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1[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jimmy_stewart_photo.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:320:Jimmy Stewart in his 1940s heyday.]]
3
4->''"If I had my career over again? Maybe I'd say to myself, 'Speed it up a little.'"''
5
6James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American film actor who began his career during MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood and remained a popular screen presence for much of the 20th century. He is perhaps most famous for his role as George Bailey in the classic film ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', with his Jefferson Smith in ''Film/MrSmithGoesToWashington'' also getting a strong look-in.
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8Among his other films were ''Theatre/YouCantTakeItWithYou'', ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'', ''Film/TheShopAroundTheCorner'', ''Film/{{Harvey}}'', ''Film/TheGreatestShowOnEarth'', ''Film/RearWindow'', ''Film/{{Vertigo}}'', ''Film/AnatomyOfAMurder'', and ''[[Film/TheFlightOfThePhoenix1965 The Flight of the Phoenix]]'', as well as numerous [[TheWestern Westerns]] (including ''Film/DestryRidesAgain'', ''[[{{Film/Winchester73}} Winchester '73]]'', ''Film/TheManWhoShotLibertyValance'', ''Film/HowTheWestWasWon'', and ''Film/{{Shenandoah}}'') and {{Biopic}}s (including ''Film/TheGlennMillerStory'' and ''The Spirit of St. Louis'').
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10Stewart is also notable for making multiple collaborations with several famous directors from the era, such as Creator/FrankCapra, Creator/AlfredHitchcock, Creator/JohnFord, and Creator/AnthonyMann. A mark of his image as an everyman was his constantly being referred to by the public (and on this wiki) as "Jimmy Stewart", despite the fact that he was never credited as such in any of his famous film roles, always going by "James". (In point of fact, he disliked being referred to by the nickname.)
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12He fought as a pilot and squadron commander in the UsefulNotes/SecondWorldWar and flew once as a non-duty observer in a B-52 on a bombing mission during UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar (eventually promoted to the rank of [[FourStarBadass Brigadier General]] in the [[HomeGuard Air Force Reserve]], starting from private), and was famous for being a NiceGuy, both in his film roles and in real life.
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14A native Pennsylvanian, Stewart had a very unusual accent that is hard to describe (a sort of whiny warble/drawl), and a stumbling delivery that is very tempting to imitate. But hey, audiences ate it up. So did women, apparently, as Stewart was known as [[ThePornomancer something of a ladies' man]] early in his life, but stopped after he entered a very loving 45-year marriage with model Gloria [=McLean=]. He was also very good friends with Creator/HenryFonda, another famous actor from the era and his former roommate.
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16Also known for reading poems he wrote about his dog on talk shows in his later years.
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18Stewart's final film performance came in 1991, when he provided the voice of Sheriff Wylie Burp in ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTailFievelGoesWest''. His wife Gloria died in 1994, and by all accounts Stewart was "lost at sea" after losing her; he died of a pulmonary embolism-induced heart attack three years later at the age of 89.
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20----
21!!Partial filmography:
22
23[[folder:Film roles]]
24* ''Film/TheMurderMan'' (1935) as Shorty. Feature film debut, in a supporting part. His actual debut was the year before in a comedy short called ''Art Trouble''.
25* ''Film/AfterTheThinMan'' (1936) as David Graham. The first movie where he had a substantial role (he was billed third), and one in which he played a very different role than in his later career.
26* ''Film/WifeVsSecretary'' (1936) as Dave
27* ''Film/TheLastGangster'' (1937) as Paul North Sr.
28* ''Film/SeventhHeaven'' (1937) as Chico. Remake of 1927 silent film.
29* ''Film/TheShopwornAngel'' (1938) as Pvt. William "Texas" Pettigrew
30* ''Theatre/YouCantTakeItWithYou'' (1938) as Tony Kirby. His first movie with Creator/FrankCapra.
31* ''Film/DestryRidesAgain'' (1939) as Thomas Jefferson Destry Jr. With Creator/MarleneDietrich. His first Western.
32* ''Film/MrSmithGoesToWashington'' (1939) as Jefferson Smith. Directed by Frank Capra. Made him a star overnight. Oscar nomination.
33* ''Film/ItsAWonderfulWorld'' (1939) as Guy Johnson. With Creator/ClaudetteColbert. ScrewballComedy[=/=]Mystery film.
34* ''Film/MadeForEachOther'' (1939) as John Horace "Johnny" Mason. With Creator/CaroleLombard.
35* ''Film/TheShopAroundTheCorner'' (1940) as Alfred Kralik. Directed by Creator/ErnstLubitsch.
36* ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' (1940) as Macaulay "Mike" Connor. With Creator/KatharineHepburn and Creator/CaryGrant. Notable as the film for which he won his only Best Actor Oscar.
37* ''Film/TheMortalStorm'' (1940) as Martin Breitner
38* ''Film/ComeLiveWithMe'' (1941) as Bill Smith. With Creator/HedyLamarr.
39* ''Film/ZiegfeldGirl'' (1941) as Gilbert "Gil" Young.
40* ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'' (1946) as George Bailey. Directed by Frank Capra. His first movie after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, his personal favorite of all the movies he made, and probably his best-known role for modern audiences. Now considered the quintessential Christmas movie. Oscar nomination.
41* ''Film/CallNorthside777'' (1948) as P.J. [=McNeal=]
42* ''Theatre/{{Rope}}'' (1948) as Rupert Cadell. His first movie with Creator/AlfredHitchcock.
43* ''The Stratton Story'' (1949) as Monty Stratton. His first of three screen pairings with June Allyson.
44* ''Film/AndThenThereWereFour'' (1950) as Narrator. Documentary short.
45* ''Film/{{Broken Arrow|1950}}'' (1950) as Tom Jeffords.
46* ''Theatre/{{Harvey}}'' (1950) as Elwood P. Dowd. Previously played the role on stage. One of his favorites. Oscar nomination.
47* ''Film/Winchester73'' (1950) as Lin [=McAdam=]. First movie with Anthony Mann.
48* ''Film/BendOfTheRiver'' (1952) as Glyn [=McLyntock=]. Directed by Anthony Mann.
49* ''Film/TheGreatestShowOnEarth'' (1952) as Buttons. Directed by Creator/CecilBDeMille. Stewart notably spends the entire film disguised in clown makeup.
50* ''Film/TheGlennMillerStory'' (1953) as Music/GlennMiller. Directed by Anthony Mann.
51* ''Film/TheNakedSpur'' (1953) as Howard Kemp. Directed by Anthony Mann.
52* ''Film/RearWindow'' (1954) as L.B. "Jeff" Jeffries. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Stewart's favorite of the movies they did together.
53* ''Film/TheFarCountry'' (1955) as Jeff Webster. Directed by Anthony Mann.
54* ''Film/StrategicAirCommand'' (1955) as Lt. Col. Robert "Dutch" Holland. Directed by Anthony Mann.
55* ''Film/TheManFromLaramie'' (1955) as Will Lockhart. Directed by Anthony Mann.
56* ''Film/TheManWhoKnewTooMuch'' (1956) as Dr. Benjamin "Ben" [=McKenna=]. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
57* ''Night Passage'' (1957) as Grant [=McLaine=]. With Creator/AudieMurphy.
58* ''The Spirit of St. Louis'' (1957) as Charles Lindbergh. Directed by Creator/BillyWilder.
59* ''Film/{{Vertigo}}'' (1958) as Det. John "Scottie" Ferguson. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Now considered one of the greatest movies ever made.
60* ''Film/BellBookAndCandle'' (1958) as Shepherd "Shep" Henderson. His last romantic leading man role.
61* ''Film/AnatomyOfAMurder'' (1959) as Paul Biegler. Oscar nomination.
62* ''Film/TwoRodeTogether'' (1961) as Marshal Guthrie [=McCabe=]. Directed by Creator/JohnFord.
63* ''Film/TheManWhoShotLibertyValance'' (1962) as Ransom "Ranse" Stoddard. Directed by John Ford. First onscreen pairing of him and Creator/JohnWayne.
64* ''Film/MrHobbsTakesAVacation'' (1962) as Roger Hobbs.
65* ''Film/HowTheWestWasWon'' (1962) as Linus Rawling. Directed by John Ford.
66* ''Film/CheyenneAutumn'' (1964) as Wyatt Earp. Directed by John Ford.
67* ''Film/DearBrigitte'' (1965) as Robert Leaf
68* ''Film/{{The Flight of the Phoenix|1965}}'' (1965) as Capt. Frank Towns
69* ''Film/{{Shenandoah}}'' (1965) as Charlie Anderson
70* ''Film/Bandolero1968'' (1968) as Mace Bishop. With Music/DeanMartin and Creator/RaquelWelch.
71* ''Firecreek'' (1968) as Johnny Cobb. With Creator/HenryFonda.
72* ''Film/TheCheyenneSocialClub'' (1970) as John O'Hanlon. With Creator/HenryFonda. Directed by Creator/GeneKelly.
73* ''Film/FoolsParade'' (1971) as Matty Appleyard
74* ''Film/TheShootist'' (1976) as Dr. E.W. Hostetler. Creator/JohnWayne's last movie.
75* ''[[Film/{{Airport}} Airport '77]]'' (1977) as Philip Stevens
76* ''Film/TheBigSleep'' (1978) as Gen. Sternwood
77* ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTailFievelGoesWest'' (1991) as the voice of Wylie Burp. His final movie.
78[[/folder]]
79
80[[folder:TV roles]]
81* ''Series/TheJackBennyProgram'' (5 episodes, 1952–64) {{as Himself}}
82* ''Alcoa Premiere'' (episode "Flashing Spikes", 1962) as Slim Conway
83* ''Series/MyThreeSons'' (episode "Robbie Wins His Letter", 1963) as Himself
84** Specifically, as Brigadier General James Stewart, USAFR, who addresses a group of students to extoll the US Air Force's role in promoting science education.
85* ''The Jimmy Stewart Show'' (1971–72) as Professor James K. Howard
86* ''Hawkins'' (1973–74) as Billy Jim Hawkins
87* ''[[Series/NorthAndSouthUS North and South: Book II]]'' (1986) as Miles Colbert
88[[/folder]]
89
90----
91!!Tropes associated with Jimmy Stewart's work:
92%%%
93%%% Don't trope creators' personal life. We only trope their work.
94%%%
95
96* ActorAllusion: In the movie ''Film/StrategicAirCommand'', Stewart plays an Air Force Reserve colonel flying a B-36 bomber (later, B-47) who is also a Major League Baseball player. At this time, he was an actual Air Force Reserve colonel who was assigned to the real Strategic Air Command, while also being a Hollywood movie star.
97* CharacterFilibuster: Arguably Jimmy's signature is the moment in his films where his character gives a passionate and enthusiastic rant. Bonus points if it's a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech or a WhatTheHellHero speech.
98* TheCameo: Had an epic and heartwarming one during the final episode of ''Series/TheCarolBurnettShow'' -- Burnett had often mentioned on her show how Stewart was her favorite actor and lamented that she never had the opportunity to share the stage with him. As a surprise for her, the cast and crew, without her knowing, conspired to bring Stewart on the show for a brief appearance. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJgmk2F3WeQ&t=7s Carol is NOT acting with her astonished and overjoyed reaction.]]
99* {{Determinator}}: When World War II rolled around, Stewart was refused into the armed forces for failing the military's height and weight requirements and being a tad too old (he was over 30). When he gained weight and logged in several hundred hours of flight training to prove he was capable, he was still refused for active duty due to being a beloved actor that the military didn't want to send to certain death. He pushed for it, survived the war, and stayed in the reserves for another 22 years before retiring as a Brigadier General. [[HeAlsoDid He also acted in the meantime.]]
100* TheEponymousShow: His short-lived early '70s sitcom ''The Jimmy Stewart Show'' (which is also notable as the only time he allowed himself to be billed as "Jimmy" rather than "James" onscreen).[[note]]He found the process of filming a weekly TV series such a slog that he was reportedly relieved when it was axed after a single season of mediocre reviews and ratings.[[/note]]
101* HumbleHero: When the makers of ''Series/TheWorldAtWar'' wanted to interview Stewart about his wartime experiences, he accepted on the strict condition that he would only be referred to as "Squadron Commander" (his title at the time), and that no reference to his Hollywood career was made, as the series was about the war, not him.
102* JumpedAtTheCall: The man fought to serve his country when he had all the reasons not to, and everyone else had all the reasons not to let him.
103* NonActionGuy: Stewart's typical role when paired with Creator/JohnWayne. Ironic, since Stewart was a genuine decorated war hero and Wayne did not serve in the military.
104* OppositesAttract: He was close friends with Creator/HenryFonda, despite the two having polar opposite personalities (Stewart was well known to be a gregarious NiceGuy, while Fonda was much colder and more emotionally distant) and political views (Stewart was a staunch Conservative, while Fonda was a New Deal Democrat.)
105* PlayingAgainstType:
106** He plays AntiHero roles in some of the Hitchcock and Mann films, and in ''After the Thin Man'' [[spoiler:he's actually the murderer.]]
107** In ''Rope'' he's a StrawNihilist, [[spoiler:though he comes to renounce it.]]
108** PlayedWith in ''Film/AnatomyOfAMurder'', where he's an AmoralAttorney who puts on the typical Jimmy Stewart NiceGuy persona while in court.
109* ThoseTwoActors: As was the case with directors, he frequently re-teamed with actresses -- he was in four films with Margaret Sullavan (''Next Time We Love'', ''The Shopworn Angel'', ''Film/TheMortalStorm'', and ''Film/TheShopAroundTheCorner''), three with June Allyson (''The Stratton Story'', ''The Glenn Miller Story'', and ''Film/StrategicAirCommand''), two with Creator/JeanArthur (''Theatre/YouCantTakeItWithYou'' and ''Film/MrSmithGoesToWashington''), two with Creator/MarleneDietrich (''Destry Rides Again'' and ''No Highway in the Sky''), and two with Creator/KimNovak (''Film/{{Vertigo}}'' and ''Film/BellBookAndCandle''). Oddly, he only appeared opposite his most iconic leading lady, Donna Reed, in one film (''[[Film/ItsAWonderfulLife It's A Wonderful Life]]'', obviously).
110** Perhaps Stewart's most iconic co-star other than Reed was Creator/JohnWayne; they starred in three movies together, toward the end of both men's careers (''Film/TheManWhoShotLibertyValance'', ''Film/HowTheWestWasWon'', and ''Film/TheShootist'').
111** Stewart also appeared three times with his friend and sometime roommate Creator/HenryFonda.
112* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Was very seriously considered for leadership of Strategic Air Command, but many felt giving such an important role to a "mere actor" would demean the Air Force.
113* WideEyedIdealist: The kind of character most often associated with his career--due in no small part to ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'' and ''Film/MrSmithGoesToWashington''. The former film in particular is a ''major'' BreakTheCutie.

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