American famous and beloved star and actor of TV and film, with a multitude of achievements. Stewart received five Oscar nominations and achieved the Oscar for Best Actor in 1940 with the film “The Philadelphia Story.” He won the New York Film Critics Best Actor Award for the three films, “It’s A Wonderful Life” released in 1946, “You Can’t Take It With You” in 1938 and “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.”
With a career spanning 60 years, Stewart was a major Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player who was known for his distinctive drawl and down-to-earth persona, which helped him often portray American middle-class men struggling in crisis. Many of the films in which he starred have become enduring classics.
His roles diversified with maturity to portray detectives, western heroes and the occasional absentminded character that he originally started. Stewart had two TV series, the comedy, “The James Stewart Show” 1971-1972 and the drama series, “Hawkins” 1973-1974. He was honored for “Life Achievement” by the American Film Institute in 1980, by the Kennedy Center in 1983 and by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 1990.
During the 1985 Oscar Ceremony he was honored with a special Academy Award of “50 years of meaningful performances, for his high ideals, both on and off the screen, with respect and affection of his colleagues.” Also in 1985 he achieved the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor available. He was active in conservative groups on political and economic issues as well.
Stewart graduated from Princeton in 1932 with a degree in architecture and joined the group of actors at the University Players in Falmouth, MA. Becoming acquainted with Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan, he moved with them to Hollywood and roomed with Henry Fonda for a short time.
During WW II, Stewart flew missions over Germany as a bomber pilot, rising to the rank of Colonel until his retirement from the service in 1968 as a Brigadier General. He married Gloria at the age of 41 and they had an exemplary marriage with four children. Gloria passed away in 1994.
Stewart died on 2 July 1997 in Beverly Hills, California, after two years of declining health. He was 89.
Link to Wikipedia biography