--- name: "Lew Ayres" canonical: "https://film.one/person/lew-ayres" roles: ["Actor"] born: "28 December 1908" died: "30 December 1996" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 62 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-19T16:48:26.648561+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." --- # Lew Ayres Actor. Born 28 December 1908 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Died 30 December 1996. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 28 December 1908, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA - **Died:** 30 December 1996 - **Active:** 1970–1973 - **Also known as:** Lewis Frederick Ayre III - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 62, as actor, over 2 titles - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lew_Ayres, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q444371, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000817/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2007 ## Biography Lew Ayres, also credited as Lewis Frederick Ayres III, was an American actor. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 28 December 1908 and died in Los Angeles, California, on 30 December 1996. Ayres began his film career in the late 1920s. He played Paul Bäumer in *All Quiet on the Western Front* (1930) and appeared in the Dr Kildare series. During the Second World War he served as a conscientious objector in the US Army Medical Corps. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in *Johnny Belinda* (1948). Later credits include *Battle for the Planet of the Apes* (1973), in which he played Mandemus, and numerous television appearances such as episodes of *The A-Team*, *Little House on the Prairie*, *Columbo*, *Damien: Omen II* (1978) and *Salem's Lot* (1979). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, planetoftheapes.fandom.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *Battle for the Planet of the Apes* (1973), Fi1m 36, as Mandemus — [page](https://film.one/film/battle-for-the-planet-of-the-apes.md) - *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), Fi1m 88, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md) ## Complete filmography (152) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart* (1994), as Professor Cabel - *MGM: When the Lion Roars* (1992), series, Actor - *Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker* (1991), as actor 'Advise and 'Consent' (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Cast the First Stone* (1989), as Martin - *Outlaws* (1986), series, Actor - *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Lorimar Henderson - *Under Siege* (1986), as John Pace - *Lime Street* (1985), series, as Henry Wade Culver - *Finder of Lost Loves* (1984), series, as Oliver Hawthorne - *Highway to Heaven* (1984), series, Actor - *Don Camillo* (1984), as Doc - *The A-Team* (1983), series, as Bernie Greene - *Hotel* (1982), series, as Nelson O'Neil - *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, Actor — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md) - *Fame* (1982), series, Actor - *Of Mice and Men* (1981), as Candy - *Simon & Simon* (1981), series, Actor - *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Sidney Dollinger - *Reunion* (1980), as Bob Hollander - *Knots Landing* (1979), series, as Andrew Douglas - *Letters from Frank* (1979), as Dan Miller - *Salem's Lot* (1979), series, as Jason Burke - *Trapper John, M.D.* (1979), series, Actor - *Suddenly, Love* (1978), as Mr. Graham - *The Story of Noah* (1978), as Noah - *Battlestar Galactica* (1978), as President Adar - *Flying High* (1978), series, as Wilbur Dodson - *Battlestar Galactica* (1978), series, as President Adar - *Damien - Omen II* (1978), as Bill Atherton - *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Carl Hooper - *End of the World* (1977), as Com. Joseph Beckerman - *The Fantastic Journey* (1977), series, as Rayat - *Quincy, M.E.* (1976), series, Actor - *Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident* (1976), as Allen Dulles - *That's Entertainment, Part II* (1976), as (archive footage) - *Altars of the World* (1976), Director - *The Bionic Woman* (1976), series, Actor - *Wonder Woman* (1975), series, as Dr. Kenneth Wilson - *Little House on the Prairie* (1974), series, Actor - *Heatwave!* (1974), as Dr. Grayson - *The Questor Tapes* (1974), as Vaslovik - *The Magician* (1973), series, as Max Braden - *Battle for the Planet of the Apes* (1973), as Mandemus — Fi1m 36, [page](https://film.one/film/battle-for-the-planet-of-the-apes.md) - *Hawkins* (1973), series, as Gus Bitterman - *The Stranger* (1973), as Prof. Dylan MacAuley - *Kung Fu* (1972), series, as Beaumont - *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, Actor - *The Man* (1972), as Noah Calvin - *The Biscuit Eater* (1972), as Mr. Ames - *She Waits* (1972), as Dr. Sam Carpenter - *Earth II* (1971), as President Charles Carter Durant - *McMillan & Wife* (1971), series, Actor - *Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law* (1971), series, Actor - *Columbo* (1971), series, as Howard Nicholson — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md) - *San Francisco International Airport* (1970), series, Actor - *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), series, Actor — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md) - *The Interns* (1970), series, Actor - *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as The Governor, Dr. Elias Haig, Comm. Reginald Blackwell - *Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of Humanities* (1969), as Dr. Andrew Swanson - *Here Come the Brides* (1968), series, Actor - *Cocoon* (1968), as The Governor - *ABC Stage 67* (1966), series, as Arthur - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Marshall Winslow - *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as Sheriff Roy Kingston, Jason Fleet - *Slattery's People* (1964), series, Actor - *The Carpetbaggers* (1964), as Mac McAllister - *The Upper Chamber* (1963), Actor - *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as Dr. Thomas Clay - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Judge John Markham - *Saints and Sinners* (1962), series, Actor - *Advise & Consent* (1962), as The Vice President - *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor - *Bus Stop* (1961), series, Actor - *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor - *My Three Sons* (1960), series, Actor - *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Dr. Paul Harris - *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, as Howard Moon - *Laramie* (1959), series, Actor - *Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor - *The Family Nobody Wanted* (1956), as Carl Doss - *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Clint Howard, Jud Lester, Jesse Martin - *One Against Many* (1956), as Dr. John Mohler - *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Dr. John Mohler - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Jonathan Cole - *Climax!* (1954), series, as Bob Kilgore - *Donovan's Brain* (1953), as Dr. Patrick J. Cory - *No Escape* (1953), as John Howard Tracy - *Cavalcade of America* (1952), series, as Matt Needham - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor - *New Mexico* (1951), as Captain Hunt - *The Capture* (1950), as Lin Vanner / Lindley Brown - *The Ken Murray Show* (1950), series, Actor - *Johnny Belinda* (1948), as Robert Richardson - *The Unfaithful* (1947), as Larry Hannaford - *The Way of Peace* (1947), as Narrator (voice) - *The Dark Mirror* (1946), as Scott Elliott - *Fingers at the Window* (1942), as Oliver Duffy - *Dr. Kildare's Victory* (1942), as Dr. James Kildare - *Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day* (1941), as Dr. James Kildare - *The People Vs. Dr. Kildare* (1941), as Dr. James Kildare - *Maisie Was a Lady* (1941), as Bob Rawlston - *Dr. Kildare's Crisis* (1940), as Dr. James Kildare - *Dr. Kildare Goes Home* (1940), as Dr. James Kildare - *The Golden Fleecing* (1940), as Henry Twinkle - *Dr. Kildare's Strange Case* (1940), as James Kildare - *Remember?* (1939), as Sky Ames - *The Secret of Dr. Kildare* (1939), as James Kildare - *These Glamour Girls* (1939), as Philip S. Griswold III - *Calling Dr. Kildare* (1939), as Dr. James Kildare - *Broadway Serenade* (1939), as James Geoffrey 'Jimmy' Seymour - *The Ice Follies of 1939* (1939), as Eddie Burgess - *Spring Madness* (1938), as Sam Thatcher - *Young Dr. Kildare* (1938), as Dr. James Kildare - *Rich Man, Poor Girl* (1938), as Henry Thayer - *Holiday* (1938), as Ned Seton - *King of the Newsboys* (1938), as Jerry Flynn - *Scandal Street* (1938), as Joe McKnight - *Hold 'Em Navy* (1937), as Tommy Graham - *The Last Train from Madrid* (1937), as Bill Dexter - *The Crime Nobody Saw* (1937), as Nick Milburn - *Murder with Pictures* (1936), as Kent Murdock - *Lady Be Careful* (1936), as Chester aka Dynamite - *Shakedown* (1936), as Bob Sanderson - *Hearts in Bondage* (1936), Director - *Panic on the Air* (1936), as Jerry - *The Leathernecks Have Landed* (1936), as Woodruff 'Woody' Davis - *Silk Hat Kid* (1935), as Eddie Howard - *Spring Tonic* (1935), as Caleb Enix - *The Lottery Lover* (1935), as Cadet Frank Harrington - *Servants' Entrance* (1934), as Erik Landstrom - *She Learned About Sailors* (1934), as Larry Wilson - *Let’s Be Ritzy* (1934), as Jimmy Sterling - *Cross Country Cruise* (1934), as Norman Winthrop - *My Weakness* (1933), as Ronnie Gregory - *Don't Bet on Love* (1933), as Bill McCaffrey - *State Fair* (1933), as Pat Gilbert - *Okay, America!* (1932), as Larry Wayne - *Night World* (1932), as Michael Rand - *The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood* (1932), as Lew Ayres - *The Impatient Maiden* (1932), as Dr. Myron Brown - *Heaven on Earth* (1931), as States - *The Spirit of Notre Dame* (1931), as Edward Aloysius "Bucky" O'Brian - *Up for Murder* (1931), as Robert Marshall - *Iron Man* (1931), as Kid Mason - *Many a Slip* (1931), as Jerry Brooks - *East Is West* (1930), as Billy Benson - *The Doorway to Hell* (1930), as Louie Ricarno - *Common Clay* (1930), as Hugh Fullerton - *All Quiet on the Western Front* (1930), as Paul Bäumer - *The Kiss* (1929), as Pierre - *Big News* (1929), as Copyboy (uncredited) - *The Sophomore* (1929), as Sophomore Fraternity Brother (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Lew Ayres](https://film.one/media/person/442397/gallery-572853548662.jpg) Lew Ayres — Photographer Carl Dial - Fox Film, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Lew_Ayres-publicity.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Poster for the American musical Broadway Serenade (1939).](https://film.one/media/person/442397/gallery-858792bb1a83.jpg) Poster for the American musical Broadway Serenade (1939). — unknown (MGM), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Broadway_Serenade_%281939%29_poster.jpg/1280px-Broadway_Serenade_%281939%29_poster.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Lobby card for the 1939 film Broadway Serenade.](https://film.one/media/person/442397/gallery-fb8b9ae46ff5.jpg) Lobby card for the 1939 film Broadway Serenade. — MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Broadway_Serenade_lobby_card.jpg/1280px-Broadway_Serenade_lobby_card.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Screenshot from trailer for the American drama film The Carpetbaggers (1964).](https://film.one/media/person/442397/gallery-ad684518e988.jpg) Screenshot from trailer for the American drama film The Carpetbaggers (1964). — Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Carpetbaggers-trailer.jpg/1280px-Carpetbaggers-trailer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Lew Ayres](https://film.one/media/person/442397/gallery-a27565ae17e2.jpg) Lew Ayres — Image via TMDB - ![Lew Ayres](https://film.one/media/person/442397/gallery-bbb7b3735fde.jpg) Lew Ayres — Image via TMDB - ![Lobby card for the 1934 film Cross Country Cruise.](https://film.one/media/person/442397/gallery-637c9dde8897.jpg) Lobby card for the 1934 film Cross Country Cruise. — Universal Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Cross_Country_Cruise_lobby_card.jpg/1280px-Cross_Country_Cruise_lobby_card.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Poster for the 1934 film Cross Country Cruise. There are no copyright marks on the poster. At bottom left is Country of origin USA. At bottom right is #2138.](https://film.one/media/person/442397/gallery-b3d01eaccf0e.jpg) Poster for the 1934 film Cross Country Cruise. There are no copyright marks on the poster. At bottom left is Country of origin USA. At bottom right is #2138. — Universal, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Cross_Country_Cruise_poster.jpg/1280px-Cross_Country_Cruise_poster.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1949: Best Actor (nominated), for *Johnny Belinda* ### Other awards — 1 won - star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 1960: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (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/lew-ayres