James Stewart Biography

James Maitland Stewart, better known as Jimmy Stewart, was an American film and stage actor whose portrayals of decent, naïve, idealistic, and noble characters endeared him to millions of film lovers. A lanky actor with an ungainly stride and boyish mannerisms, he personified the typical middle-class American caught up in a confusing world. He had a distinctive voice and accent that his fans loved, and impersonators often tried to mimic. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he acted in over 90 movies, many of which are now considered classics. Stewart was a major MGM contract star, known for his collaborations with some of the most famous directors of his time, including Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, John Ford, and Anthony Mann. His role as the naïve idealist in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Stewart won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as the intrusive reporter in The Philadelphia Story (1940). In addition to his film career, Stewart was a highly decorated war veteran, serving as a bomber pilot during World War II. He was later promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. After the war, Stewart returned to Hollywood and delivered one of his most iconic performances—as George Bailey in Frank Capra's It’s a Wonderful Life. Though the film initially received mixed reviews, it has since become a beloved Christmas classic.