being used as a celebrity to boost morale and train pilots
when all he wanted was to be in combat. Had some near-death experiences during training, being forced to
save himself and the lives of his men. It took a lot of persuading in the higher-ups to send him fighting, and
he was finally approved to go to Europe on November 11, 1943. Began bombing Germany the following month.
Eventually led twenty missions total in four months without losing a man. Got mostly grounded for the fear
of having flown too much, so was assigned the task of planning daily bombing raids and overseeing newly-arrived
pilots and crew. The highest rank he held during the war was colonel.
After coming back from overseas, refused to do any war films with the small exception of The Mountain Road
and lost interest in the Hollywood life including parties and women although he slept with many prior
to WWII. At the same time, had a hard time getting work despite appearing in the greatest film of his career,
It's a Wonderful Life, that was initially a box-office disaster and disappeared in the public for decades
until it ran so much on television to the point of being revived as an all-time great Christmas classic. Henry
Fonda said that It's a Wonderful Life was the closest representation of James Stewart in real life.
In 1947, unofficially worked for J. Edgar Hoover as an undercover agent by reporting who in Hollywood was a
Communist during the 40's, hence the HUAC [actually, he thought J. Edgar Hoover wanted him to root out the
Mafia from Hollywood which was never followed through]. After confiding to Henry Fonda about it, they had a
major fight and didn't speak to each other until 1954. Continued to write up dossiers on specific gangsters
and their associates which would be anonymously used in the Kefauver Committee hearings in 1950 via actor
Robert Montgomery. Was responsible for saving Edward G. Robinson's career after being labeled a Communist by
asking Cecil B. DeMille to give him a part in The Ten Commandments.
After a couple of failed films, returned to Broadway to take over Frank Fay's role in a play called
Harvey which became highly successful, leading to the film version in 1950. During the same year, appeared
in the first true western of his career: Winchester '73, and that would be his bread and butter for the
following two decades, thanks to his collaboration with director Anthony Mann. For the most part, the second
half of the 40's hadn't been good for James Stewart, career-wise, but that would change in the 50's with a
long string of hits with two of his best films at the end: Vertigo and Anatomy of a Murder.
Slowed down a great deal during the 60's with a hit here and there and was pretty much done as an A-list actor.
Got promoted to brigadier general in 1959, becoming the highest ranked actor in history, and retired from the
Air Force in 1968.
Supported the Vietnam War and lost his stepson over there which occurred during the making of
The Cheyenne Social Club. Started wearing a toupee after WWII. Had been losing his hearing for years and
could lipread quite well. Made for a frightening sight whenever got mad but always made sure to keep himself
in check. Had a racist upbringing which caused him to be uncomfortable around black people. Didn't believe
that whites and blacks were equal so was never involved with the civil rights movement.
Liked to tell tall tales. Remained religious all his life. Was affectionally called "Jimmy" [he actually hated the
nickname] while his father and mother used "Jimbo" and "Jimsey," respectively. Had never been photographed
in shorts because of extremely thin legs. Modeled his unusual speaking style after his mother who
lost her hearing and had to speak slowly and deliberately. By all accounts, there was no difference between
what everybody saw on screen and how James Stewart was in person, and many called him an incredibly nice person.
Was a loner and loved to read comic books.
Rumors: None.