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James Stewart Biography

Birth Name:James Maitland Stewart

Birth Place:Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Director, Producer

Fast Facts

Was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor for his "lifetime contributions to the performing arts" in 1983
Helped found the American Spirit Foundation in 1989 to promote the use of innovative approaches to public education
Won a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985
Graduated from Princeton University with a degree in architecture in 1932
Was a proficient accordion player and often staged his own plays during childhood
Quote: "I'm the inarticulate man who tries․ I don't really have all the answers, but for some reason, somehow, I make it․"
Quote: "[on making it in Hollywood] "I went to work every day [as a contract player for MGM]․ It might be a big part in a little picture, or a little part in a big picture․ You learned your craft by working at it․ You crawled before you walked․""
Best known for his roles as George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life," as Jefferson Smith in "Mr․ Smith Goes to Washington" and as Macaulay Connor in "The Philadelphia Story․"
Frequently played idealistic, naive, everyman characters with a hesitant, stuttering way of speaking that resonated strongly with small-town Middle America
Was the first top Hollywood star to enter the military during World War II
Served in the U․S․ Air Force from 1941 until his retirement with the rank of Major General in 1968

Awards

1936Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
1937Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (February): winner
1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (January): winner
1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
1939NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (May): winner
1940Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1940NBR Award-Best Acting: winner
1940Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
1940Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
1940Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (March): winner
1940Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (February): winner
1941Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1941Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (February): winner
1941Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
1947Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1947Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (March): winner
1948Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
1949Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (February): winner
1949Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
1949Gold Medal-Most Popular Male Star: winner
1950Golden Laurel-Best Male Performance: winner
1950Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (January): winner
1950Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (August): winner
1950Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (December): winner
1950Most Popular Male Star-: winner
1951Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1951Golden Globe-Best Actor - Drama: nominated
1951Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (January): winner
1951Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (October): winner
1952Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (March): winner
1952Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
1952Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
1952Gold Medal-Most Popular Male Star: nominated
1955BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1958Zulueta Prize-Best Actor: winner
1959NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1959Volpi Cup-Best Actor: winner
1960Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1960BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1960Golden Laurel-Top Male Dramatic Performance: winner
1962Silver Berlin Bear-Best Actor: winner
1962Golden Laurel-Top Action Performance: nominated
1963Golden Globe-Best Actor - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1963Golden Laurel-Top Male Comedy Performance: nominated
1963Bronze Wrangler-Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
1964Golden Laurel-Top Male Comedy Performance: nominated
1974Golden Globe-Best TV Actor - Drama: winner
1984ACE-Actor in a Dramatic or Theatrical Program: nominated
2023OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Character: winner