---
name: "James Stewart"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-stewart"
fi1m_id: "james-stewart"
imdb_id: "nm0000071"
tmdb_id: 854
wikidata_id: "Q102462"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "20 May 1908"
died: "2 July 1997"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 17
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 17
updated: "2026-10-02T22:05:21.985281+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# James Stewart

## Identity

James Stewart

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/james-stewart
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** james-stewart
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000071
- **TMDB ID:** 854
- **Wikidata ID:** Q102462
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102462, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000071/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/854

Actor. Born 20 May 1908 in Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 2 July 1997.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 20 May 1908, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Died:** 2 July 1997
- **Active:** 1938–1962
- **Also known as:** Jimmy Stewart, James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart, James Maitland Stewart, James 'Jimmy' Stewart
- **Frequently works with:** [Alfred Hitchcock](https://film.one/person/alfred-hitchcock.md), [Anthony Mann](https://film.one/person/anthony-mann.md), [Frank Capra](https://film.one/person/frank-capra.md), [Edward Arnold](https://film.one/person/edward-arnold.md), [Frank Morgan](https://film.one/person/frank-morgan.md), [George Marshall](https://film.one/person/george-marshall-19093.md), [Jean Arthur](https://film.one/person/jean-arthur.md), [John Ford](https://film.one/person/john-ford.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 4 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 17 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 79 (3), 1940s 83 (5), 1950s 81 (8), 1960s 62 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 75 across 15 titles
- **Score spread:** 11 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 13 of 17 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 10, Comedy 5, Romance 5, Western 5, Mystery 4, Thriller 4
- **Screen time:** 33 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $135m across 12 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102462, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000071/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/854

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*It's a Wonderful Life*](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md) (91), [*Anatomy of a Murder*](https://film.one/film/anatomy-of-a-murder.md) (87), [*The Man from Laramie*](https://film.one/film/the-man-from-laramie.md) (82), [*Winchester '73*](https://film.one/film/winchester-73.md) (81)
- **Tubi:** [*The Philadelphia Story*](https://film.one/film/the-philadelphia-story.md) (84), [*Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md) (84)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*You Can't Take It with You*](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md) (70)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on James Stewart

> James Stewart's halting speech makes thought seem to happen as he speaks. We rate him highest in Hitchcock's thrillers, where his friendly curiosity draws us into watching people we have no business watching.

In *Rear Window* (1954), James Stewart watches a courtyard and makes the occupation seem reasonable enough for us to join him. As L.B. Jefferies, he makes curiosity companionable, so that we share his interest before considering what business it is of ours. The drawl and the pauses make him sound as though he is still finding the words. Alfred Hitchcock gets exceptional work from him by letting that approachable manner draw us towards conduct we ought to question.

Frank Capra's *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939) established Stewart's idealistic everyman, and *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946) continued their collaboration after the war. His later work gave audiences men troubled by obsession, guilt and moral uncertainty. Anthony Mann's western *The Naked Spur* (1953) belongs to that harder stretch of the career, with Stewart playing a rugged, conflicted lead. His Hitchcock performances make particular use of our willingness to trust him.

That trust is not all that sustains *Rear Window*. John Michael Hayes's screenplay gives Stewart and Grace Kelly time to be funny and attracted to each other, and Stewart's nosiness does not overwhelm the romance. Some of their dialogue sounds too carefully prepared, but the warmth between Jefferies and Kelly's Lisa Fremont keeps the film from becoming merely an exercise in spotting clues. Stewart can interest us in the man doing the watching as much as in whatever he sees.

*Vertigo* (1958) makes his attention harder to bear. His detective, Scottie Ferguson, follows Kim Novak's Madeleine Elster through San Francisco, and his concentration grows oppressive. We felt uncomfortable during those prolonged journeys because Stewart makes Scottie's interest seem increasingly like an entitlement to her life. He retains enough ordinary human appeal that we cannot simply dismiss him and stop thinking about what he is doing. The mystery is far-fetched and some journeys drag, but the patience lets us feel how much emotional weight Scottie places on a woman he is watching.

Not every Hitchcock collaboration suited him: Stewart found the technical demands of *Rope* (1948) challenging and felt miscast. There is no need to pretend that the familiar manner could serve every part equally well. Start with *Rear Window* for the humour and warmth; allow *Vertigo* an evening when discomfort is welcome.

## Biography

James Stewart was an American actor. He appeared as L.B. Jefferies in *Rear Window* (1954) and as Det. John 'Scottie' Ferguson in *Vertigo* (1958). He was born on 20 May 1908 in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and died on 2 July 1997.

Stewart starred in many films including *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), *The Philadelphia Story* (1940), *Rope* (1948), *The Man Who Knew Too Much* (1956), *Anatomy of a Murder* (1959) and *The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance* (1962). He served in the United States Air Force Reserve, rising to the rank of Brigadier General, and was a veteran of the Second World War and the Vietnam War.

*Sources: imdb.com, faroutmagazine.co.uk.*

## On Fi1m (17)

- *How the West Was Won* (1962), Fi1m 62, as Linus Rawlings — [page](https://film.one/film/how-the-west-was-won.md)
- *Anatomy of a Murder* (1959), Fi1m 87, as Paul Biegler — [page](https://film.one/film/anatomy-of-a-murder.md)
- *Vertigo* (1958), Fi1m 92, as Det. John 'Scottie' Ferguson — [page](https://film.one/film/vertigo.md)
- *The Man Who Knew Too Much* (1956), Fi1m 74, as Ben McKenna — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-knew-too-much.md)
- *The Man from Laramie* (1955), Fi1m 82, as Will Lockhart — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-from-laramie.md)
- *Rear Window* (1954), Fi1m 94, as L.B. Jefferies — [page](https://film.one/film/rear-window.md)
- *The Naked Spur* (1953), Fi1m 84, as Howard Kemp — [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-spur.md)
- *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1952), Fi1m 56, as Buttons — [page](https://film.one/film/the-greatest-show-on-earth.md)
- *Winchester '73* (1950), Fi1m 81, as Lin McAdam — [page](https://film.one/film/winchester-73.md)
- *Rope* (1948), Fi1m 76, as Rupert Cadell — [page](https://film.one/film/rope.md)
- *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), Fi1m 91, as George Bailey — [page](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md)
- *The Mortal Storm* (1940), Fi1m 76, as Martin Breitner — [page](https://film.one/film/the-mortal-storm.md)
- *The Philadelphia Story* (1940), Fi1m 84, as Macaulay 'Mike' Connor — [page](https://film.one/film/the-philadelphia-story.md)
- *The Shop Around the Corner* (1940), Fi1m 88, as Alfred Kralik — [page](https://film.one/film/the-shop-around-the-corner.md)
- *Destry Rides Again* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Tom Destry Jr. — [page](https://film.one/film/destry-rides-again.md)
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Jefferson Smith — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), Fi1m 70, as Tony Kirby — [page](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md)

## Complete filmography (121)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *It’s a Wonderful Night of the Living Dead* (2026), as George Bailey
- *Proust Palimpsesto: Pastiches e Misturas* (2026), as John 'Scottie' Ferguson (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *James Stewart, l'ami américain* (2023), Actor
- *Hell's Highway: The True Story of Highway Safety Films* (2003), as Narrator (archive footage)
- *Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas* (1997), as George Bailey (archive footage)
- *No Angel: A Life of Marlene Dietrich* (1996), Actor
- *La Classe américaine* (1993), as Jacques (archive footage)
- *Dark Galaxy* (1993), as (archive footage)
- *An American Tail: Fievel Goes West* (1991), as Wylie Burp (voice)
- *North and South* (1985), series, as Miles Colbert
- *Olympic Gala* (1984), Actor
- *Right of Way* (1983), as Teddy Dwyer
- *Showbiz Goes to War* (1982), as (archive footage)
- *Mr. Krueger's Christmas* (1980), as Mr. Krueger
- *A Tale of Africa* (1980), as Old Man
- *The Magic of Lassie* (1978), as Clovis Mitchell
- *The Big Sleep* (1978), as General Sternwood
- *Laugh-In* (1977), series, as Guest Performer
- *Airport '77* (1977), as Philip Stevens
- *The Shootist* (1976), as Dr. Hostetler
- *That's Entertainment, Part II* (1976), as (archive footage)
- *Sentimental Journey* (1976), Actor
- *Hawkins* (1973), series, as Billy Jim Hawkins
- *Harvey* (1972), as Elwood P. Dowd
- *The Jimmy Stewart Show* (1971), series, as James Howard
- *Directed by John Ford* (1971), Actor
- *Fools' Parade* (1971), as Mattie Appleyard
- *The Cheyenne Social Club* (1970), as John O'Hanlan
- *The Dean Martin Christmas Show* (1968), Actor
- *Bandolero!* (1968), as Mace Bishop
- *Firecreek* (1968), as Johnny Cobb
- *Mondo Hollywood* (1967), Actor
- *The Rare Breed* (1966), as Sam Burnett
- *The Flight of the Phoenix* (1965), as Frank Towns
- *The Dean Martin Show* (1965), series, Actor
- *Shenandoah* (1965), as Charlie Anderson
- *Dear Brigitte* (1965), as Professor Robert Leaf
- *Cheyenne Autumn* (1964), as Wyatt Earp
- *Cheyenne Autumn Trail* (1964), as Narrator
- *Take Her, She's Mine* (1963), as Frank Michaelson
- *How the West Was Won* (1962), as Linus Rawlings — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/how-the-west-was-won.md)
- *Flashing Spikes* (1962), as Slim Conway
- *Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation* (1962), as Roger Hobbs
- *The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance* (1962), as Ransom Stoddard
- *Alcoa Premiere* (1961), series, Actor
- *Two Rode Together* (1961), as Marshal Guthrie McCabe
- *My Three Sons* (1960), series, as James Stewart
- *The Mountain Road* (1960), as Major Baldwin
- *Startime* (1959), series, as Azel Dorsey
- *The FBI Story* (1959), as John Michael ('Chip') Hardesty
- *Anatomy of a Murder* (1959), as Paul Biegler — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/anatomy-of-a-murder.md)
- *Bell, Book and Candle* (1958), as Shep Henderson
- *Lux Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor
- *Vertigo* (1958), as Det. John 'Scottie' Ferguson — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/vertigo.md)
- *Night Passage* (1957), as Grant McLaine
- *The Spirit of St. Louis* (1957), as Charles Augustus 'Slim' Lindbergh
- *The Man Who Knew Too Much* (1956), as Ben McKenna — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-knew-too-much.md)
- *MGM Parade* (1955), series, Actor
- *The Man from Laramie* (1955), as Will Lockhart — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-from-laramie.md)
- *Strategic Air Command* (1955), as Robert "Dutch" Holland
- *Rear Window* (1954), as L.B. Jefferies — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/film/rear-window.md)
- *The Far Country* (1954), as Jeff Webster
- *The Glenn Miller Story* (1954), as Glenn Miller
- *Tomorrow's Drivers* (1954), as the story teller
- *Thunder Bay* (1953), as Steve Martin
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Joe Newman, Britt Ponset, Bart · Director
- *The Naked Spur* (1953), as Howard Kemp — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-spur.md)
- *Carbine Williams* (1952), as Marsh Williams
- *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1952), as Buttons — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/the-greatest-show-on-earth.md)
- *Bend of the River* (1952), as Glyn McLyntock
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Elwood P. Dowd
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Narrator, Director
- *No Highway in the Sky* (1951), as Theodore Honey
- *Harvey* (1950), as Elwood P. Dowd
- *The Jackpot* (1950), as Bill Lawrence
- *The Jack Benny Program* (1950), series, as Jimmy Stewart
- *Broken Arrow* (1950), as Tom Jeffords
- *Winchester '73* (1950), as Lin McAdam — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/winchester-73.md)
- *Malaya* (1949), as John Royer
- *The Stratton Story* (1949), as Monty Stratton
- *You Gotta Stay Happy* (1948), as Marvin Payne
- *10,000 Kids and a Cop* (1948), as Narrator
- *Call Northside 777* (1948), as P.J. 'Jim' McNeal
- *On Our Merry Way* (1948), as Slim
- *Rope* (1948), as Rupert Cadell — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/rope.md)
- *Magic Town* (1947), as Rip Smith
- *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), as George Bailey — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md)
- *Fellow Americans* (1942), as Narrator (voice)
- *Ziegfeld Girl* (1941), as Gilbert Young
- *Pot o' Gold* (1941), as James Hamilton 'Jimmy' Haskell
- *Come Live with Me* (1941), as Bill Smith
- *The Philadelphia Story* (1940), as Macaulay 'Mike' Connor — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-philadelphia-story.md)
- *No Time for Comedy* (1940), as Gaylord 'Gay' Esterbrook
- *The Mortal Storm* (1940), as Martin Breitner — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-mortal-storm.md)
- *The Shop Around the Corner* (1940), as Alfred Kralik — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-shop-around-the-corner.md)
- *Destry Rides Again* (1939), as Tom Destry Jr. — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/destry-rides-again.md)
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), as Jefferson Smith — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *It's a Wonderful World* (1939), as Guy Johnson
- *Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8* (1939), as James Stewart (archive footage)
- *The Ice Follies of 1939* (1939), as Larry Hall
- *Made for Each Other* (1939), as John Horace Mason
- *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), as Tony Kirby — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md)
- *Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12* (1938), as James Stewart
- *The Shopworn Angel* (1938), as Pvt. William 'Texas' Pettigrew
- *Vivacious Lady* (1938), as Peter
- *Of Human Hearts* (1938), as Jason Wilkins
- *Navy Blue and Gold* (1937), as John 'Truck' Cross
- *The Last Gangster* (1937), as Paul North Sr.
- *Seventh Heaven* (1937), as Chico
- *After the Thin Man* (1936), as David Graham
- *Born to Dance* (1936), as Ted Barker
- *The Gorgeous Hussy* (1936), as Roderick "Rowdy" Dow
- *Speed* (1936), as Terry Martin
- *Small Town Girl* (1936), as Elmer Clampett
- *Important News* (1936), as Cornelius 'Corn' Stevens
- *Wife vs. Secretary* (1936), as Dave
- *Rose Marie* (1936), as John Flower
- *Next Time We Love* (1936), as Christopher Tyler
- *The Murder Man* (1935), as Shorty
- *Art Trouble* (1934), as Jack Burton
- *Yukon Passage*, as Narrator

## Gallery

- ![James Stewart](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-c8344e2d97cd.jpg) James Stewart — Studio publicity still, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Annex_-_Stewart%2C_James_%28Call_Northside_777%29_01.jpg/1280px-Annex_-_Stewart%2C_James_%28Call_Northside_777%29_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Pennsylvania, with the statue of locally-born movie star Jimmy Stewart in front. (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-f27edd0d7a02.jpg) Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Pennsylvania, with the statue of locally-born movie star Jimmy Stewart in front. (2018) — Photograph: Andre CarrotflowerSculpture: Malcolm Alexander, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/34_-_20180728_-_Indiana%2C_PA.jpg/1280px-34_-_20180728_-_Indiana%2C_PA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Pennsylvania, with the statue of locally-born movie star Jimmy Stewart in front. (cropped version) (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-b0441f168c3f.jpg) Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Pennsylvania, with the statue of locally-born movie star Jimmy Stewart in front. (cropped version) (2018) — Photograph: Andre CarrotflowerSculpture: Malcolm Alexander, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/34_-_20180728_-_Indiana%2C_PA_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-34_-_20180728_-_Indiana%2C_PA_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Brig. Gen. James M. Stewart, USAF Reserve. (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-d202118b720c.jpg) Brig. Gen. James M. Stewart, USAF Reserve. (1968) — U.S. Air Force photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Brig._Gen._James_M._Stewart.jpg/1280px-Brig._Gen._James_M._Stewart.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![James Stewart](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-94ad2f804942.jpg) James Stewart — Image via TMDB
- ![James Stewart](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-f5bda53cade3.jpg) James Stewart — Image via TMDB
- ![James Stewart](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-6d0c6b05f1dd.jpg) James Stewart — Image via TMDB
- ![Alfred Hitchcock mural from his film Rear Window at Leytonstone Station, London (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-c07b31ca8bda.jpg) Alfred Hitchcock mural from his film Rear Window at Leytonstone Station, London (2013) — ann gav, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Hitchcock_mural_%28Rear_Window%29%2C_Leytonstone_Station%2C_London%2C_2013.jpg/1280px-Hitchcock_mural_%28Rear_Window%29%2C_Leytonstone_Station%2C_London%2C_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Indiana, Pennsylvania (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-f923922cc610.jpg) Indiana, Pennsylvania (2010) — Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Indiana%2C_Pennsylvania_%284826026845%29.jpg/1280px-Indiana%2C_Pennsylvania_%284826026845%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![James Stewart](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-a233b129c972.jpg) James Stewart — Image via TMDB
- ![James Stewart](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-c5239fde6d27.jpg) James Stewart — Image via TMDB
- ![James Stewart](https://film.one/media/person/59153/gallery-01034830f7c7.jpg) James Stewart — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 4 nominated

- 1960: Best Actor (nominated), for *Anatomy of a Murder*
- 1951: Best Actor (nominated), for *Harvey*
- 1947: Best Actor (nominated), for *It's a Wonderful Life*
- 1941: Best Actor (won), for *The Philadelphia Story*
- 1940: Best Actor (nominated), for *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*

### Golden Globes — 1 won, 2 nominated

- 1964: Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (won)
- 1962: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation*
- 1950: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (nominated), for *Harvey*

### SAG Awards — 1 won

- 1968: Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (won)

### Other awards — 7 won

- National Aviation Hall of Fame 2009: National Aviation Hall of Fame (won)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom 1985: Presidential Medal of Freedom (won)
- Academy Honorary Award 1984: Academy Honorary Award (won)
- Golden Boot Awards 1984: Golden Boot Awards (won)
- Kennedy Center Honors 1983: Kennedy Center Honors (won)
- Honorary Golden Bear 1982: Honorary Golden Bear (won)
- AFI Life Achievement Award 1980: AFI Life Achievement Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/james-stewart