James Maitland Stewart (20 May 1908 a Indianas, Pensylvania, USA - 2 July1997 Los Angeles, California, USA)., was an American cinema icon. His career, which began in the 1930s, spanned various eras of Hollywood, marked by versatility and emotional depth. Stewart made a significant impact in classic cinema, with a filmography that includes 64 films.
Education and Training. Stewart studied architecture at Princeton University but nurtured his interest in acting from a young age. He began acting in theatrical productions before making his debut in Hollywood.
His early significant roles were in movies like "After the Thin Man" (1936) and "You Can't Take It with You" (1938), earning him initial fame. The year 1940 was a turning point with "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," earning him his first Oscar nomination. In 1941, he won the Oscar for Best Actor for "The Philadelphia Story".
During World War II, Stewart served in the Air Force but returned to cinema with hits like "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946). In the 1950s, he collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock on memorable films like "Rear Window" (1954) and "Vertigo" (1958). Other notable films include "Harvey" (1950), "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959), and "The Flight of the Phoenix" (1965).
Stewart continued acting into the 1980s, concluding his career with roles in television and minor films. His last film appearance was in "The Shootist" (1976), alongside John Wayne. Stewart passed away in 1997, leaving an unforgettable legacy in the world of cinema.
Personal Life. James Stewart was married to Gloria Hatrick McLean from 1949 until his death. The couple had two children.
Interests and Hobbies. Stewart was an avid pilot and served as a military pilot during World War II. After the war, he continued to fly and support aviation.
- 1935 - "The Murder Man" (Tim Whelan)
- 1936 - "Rose-Marie" (W.S. Van Dyke)
- 1936 - "Next Time We Love" (Edward H. Griffith)
- 1936 - "Wife vs. Secretary" (Clarence Brown)
- 1936 - "Small Town Girl" (William A. Wellman)
- 1936 - "Speed" (Edwin L. Marin)
- 1936 - "The Gorgeous Hussy" (Clarence Brown)
- 1936 - "Born to Dance" (Roy Del Ruth)
- 1936 - "After the Thin Man" (W.S. Van Dyke)
- 1937 - "Seventh Heaven" (Henry King)
- 1937 - "The Last Gangster" (Edward Ludwig)
- 1938 - "Navy Blue and Gold" (Sam Wood)
- 1938 - "You Can't Take It with You" (Frank Capra)
- 1938 - "The Shopworn Angel" (H.C. Potter)
- 1939 - "The Ice Follies of 1939" (Reinhold Schünzel)
- 1939 - "It's a Wonderful World" (W.S. Van Dyke)
- 1939 - "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (Frank Capra)
- 1940 - "Destry Rides Again" (George Marshall)
- 1940 - "The Shop Around the Corner" (Ernst Lubitsch)
- 1940 - "The Mortal Storm" (Frank Borzage)
- 1940 - "No Time for Comedy" (William Keighley)
- 1941 - "Come Live with Me" (Clarence Brown)
- 1941 - "Pot o' Gold" (George Marshall)
- 1941 - "Ziegfeld Girl" (Robert Z. Leonard)
- 1941 - "The Philadelphia Story" (George Cukor)
- 1946 - "It's a Wonderful Life" (Frank Capra)
- 1947 - "Magic Town" (William A. Wellman)
- 1948 - "Call Northside 777" (Henry Hathaway)
- 1948 - "Rope" (Alfred Hitchcock)
- 1949 - "The Stratton Story" (Sam Wood)
- 1949 - "Malaya" (Richard Thorpe)
- 1950 - "Winchester '73" (Anthony Mann)
- 1950 - "Harvey" (Henry Koster)
- 1950 - "Broken Arrow" (Delmer Daves)
- 1951 - "The Greatest Show on Earth" (Cecil B. DeMille)
- 1952 - "Bend of the River" (Anthony Mann)
- 1952 - "Carbine Williams" (Richard Thorpe)
- 1952 - "The Naked Spur" (Anthony Mann)
- 1953 - "Thunder Bay" (Anthony Mann)
- 1953 - "The Glenn Miller Story" (Anthony Mann)
- 1954 - "Rear Window" (Alfred Hitchcock)
- 1954 - "The Far Country" (Anthony Mann)
- 1955 - "Strategic Air Command" (Anthony Mann)
- 1955 - "The Man from Laramie" (Anthony Mann)
- 1956 - "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (Alfred Hitchcock)
- 1957 - "Night Passage" (James Neilson)
- 1957 - "The Spirit of St. Louis" (Billy Wilder)
- 1958 - "Vertigo" (Alfred Hitchcock)
- 1958 - "Bell, Book and Candle" (Richard Quine)
- 1959 - "Anatomy of a Murder" (Otto Preminger)
- 1960 - "The Mountain Road" (Daniel Mann)
- 1961 - "Two Rode Together" (John Ford)
- 1962 - "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" (Henry Koster)
- 1962 - "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (John Ford)
- 1963 - "Take Her, She's Mine" (Henry Koster)
- 1964 - "Cheyenne Autumn" (John Ford)
- 1965 - "The Flight of the Phoenix" (Robert Aldrich)
- 1965 - "Dear Brigitte" (Henry Koster)
- 1966 - "The Rare Breed" (Andrew V. McLaglen)
- 1968 - "Firecreek" (Vincent McEveety)
- 1968 - "Bandolero!" (Andrew V. McLaglen)
- 1970 - "The Cheyenne Social Club" (Gene Kelly)
- 1971 - "Fools' Parade" (Andrew V. McLaglen)
- 1976 - "The Shootist" (Don Siegel)
James Stewart's acting career in film effectively concluded with "The Shootist" in 1976. After this film, he did not appear in any more feature films. However, he did continue to work in television and made appearances in various TV shows and movies. Some of his notable television appearances after 1976 include:
- 1978 - "Hawkins on Murder" (TV Movie)
- 1979 - "Hawkins: Murder and the Partridge Tree" (TV Movie)
- 1979 - "Hawkins: Die, Darling, Die" (TV Movie)
- 1980 - "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" (TV Short)
- 1983 - "Right of Way" (TV Movie)
Awards
Academy Awards (Oscars):
Best Actor: Won for "The Philadelphia Story" (1940).
He also received other nominations, including for "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Harvey".
Golden Globe Awards:
Won a Golden Globe for his contributions to the world of cinema.
BAFTA Awards:
Received nominations for his roles in various films.
Cecil B. DeMille Award:
Won for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry.
American Film Institute:
AFI Life Achievement Award: Won for his significant contribution to American culture through the performing arts.