James Stewart - ©Theda Bara

The name I bring to you in this post is that of the American actor James Stewart, who won the Oscar for best actor in 1941, for his performance in the film: “The Philadelphia Story” (1940) as the reporter “Macaulay Connor”. The actor also won an Honorary Oscar in 1985 for his film career.

James, who according to friends had a comedic streak, was very successful in western and suspense films, being the favorite actor of British filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock (1889-1980), with whom he made 4 films: “Rope” (1948), character: “Rupert Cadell”; “Rear Window” (1954), character: “L. B. Jefferies”; “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (1956), character: “Dr. Benjamin McKenna - Ben McKenna” and “Vertigo” (1958), character: “John Ferguson”.

James Stewart has his star on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame, at 1708 Vine Street, in the Cinema category.

James Maitland Stewart, born May 20, 1908, Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States, and died July 2, 1997, Beverly Hills, California, United States, aged 89.

James Stewart is one of the few Hollywood actors who was married only once, to fellow American actress Gloria Hatrick McLean Stewart (1918-1994), from 1949 to 1994, of whom the actor ended up a widow. Gloria had previously been married to the owner of The Washington Post newspaper, Edward “Ned” Beale McLean Jr. (1918-1987), from 1943 to 1948, when they separated.

James Stewart and Gloria Hatrick had three children: former American football player Michael Stewart (1947-); and the twins, businesswoman Judy Stewart-Merrill and university professor Kelly Stewart-Harcourt (1951-), both 72 years old. The legendary actor's stepson, Ronald Walsh McLean (1944-1969), son of Gloria and Edward, was killed in action in the Vietnam War.