Born: May 20th, 1908 (Pennsylvania)
Died: July 2nd, 1997 (cardiac arrest)
Marriage: Gloria Stewart (1949-1994 Her death)
Children: They had twin daughters: Judy Stewart-Merrill & Kelly Stewart-Harcourt. He also adopted Gloria's two sons from her previous marriage: Ronald & Michael. Ronald was killed in action during Vietnam.
Awards: He was awarded two Oscars, one for Best Actor in The Philidelphia Story (1940) and the other was an Honorary Award. He was nominated for Best Actor four other times: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Harvy (1950) & Anatomy of a Murder (1959). He has recieved twenty-five additional awards with nominations for fifteen others. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Regan in 1985.
Interesting Fact: During World War II, he flew over 20 bombing raids in Europe, and became a Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve.
My Favorite Movie: Picking your favorite Stewart film is like picking your favorite child, compromising. Among my favorites are Harvey (1950), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), The Glenn Miller Story (1954), You Can't Take it with You (1938), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), The Spirit of St. Louis (1957), The FBI Story (1959), The Man who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Shenandoah (1965), The Stratton Story (1949) to name a few.
Stewart's talents stretched from the inspirational Capra to the mysterious Hitchcock to the epic Ford. He was a favorite among directors for his small town personality. Ford cornered him one time during the filming of The Man who Shot Liberty Valance though. Ford always gave his stars a hard time to keep them on their toes, and had neglected Stewart for too long. He asked his opinion on the film, in true Ford fashion, and finally got Stewart to object to something. Ford stopped production and brought the whole crew around to explain that Jimmy, in an extent, was anti-negro since his said the part played by Woody Strode looked Uncle Remisy.
Not only did Directors love him, but the audiences were crazy about him. He had a way of drawing you in on what he would say next and have you hanging on his every word. He didn't sound like a script reciter, but as a man who told you a story as it unfolded. He played many true-to-life characters like Glenn Miller, Charles Lindbergh & Monty Stratton so effectively that each portrayal never compromised the other. This is an amazing actor whose legacy has continued to grow with each generation. Unfortunately with this expanding fame, many of his amazing roles have become forgotten.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OF HIS?
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