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James Stewart

Actor

James Stewart

Born May 20, 1908 in Indiana, Pennsylvania, USADied July 2, 199789 films

James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive voice and his everyman persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime Achievement award. He was a major MGM contract star. He also had a noted military career and was a World War II and Vietnam War veteran, who rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Air Force Reserve.

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Throughout his seven decades in Hollywood, Stewart cultivated a versatile career and recognized screen image in such classics as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Philadelphia Story, Harvey, It's a Wonderful Life, Shenandoah, Rear Window, Rope, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo. He is the most represented leading actor on the AFI's 100 Years…100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) and AFI's 10 Top 10 lists. He is also the most represented leading actor on the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time list presented by Entertainment Weekly. As of 2007, ten of his films have been inducted into the United States National Film Registry.

Stewart left his mark on a wide range of film genres, including westerns, suspense thrillers, family films, biographies and screwball comedies. He worked for a number of renowned directors later in his career, most notably Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Billy Wilder, Frank Capra, George Cukor, and Anthony Mann. He won many of the industry's highest honors and earned Lifetime Achievement awards from every major film organization. He died at age 89, leaving behind a legacy of classic performances, and is considered one of the finest actors of the "Golden Age of Hollywood". He was named the third Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute.

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The best way into James Stewart's work
Rear Window posterFirst watchRear Window19548.3as L.B. JefferiesA wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

89 films as actor
  1. 2026It’s a Wonderful Night of the Living DeadGeorge Bailey
  2. 1991An American Tail: Fievel Goes WestWylie Burp (voice)
  3. 1984Olympic Gala
  4. 1983Right of WayTeddy Dwyer
  5. 1980Mr. Krueger's ChristmasMr. Krueger
  6. 1980A Tale of AfricaOld Man
  7. 1978The Magic of LassieClovis Mitchell
  8. 1978The Big SleepGeneral Sternwood
  9. 1977Airport '77Philip Stevens
  10. 1976The ShootistDr. Hostetler
  11. 1976Sentimental Journey
  12. 1972HarveyElwood P. Dowd
  13. 1971Fools' ParadeMattie Appleyard
  14. 1970The Cheyenne Social ClubJohn O'Hanlan
  15. 1968Bandolero!Mace Bishop
  16. 1968FirecreekJohnny Cobb
  17. 1966The Rare BreedSam Burnett
  18. 1965The Flight of the PhoenixFrank Towns
  19. 1965ShenandoahCharlie Anderson
  20. 1965Dear BrigitteProfessor Robert Leaf
  21. 1964Cheyenne AutumnWyatt Earp
  22. 1963Take Her, She's MineFrank Michaelson
  23. 1962How the West Was WonLinus Rawlings
  24. 1962Flashing SpikesSlim Conway
  25. 1962Mr. Hobbs Takes a VacationRoger Hobbs
  26. 1962The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceRansom Stoddard
  27. 1961Two Rode TogetherMarshal Guthrie McCabe
  28. 1960The Mountain RoadMajor Baldwin
  29. 1959The FBI StoryJohn Michael ('Chip') Hardesty
  30. 1959Anatomy of a MurderPaul Biegler
  31. 1958Bell, Book and CandleShep Henderson
  32. 1958VertigoDet. John 'Scottie' Ferguson
  33. 1957Night PassageGrant McLaine
  34. 1957The Spirit of St. LouisCharles Augustus 'Slim' Lindbergh
  35. 1956The Man Who Knew Too MuchBen McKenna
  36. 1955The Man from LaramieWill Lockhart
  37. 1955Strategic Air CommandRobert "Dutch" Holland
  38. 1954Rear WindowL.B. Jefferies
  39. 1954The Far CountryJeff Webster
  40. 1954The Glenn Miller StoryGlenn Miller
  41. 1954Tomorrow's Driversthe story teller
  42. 1953Thunder BaySteve Martin
  43. 1953The Naked SpurHoward Kemp
  44. 1952Carbine WilliamsMarsh Williams
  45. 1952The Greatest Show on EarthButtons
  46. 1952Bend of the RiverGlyn McLyntock
  47. 1951No Highway in the SkyTheodore Honey
  48. 1950HarveyElwood P. Dowd
  49. 1950The JackpotBill Lawrence
  50. 1950Broken ArrowTom Jeffords
  51. 1950Winchester '73Lin McAdam
  52. 1949MalayaJohn Royer
  53. 1949The Stratton StoryMonty Stratton
  54. 1948You Gotta Stay HappyMarvin Payne
  55. 1948Call Northside 777P.J. 'Jim' McNeal
  56. 1948On Our Merry WaySlim
  57. 1948RopeRupert Cadell
  58. 1947Magic TownRip Smith
  59. 1946It's a Wonderful LifeGeorge Bailey
  60. 1941Ziegfeld GirlGilbert Young
  61. 1941Pot o' GoldJames Hamilton 'Jimmy' Haskell
  62. 1941Come Live with MeBill Smith
  63. 1940The Philadelphia StoryMacaulay 'Mike' Connor
  64. 1940No Time for ComedyGaylord 'Gay' Esterbrook
  65. 1940The Mortal StormMartin Breitner
  66. 1940The Shop Around the CornerAlfred Kralik
  67. 1939Destry Rides AgainTom Destry Jr.
  68. 1939Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonJefferson Smith
  69. 1939It's a Wonderful WorldGuy Johnson
  70. 1939The Ice Follies of 1939Larry Hall
  71. 1939Made for Each OtherJohn Horace Mason
  72. 1938You Can't Take It with YouTony Kirby
  73. 1938The Shopworn AngelPvt. William 'Texas' Pettigrew
  74. 1938Vivacious LadyPeter
  75. 1938Of Human HeartsJason Wilkins
  76. 1937Navy Blue and GoldJohn 'Truck' Cross
  77. 1937The Last GangsterPaul North Sr.
  78. 1937Seventh HeavenChico
  79. 1936After the Thin ManDavid Graham
  80. 1936Born to DanceTed Barker
  81. 1936The Gorgeous HussyRoderick "Rowdy" Dow
  82. 1936SpeedTerry Martin
  83. 1936Small Town GirlElmer Clampett
  84. 1936Important NewsCornelius 'Corn' Stevens
  85. 1936Wife vs. SecretaryDave
  86. 1936Rose MarieJohn Flower
  87. 1936Next Time We LoveChristopher Tyler
  88. 1935The Murder ManShorty
  89. 1934Art TroubleJack Burton