Jimmy Stewart: James Maitland Stuart was born in Indiana Pennsylvania on May 20, 1908 Jameses parents Alexander and Elizabeth Stuart.
When Stewart was not in school much of his time was spent on mechanical drawing, chemistry and model airplanes. These activities were in preparation to fulfill his aviation dreams. These dreams were abandoned when he started attending Princeton University instead of the Naval Academy, at his father's insistence. After graduating Mercersberg Acadamy prep school Jimmy Stewart enrolled at Princeton in 1928 as a member of the class of 1932.
James impressed his professors with his architectural thesis on Airport design to the point he was awarded a scholarship for graduate studies. He found himself attracted to the drama and music clubs that Princeton had to offer. Around this time talking sets started to take the place of silent films and Jimmy had started spending more of his free time and tending them.
A performing arts club called the University Players recognized his talents as an actor and invited Jimmy to join. It is here he met Henry Fonda and in 1932. Fonda and Stewart became good friends in the summer of 32 while sharing an apartment with Joshua Logan and Myron Mccormick. In 1934 Stewart got the attention of bill Grady of MGM on the opening night of Divided by Three. Fonda encouraged Stewart to sign a contract with MGM in a pool 1935 for $350 a week as a contract player.
Fonda greeted Stewart at the train station upon his arrival in Los Angeles. He had trouble at first being cast due to his shy humble presence and his gangly looks. The Murdered Man his first film was poorly received but Rosa Marie was more successful. After mixed success he was cast in the Thin Man in 1936 his first substantial role. Jimmy Stewart got a foothold in Hollywood largely due to Margaret Sullivans help in getting the leading role in Next Time We Love a romantic comedy. Margaret help Jimmy to prepare for his part and encouraged him to use his natural style to his benefit. Stewart was on his way now and hired a big time agent Leland Mayward who decided a good course of action was to do loan-outs to other studios.
Storch first western film was Destry Rides Again which would make him famous later in his career. Jimmy played pacifist Lawman and Marlene Dietrich a dance hall girl who falls in love with him.
In 1940 Stewart was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps. But was rejected due to his weight. Stewart was 5 pounds underweight. Jimmy recruited the help of Don Loomis famous muscle man to help correct this problem. He failed once more but was given another chance. This time he passed and became the first major movie star from America to serve in the military in world war two. Jimmy earned his wings and was stationed in Albuquerque New Mexico as an instructor pilot for the B 17 flying fortress. The war was on and Stewart wanted combat duty. Jimmy heard a rumor that he was to be assigned to making training films or selling bonds. He appealed to his commanding officer who understood and Jimmy was reassigned to a unit being shipped overseas.
Jimmy Stewarts first film after the war was It's a Wonderful Life. Jimmy played George Bailey an upstanding citizen of a small town who's ordinary existence and financial troubles drive him to suicide on Christmas Eve. It's a Wonderful Life is considered a Christmas classic film now but was originally received with mixed reviews.
In the 1950s Stewart entered what most consider his golden era as an actor. He took on more challenging roles and expanded into westerns.
Jimmy Stewart's Films:
"North and South, Book II" (1986) Miles Colbert
Right of Way (1983) Teddy Dwyer
Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980) Mr. Krueger
The Magic of Lassie (1978) Clovis Mitchell
The Big Sleep (1978) General Sternwood
Airport '77 (1977) Philip Stevens
The Shootist (1976) Dr. E.W. Hostetler
Fools' Parade (1971) Mattie Appleyard
The Cheyenne Social Club (1970) John O'Hanlan
Bandolero! (1968) Mace Bishop
Firecreek (1968) Johnny Cobb
The Rare Breed (1966) Sam Burnett
The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) Capt. Frank Towns
Shenandoah (1965) Charlie Anderson
Dear Brigitte (1965) Prof. Robert Leaf
Cheyenne Autumn (1964) Wyatt Earp
Take Her, She's Mine (1963) Frank Michaelson/Narrator
How the West Was Won (1962) Linus Rawlings
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962) Roger Hobbs
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Ransom Stoddard
Two Rode Together (1961) Marshal Guthrie McCabe
The Mountain Road (1960) Maj. Baldwin
The FBI Story (1959) John Michael ('Chip') Hardesty
Anatomy of a Murder (1959) Paul Biegler
Bell Book and Candle (1958) Shepherd 'Shep' Henderson
Vertigo (1958) Det. John 'Scottie' Ferguson
Night Passage (1957) Grant McLaine
The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) Charles Augustus 'Slim' Lindbergh
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) Dr. Benjamin 'Ben' McKenna
The Man from Laramie (1955) Will Lockhart
Strategic Air Command (1955) Lt. Col. Robert 'Dutch' Holland
The Far Country (1954) Jeff Webster
Rear Window (1954) L. B. Jefferies
Tomorrow's Drivers (1954) The Story Teller
The Glenn Miller Story (1953) Glenn Miller
Thunder Bay (1953) Steve Martin
The Naked Spur (1953) Howard Kemp
Carbine Williams (1952) David Marshall 'Marsh' Williams
Bend of the River (1952) Glyn McLyntock, Wagon train guide
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) 'Buttons' A Clown
No Highway (1951) Theodore Honey
The Jackpot (1950) Bill Lawrence
Harvey (1950) Elwood P. Dowd
Broken Arrow (1950) Tom Jeffords
Winchester '73 (1950) Lin McAdam
Malaya (1949) John Royer
The Stratton Story (1949) Monty Stratton
You Gotta Stay Happy (1948) Marvin Payne
Rope (1948) Rupert Cadell
On Our Merry Way (1948) Slim
Call Northside 777 (1948) P.J. 'Jim' McNeal
Magic Town (1947) Rip Smith
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) George Bailey
American Creed (1946)
Ziegfeld Girl (1941) Gilbert Young
Pot o' Gold (1941) Hames Hamilton 'Jimmy' Haskell
Come Live with Me (1941) Bill Smith
The Philadelphia Story (1940) Macaulay Connor
No Time for Comedy (1940) Gaylord 'Gay' Esterbrook
The Mortal Storm (1940) Martin Breitner
The Shop Around the Corner (1940) Alfred Kralik
Destry Rides Again (1939) Thomas Jefferson 'Tom' Destry Jr.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Jefferson Smith
It's a Wonderful World (1939) Guy Johnson
The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939) Larry Hall
Made for Each Other (1939) John Horace 'Johnny' Mason
You Can't Take It with You (1938) Tony Kirby
The Shopworn Angel (1938) Pvt. William 'Texas' Pettigrew
Vivacious Lady (1938) Prof. Peter Morgan Jr.
Of Human Hearts (1938) Jason Wilkins
Navy Blue and Gold (1937) John 'Truck' Cross (alias of John Cross Carter)
The Last Gangster (1937) Paul North Sr.
Seventh Heaven (1937) Chico
After the Thin Man (1936) David Graham
Born to Dance (1936) Ted Barker
The Gorgeous Hussy (1936) Roderick 'Rowdy' Dow
Speed (1936) Terry Martin
Small Town Girl (1936) Elmer Clampett
Wife vs. Secretary (1936) Dave
Next Time We Love (1936) Christopher Tyler
Rose-Marie (1936) John Flower
The Murder Man (1935) Shorty
Art Trouble (1934) (uncredited) Burton