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James StewartAdd to My CelebsAge 89 (passed away Jul. 2nd, 1997) Birthday May. 20th, 1908 Born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA Height 6' 3" |
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at IMDB
His "aw shucks" demeanor has served him well as the good guy, the shy guy or the nice guy in films like Harvey (1950) and You Can't Take It with You (1938). Alfred Hitchcock (I) turned him into a dramatic leading man in films like Rear Window (1954) and Vertigo (1958). Stewart also starred in his share of westerns, including The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), The Naked Spur (1953) and The Man from Laramie (1955).
TRIVIA:
- After making _The Magic of Lassie (1978)_ (qv) Stewart went into semi- retirement from acting. During the next few years he suffered from many health problems including heart disease, skin cancer, deafness and senility.
- Some sources state that Stewart was considered to play James Bond in _Dr. No (1962)_ (qv). However, it was in fact 'Stewart Granger (I)' (qv), whose real name was James Stewart, who was considered - but ultimately rejected as being too old.
- Stewart and 'Richard Widmark' (qv) both wore toupees and had hearing problems. On the set of _Two Rode Together (1961)_ (qv) director 'John Ford (I)' (qv) became frustrated with the two stars being unable to hear his instructions and exclaimed, "Fifty years in this goddamn business, and what do I end up doing? Directing two deaf hairpieces!"
- The word "Philadelphia" on the Oscar that Jimmy received in 1941 for _The Philadelphia Story (1940)_ (qv) is misspelled. The Oscar was kept in the window of Jimmy's father's hardware store located on Philadelphia Street in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
- He held the highest active military rank of any actor in history. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps and rose to the rank of colonel; after the War, he continued in the US Air Force Reserve becoming a brigadier general (1- star). 'Ed McMahon (I)' (qv) was also commissioned a Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard in 1966 and continued to serve after he began his acting career. Two former actors outranked him: 'John Ford (I)' (qv) was an actor before becoming a director and a rear admiral (2-star) in the US Naval Reserve; President 'Ronald Reagan (I)' (qv) was Commander-in-Chief, but he made his last theatrical TV appearance in 1965.
- Stewart agreed to play a cameo role in _The Shootist (1976)_ (qv) only after 'John Wayne (I)' (qv) specifically requested him. His short time on the film proved to be trying. The bad acoustics of the huge, hollow sound stages worsened his hearing difficulties, and he stayed by himself most of the time. He and Wayne muffed their lines so often in the main scene between them that director 'Don Siegel' (qv) accused them of not trying hard enough. Wayne's reply was a variation on an old 'John Ford (I)' (qv) line, advising the director that "if you'd like the scene done better, you'd better get a couple of better actors." Later on, the star told friends that Stewart had known his lines, but hadn't been able to hear his cues, and that in turn had caused his own fumbling.
- Despite having been a decorated war hero in WWII, he declined to talk about this, in part because of the traumatic experiences he had in killing others and watching friends die. The roles he chose after returning from the war were generally darker, some say because he was hardened by combat.
- Was a regular on the "Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts." He was even a guest of honor in 1978.
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