James Stewart

Biography

The American actor and military aviator James Stewart began performing while a student at Princeton University, then made his Broadway debut in 1932 in Carry Nation. After an unbilled film debut in Art Trouble (1934), he had his first Hollywood part in The Murder Man (1935), a small appearance that drew little notice. Frank Capra's ensemble comedy You Can't Take It with You (1938) made him a major star, and he followed it with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and The Shop Around the Corner (1940). He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Philadelphia Story (1940). Postwar highlights included It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and four Hitchcock films, among them Rope (1948), Rear Window (1954), and Vertigo (1958). He also starred in Anatomy of a Murder (1959), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and the Western Winchester '73 (1950).

89years old at death

Born May 20, 1908Indiana
Died July 2, 1997Beverly Hills
Star sign: TaurusLast day of the sign, on the Gemini cusp
James Maitland Stewart (birth name)Also credited as Jimmy Stewart

Movie Career

Films: 69
Career span: 88 years1936 to 2024

Genres

Drama49%, 34 films
Comedy30%, 21 films
Romance28%, 19 films
Western23%, 16 films
Thriller13%, 9 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
For the 1962 movie version of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Stewart was looked at for the part of Atticus Finch, yet he said no because he felt the story was too controversial.
A role that slipped away
James Stewart turned down the part of Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network. The reason for his refusal was the explicit language in the script.

James Stewart movies on Netflix

The Bloody Hundredth2024IMDb rating 7.5as Self - Pilot, 453rd Bomb Group
I Am Alfred Hitchcock2021IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
My Scientology Movie2015IMDb rating 6.6as Self (archive photo)
'Rear Window' Ethics: Remembering and Restoring a Hitchcock Classic2001IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
Sasquatch Odyssey: The Hunt for Bigfoot1999IMDb rating 7.2as Conveyor of Yeti Finger(Jimmy Stewart)
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West1991IMDb rating 6.5as Wylie (voice)
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood1987IMDb rating 6.7as Himself
Sans Soleil1983IMDb rating 7.7as Himself
The Big Sleep1978IMDb rating 5.8as General Sternwood
Airport '771977IMDb rating 5.8as Philip Stevens
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years1976IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
The Shootist1976IMDb rating 7.6as Dr. Hostetler
That's Entertainment!1974IMDb rating 7.8as Self - Host / Narrator
Fools' Parade1971IMDb rating 6.4as Mattie Appleyard
The Cheyenne Social Club1970IMDb rating 6.8as John O'Hanlan
Bandolero!1968IMDb rating 6.5as Mace Bishop
Firecreek1968IMDb rating 6.8as Johnny Cobb
The Rare Breed1966IMDb rating 6.4as Sam Bulldog Burnett
Dear Brigitte1965IMDb rating 6.3as Professor Robert Leaf
Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3as Charlie
The Flight of the Phoenix1965IMDb rating 7.5as Frank Towns
Cheyenne Autumn1964IMDb rating 6.7as Wyatt Earp
How the West Was Won1962IMDb rating 7.1as Linus Rawlings
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation1962IMDb rating 6.8as Roger Hobbs
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962IMDb rating 8.1as Ransom Stoddard
Two Rode Together1961IMDb rating 6.7as Marshal Guthrie McCabe
Anatomy of a Murder1959IMDb rating 8.0as Paul Biegler
The FBI Story1959IMDb rating 6.5as John Michael ('Chip') Hardesty
Bell, Book and Candle1958IMDb rating 6.8as Shepherd Henderson
Vertigo1958IMDb rating 8.2as John 'Scottie' Ferguson
Night Passage1957IMDb rating 6.6as Grant McLaine
The Spirit of St. Louis1957IMDb rating 7.1as Charles Augustus 'Slim' Lindbergh
The Man Who Knew Too Much1956IMDb rating 7.4as Dr. Benjamin McKenna
Strategic Air Command1955IMDb rating 6.3as Lt. Col. Robert 'Dutch' Holland
The Man From Laramie1955IMDb rating 7.3as Will Lockhart
Rear Window1954IMDb rating 8.4as L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies
The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1as Jeff Webster
The Glenn Miller Story1954IMDb rating 7.3as Glenn Miller
The Naked Spur1953IMDb rating 7.3as Howard Kemp
Thunder Bay1953IMDb rating 6.5as Steve Martin
Bend of the River1952IMDb rating 7.2as Glyn McLyntock
The Greatest Show on Earth1952IMDb rating 6.5as Buttons
No Highway in the Sky1951IMDb rating 7.1as Theodore Honey
Broken Arrow1950IMDb rating 7.1as Tom Jeffords
Harvey1950IMDb rating 7.9as Elwood P. Dowd
The Jackpot1950IMDb rating 6.6as Bill Lawrence
Winchester '731950IMDb rating 7.6as Lin McAdam
The Stratton Story1949IMDb rating 7.1as Monty Stratton
Call Northside 7771948IMDb rating 7.4as P.J. 'Jim' McNeal
Rope1948IMDb rating 7.9as Rupert Cadell
You Gotta Stay Happy1948IMDb rating 6.7as Marvin Payne
Magic Town1947IMDb rating 6.4as Rip Smith
It's a Wonderful Life1946IMDb rating 8.6as George Bailey
Come Live with Me1941IMDb rating 7.0as Bill Smith
Ziegfeld Girl1941IMDb rating 6.7as Gilbert Young
The Mortal Storm1940IMDb rating 7.7as Martin Breitner
The Philadelphia Story1940IMDb rating 7.8as Macaulay 'Mike' Connor
The Shop Around the Corner1940IMDb rating 8.0as Alfred Kralik
Destry Rides Again1939IMDb rating 7.6as Tom Destry Jr.
It's a Wonderful World1939IMDb rating 6.8as Guy Johnson
Made for Each Other1939IMDb rating 6.3as John Horace Mason
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1as Jefferson Smith
Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8as Jason Wilkins
The Shopworn Angel1938IMDb rating 6.9as Pvt. William 'Texas' Pettigrew
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1as Peter
You Can't Take It with You1938IMDb rating 7.8as Tony Kirby
After the Thin Man1936IMDb rating 7.6as David
Born to Dance1936IMDb rating 6.7as Ted Barker
Wife vs. Secretary1936IMDb rating 7.0as Dave

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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It's a Wonderful Life1946 Drama, Family, Fantasyas George Bailey
IMDb rating 8.6559K votes
Rear Window1954 Mystery, Thrilleras L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies
IMDb rating 8.4574K votes
Vertigo1958as John 'Scottie' Ferguson
IMDb rating 8.2463K votes
Rope1948as Rupert Cadell
IMDb rating 7.9167K votes
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939as Jefferson Smith
IMDb rating 8.1130K votes
Anatomy of a Murder1959as Paul Biegler
IMDb rating 8.079K votes
The Man Who Knew Too Much1956as Dr. Benjamin McKenna
IMDb rating 7.477K votes
Harvey1950as Elwood P. Dowd
IMDb rating 7.961K votes

Most often with

Anthony Mann directed eight of these films, Alfred Hitchcock four and John Ford four. Jay C. Flippen appears in seven of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Jay C. Flippen

Harry Morgan

John Qualen

Ward Bond

George Kennedy

Jack ElamAnthony MannDirector, 8 films

Alfred HitchcockDirector, 4 films

John FordDirector, 4 films

Films together

Jay C. Flippen7 films together, 1950 to 1968
Jay C. Flippen's page
- Firecreek1968IMDb rating 6.8Stewart as Johnny CobbFlippen as Mr. Pittman
- Night Passage1957IMDb rating 6.6Stewart as Grant McLaineFlippen as Ben Kimball
- Strategic Air Command1955IMDb rating 6.3Stewart as Lt. Col. Robert 'Dutch' HollandFlippen as Tom Doyle
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Stewart as Jeff WebsterFlippen as Rube
- Thunder Bay1953IMDb rating 6.5Stewart as Steve MartinFlippen as Kermit MacDonald
- Bend of the River1952IMDb rating 7.2Stewart as Glyn McLyntockFlippen as Jeremy Baile
- Winchester '731950IMDb rating 7.6Stewart as Lin McAdamFlippen as Sgt. Wilkes
Harry Morgan6 films together, 1952 to 1976
Harry Morgan's page
- The Shootist1976IMDb rating 7.6Stewart as Dr. HostetlerMorgan as Marshall Thibido
- Strategic Air Command1955IMDb rating 6.3Stewart as Lt. Col. Robert 'Dutch' HollandMorgan as Sgt. Bible (flight engineer)
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Stewart as Jeff WebsterMorgan as Ketchum
- The Glenn Miller Story1954IMDb rating 7.3Stewart as Glenn MillerMorgan as Chummy
- Thunder Bay1953IMDb rating 6.5Stewart as Steve MartinMorgan as Rawlings
- Bend of the River1952IMDb rating 7.2Stewart as Glyn McLyntockMorgan as Shorty
John Qualen6 films together, 1936 to 1968
John Qualen's page
- Firecreek1968IMDb rating 6.8Stewart as Johnny CobbQualen as Hall
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962IMDb rating 8.1Stewart as Ransom StoddardQualen as Peter Ericson
- Two Rode Together1961IMDb rating 6.7Stewart as Marshal Guthrie McCabeQualen as Ole Knudsen
- Anatomy of a Murder1959IMDb rating 8.0Stewart as Paul BieglerQualen as Deputy Sheriff Sulo
- The Jackpot1950IMDb rating 6.6Stewart as Bill LawrenceQualen as Mr. Ferguson
- Wife vs. Secretary1936IMDb rating 7.0Stewart as DaveQualen as Mr. Jenkins
Ward Bond5 films together, 1936 to 1946
Ward Bond's page
- It's a Wonderful Life1946IMDb rating 8.6Stewart as George BaileyBond as Bert
- The Mortal Storm1940IMDb rating 7.7Stewart as Martin BreitnerBond as Franz
- Made for Each Other1939IMDb rating 6.3Stewart as John Horace MasonBond as Jim Hatton
- Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8Stewart as Jason WilkinsBond as Lout Laughing in Church
- After the Thin Man1936IMDb rating 7.6Stewart as DavidBond as Party Guest
George Kennedy5 films together, 1965 to 1977
George Kennedy's page
- Airport '771977IMDb rating 5.8Stewart as Philip StevensKennedy as Joe Patroni
- Fools' Parade1971IMDb rating 6.4Stewart as Mattie AppleyardKennedy as Dallas 'Doc' Council
- Bandolero!1968IMDb rating 6.5Stewart as Mace BishopKennedy as Sheriff July Johnson
- Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3Stewart as CharlieKennedy as Col. Fairchild
- The Flight of the Phoenix1965IMDb rating 7.5Stewart as Frank TownsKennedy as Bellamy
Jack Elam5 films together, 1954 to 1968
Jack Elam's page
- Firecreek1968IMDb rating 6.8Stewart as Johnny CobbElam as Norman
- The Rare Breed1966IMDb rating 6.4Stewart as Sam Bulldog BurnettElam as Simons
- Night Passage1957IMDb rating 6.6Stewart as Grant McLaineElam as Shotgun
- The Man From Laramie1955IMDb rating 7.3Stewart as Will LockhartElam as Chris Boldt
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Stewart as Jeff WebsterElam as Frank Newberry
Anthony MannDirector, 8 films, 1950 to 1955
All films by Anthony Mann
- Strategic Air Command1955IMDb rating 6.3Stewart as Lt. Col. Robert 'Dutch' Holland
- The Man From Laramie1955IMDb rating 7.3Stewart as Will Lockhart
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Stewart as Jeff Webster
- The Glenn Miller Story1954IMDb rating 7.3Stewart as Glenn Miller
- The Naked Spur1953IMDb rating 7.3Stewart as Howard Kemp
- Thunder Bay1953IMDb rating 6.5Stewart as Steve Martin
- Bend of the River1952IMDb rating 7.2Stewart as Glyn McLyntock
- Winchester '731950IMDb rating 7.6Stewart as Lin McAdam
Alfred HitchcockDirector, 4 films, 1948 to 1958
All films by Alfred Hitchcock
- Vertigo1958IMDb rating 8.2Stewart as John 'Scottie' Ferguson
- The Man Who Knew Too Much1956IMDb rating 7.4Stewart as Dr. Benjamin McKenna
- Rear Window1954IMDb rating 8.4Stewart as L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies
- Rope1948IMDb rating 7.9Stewart as Rupert Cadell
John FordDirector, 4 films, 1961 to 1964
All films by John Ford
- Cheyenne Autumn1964IMDb rating 6.7Stewart as Wyatt Earp
- How the West Was Won1962IMDb rating 7.1Stewart as Linus Rawlings
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962IMDb rating 8.1Stewart as Ransom Stoddard
- Two Rode Together1961IMDb rating 6.7Stewart as Marshal Guthrie McCabe
Also five films together1 more actor
- June AllysonHappy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987), That's Entertainment! (1974), Strategic Air Command (1955), The Glenn Miller Story (1954) and The Stratton Story (1949)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What James Stewart's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$335 million

26 of the 69 films have a worldwide figure.

26Worldwide figure
9US gross only
6Never in cinemas
28Figure not found

Top grosser

Airport '771977Philip Stevens$91.1 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 77% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Airport '771977as Philip Stevens
$91M27.2% of the total
2
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West1991as Wylie (voice)
$41M12.2% of the total
3
Rear Window1954as L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies
$37M11.1% of the total
4
The Greatest Show on Earth1952as Buttons
$36M10.8% of the total
5
Shenandoah1965as Charlie
$17M5.2% of the total
6
The Shootist1976as Dr. Hostetler
$13M4.0% of the total
7
Bandolero!1968as Mace Bishop
$12M3.6% of the total
8
The Man Who Knew Too Much1956as Dr. Benjamin McKenna
$11M3.4% of the total

It's a Wonderful Life (1946), $9.6 million

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), $9.6 million

Anatomy of a Murder (1959), $8.0 million

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), $8.0 million

You Can't Take It with You (1938), $7.4 million

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962), $4.0 million

The Philadelphia Story (1940), $3.3 million

The Spirit of St. Louis (1957), $2.6 million

$75.9 millionfrom the other 18 films with a worldwide figure, 23% of the total

Awards

Twelve awards and honors from 1941 to 2009, six of them major.

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James Stewart's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1984	Honorary Award		Honorary
1941	Best Actor	The Philadelphia Story	Won
Golden Globes
1964	Cecil B. DeMille Award		Won
SAG Awards
1968	Life Achievement Award		Won
Berlin Film Festival
	Silver Bear		Won
Venice Film Festival
	Volpi Cup for Best Actor		Won
Other honors
2009	National Aviation Hall of Fame (posthumous)		Won
1985	Presidential Medal of Freedom		Won
1984	Golden Boot Awards		Won
1983	Kennedy Center Honors		Won
1982	Honorary Golden Bear		Honorary
1980	AFI Life Achievement Award		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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