James Stewart

 

James Stewart AFI’S 50 GREATEST AMERICAN SCREEN LEGEND

Born	James Maitland Stewart May 20, 1908 Indiana, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	July 2, 1997 (aged 89) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Blood clot in the lung[1]
Resting place	Forest Lawn, Glendale, California
Other names	Jimmy Stewart
Education	Mercersburg Academy
Alma mater	Princeton University (1932)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1932–1991
Home town	Indiana, Pennsylvania
Spouse(s)	Gloria Hatrick McLean (1949–94) her death
Children	four (including 2 adopted stepchildren)
Awards	Academy Award for Best Actor & Lifetime Achievement Award (among others)
Military career
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force Reserve
Years of service	1941–1968
Rank	Major General
Unit	445th Bombardment Group 453rd Bombardment Group Eighth Air Force Strategic Air Command
Commands held	703rd Bombardment Squadron Dobbins Air Force Base
Battles/wars	World War II Vietnam War
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross(2) Air Medal (4) Army Commendation Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal Presidential Medal of Freedom French Croix de Guerre with Palm

James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart^{[N 1]} (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive drawl voice and down-to-earth persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics. He was known for portraying the American middle class man with everyday life struggles. Stewart was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime Achievement award. Stewart was named the third greatest male screen legend in cinema history by the American Film Institute.^[2] He was a majorMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer 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. The actor Cary Grant said of Stewart's acting technique:

He had the ability to talk naturally. He knew that in conversations people do often interrupt one another and it's not always so easy to get a thought out. It took a little time for the sound men to get used to him, but he had an enormousimpact. And then, some years later, Marlon came out and did the same thing all over again—but what people forget is that Jimmy did it first.^[3]