---
name: "Paul Stewart"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/paul-stewart"
fi1m_id: "paul-stewart"
imdb_id: "nm0829717"
tmdb_id: 11033
wikidata_id: "Q1385381"
roles: ["Actor","Director"]
born: "13 March 1908"
died: "17 February 1986"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 86
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-05T04:30:49.260248+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."
---

# Paul Stewart

## Identity

Paul Stewart

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/paul-stewart
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** paul-stewart
- **IMDb ID:** nm0829717
- **TMDB ID:** 11033
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1385381
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stewart_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385381, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829717/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11033

Actor and director. Born 13 March 1908 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 17 February 1986.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director
- **Born:** 13 March 1908, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 17 February 1986
- **Active:** 1941–1967
- **Also known as:** Paul Sternberg
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 6 acting, 1 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Orson Welles](https://film.one/person/orson-welles.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 86, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 88 (2), 1950s 85 (3), 1960s 83 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 86 to 85 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Crime 3, Mystery 2, Action 1, Action & Adventure 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $44m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stewart_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385381, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829717/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11033

## Streaming the US now

- **Paramount+:** [*The Twilight Zone*](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md) (84)

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

## Fi1m on Paul Stewart

> Paul Stewart made cynical butlers and criminals convincing through a gruff voice and an air of settled authority. We value the economy, though repeated casting as sinister men can make his arrival rather too easy to read.

As Raymond, the cynical butler in *Citizen Kane* (1941), Paul Stewart gives service little suggestion of affection. The gruff voice and determined bearing make him seem difficult to impress, regardless of the importance of his employer. That recognisable scepticism gives us something plain to respond to in Orson Welles's film, whose elaborate structure sometimes keeps us at a distance. Stewart makes a supporting character immediately readable, and we rate that economy even when the man himself offers little warmth. That matters in a film concerned with understanding a powerful man, where an actor's attitude towards him can be as revealing as a spoken account.

*Citizen Kane* was his film debut, but Welles already knew him through the Mercury Theatre and radio. That background helps explain an actor who can make a voice carry so much of a character. His subsequent association with noir and crime dramas made good use of those qualities, often in supporting parts. In *The Bad and the Beautiful* (1952), he appeared as Syd Murphy in a Hollywood drama. The venal Carl Evello in *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955) gave his capacity for menace a more direct purpose.

We felt uneasy watching Evello; Stewart's firm bearing and gruff delivery make this venal criminal seem comfortable with himself. Robert Aldrich's *Kiss Me Deadly* is harsh and inventive, with Ralph Meeker's Mike Hammer already an unnerving guide through its underworld. Stewart fits that company without needing to compete with the leading performance. He does not need to make the man seem exceptional; the suggestion that such people belong quite comfortably in this company is unpleasant enough. The tangled plotting can make the film harder to follow than it needs to be, but his blunt presence gives us something clear to respond to.

The limitation is the casting: repeated appearances as sinister men can settle our expectations before Stewart has done much. His film work continued through the 1970s, with Jensen in *In Cold Blood* (1967) among the later parts. We need not pretend every appearance offers a surprise to appreciate the care within those familiar jobs. Start with *Citizen Kane*, then try *Kiss Me Deadly* if a harsher evening appeals.

## Biography

Paul Stewart (born Paul Sternberg) was an American character actor, director and producer. Born in New York City on 13 March 1908, he graduated from Columbia University and made his Broadway debut in the play *Two Seconds* in 1931. He joined Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre and participated in the 1938 radio broadcast of *The War of the Worlds*.

Stewart made his film debut as Raymond, Kane's butler, in *Citizen Kane* (1941). He appeared in numerous films including *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955), *The Bad and the Beautiful* (1952) and *In Cold Blood* (1967), and worked extensively in television, directing episodes such as "Little Girl Lost" for *The Twilight Zone* (1959). He was married to singer and actress Peg La Centra from 1939 until his death from a heart attack in Los Angeles on 17 February 1986.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

### Performed in (6) — the average rests on these

- *In Cold Blood* (1967), Fi1m 84, as Jensen — [page](https://film.one/film/in-cold-blood.md)
- *Mission: Impossible* (1966), Fi1m 82, as Jonas Stone — [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md)
- *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955), Fi1m 87, as Carl Evello — [page](https://film.one/film/kiss-me-deadly.md)
- *The Bad and the Beautiful* (1952), Fi1m 84, as Syd Murphy — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bad-and-the-beautiful.md)
- *Twelve O'Clock High* (1949), Fi1m 83, as Major "Doc" Kaiser (flight surgeon) — [page](https://film.one/film/twelve-oclock-high.md)
- *Citizen Kane* (1941), Fi1m 93, as Raymond — [page](https://film.one/film/citizen-kane.md)

### Directed (1)

- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)

## Complete filmography (106)

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

- *The Other Side of the Wind* (2018), as Matt Costello
- *O+ omikron plus* (2013), as UN Officer
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Dr. Carl Steubens
- *Remington Steele* (1982), series, as Joseph Barber
- *Tempest* (1982), as Phillip's Father
- *Cassie & Co.* (1982), series, as Edward Ludden
- *Nobody's Perfekt* (1981), as Dr. Segal
- *S.O.B.* (1981), as Harry Sandler
- *The Pilot* (1980), as 2nd Mechanic
- *Power* (1980), series, as Vince Ianelli
- *The Nativity* (1978), as Zacharias
- *The Dain Curse* (1978), series, as The Old Man
- *Revenge of the Pink Panther* (1978), as Julio Scallini
- *Opening Night* (1977), as David Samuels
- *W.C. Fields and Me* (1976), as Florenz Ziegfeld
- *Bite the Bullet* (1975), as J.B. Parker (uncredited)
- *Matt Helm* (1975), series, as Joe Delphia
- *Ellery Queen* (1975), series, Actor
- *Murph the Surf* (1975), as Avery
- *Carter's Army* (1975), as Gen. Clark
- *The Day of the Locust* (1975), as Helverston
- *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Julius 'Buddy' Richards — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md)
- *Fabulous Trinity* (1972), as Charles
- *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, Actor
- *The Sixth Sense* (1972), series, Actor
- *McMillan & Wife* (1971), series, Actor
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Clifford Paris — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *Cannon* (1971), series, Actor
- *City Beneath the Sea* (1971), as Barton
- *How to Commit Marriage* (1969), as Willoughby
- *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Willard Lennox
- *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, Actor
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Dr. Rubias
- *The Outsider* (1968), series, Actor
- *Jigsaw* (1968), as Dr. Simon Joshua
- *In Cold Blood* (1967), as Jensen — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/in-cold-blood.md)
- *Mannix* (1967), series, as Dr. Halder
- *Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor* (1967), series, Actor
- *Ironside* (1967), series, Actor
- *Mission: Impossible* (1966), series, as Jonas Stone — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md)
- *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Reese
- *The Greatest Story Ever Told* (1965), as Questor
- *Profiles in Courage* (1964), series, as Louis D. Brandeis
- *Breaking Point* (1963), series, Actor
- *A Child Is Waiting* (1963), as Goodman
- *Going My Way* (1962), series, Director
- *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Dr. Giuseppe Muretelli
- *87th Precinct* (1961), series, Director
- *Cain's Hundred* (1961), series, as Alexander Marish
- *The Defenders* (1961), series, Director
- *The Asphalt Jungle* (1961), series, Actor
- *Michael Shayne* (1960), series, Director, Producer
- *Checkmate* (1960), series, Director
- *Hawaiian Eye* (1959), series, Director
- *Philip Marlowe* (1959), series, Director
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *Deadline* (1959), series, as Narrator / Host · Host / Narrator
- *Johnny Staccato* (1959), series, Actor
- *Beyond All Limits* (1959), as Pendergrest
- *Lawman* (1958), series, Director
- *Peter Gunn* (1958), series, Director
- *King Creole* (1958), as Charlie LeGrand
- *Half Hour to Kill* (1958), series, Director
- *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as J. J. Pennington, Cameron Burgess
- *M Squad* (1957), series, Director
- *Panic!* (1957), series, Actor
- *Top Secret Affair* (1957), as Phil Bentley
- *Not One Shall Die* (1957), as Kellerman
- *The Wild Party* (1956), as Ben Davis
- *Confession* (1956), as Martin Hoeffer
- *On Trial* (1956), series, as Mr. Bari
- *Hell on Frisco Bay* (1955), as Joe Lye
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Vincent Noonan
- *Kings Row* (1955), series, Director
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Sanders
- *Chicago Syndicate* (1955), as Arnold 'Arnie' Valent
- *The Cobweb* (1955), as Dr. Otto Wolff
- *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955), as Carl Evello — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/kiss-me-deadly.md)
- *Deep in My Heart* (1954), as Bert Townsend
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Dave Hennessey, Paul Crichton
- *Prisoner of War* (1954), as Capt. Jack Hodges
- *Inner Sanctum* (1954), series, Actor
- *The Joe Louis Story* (1953), as Tad McGeehan
- *The Juggler* (1953), as Detective Karni
- *The Bad and the Beautiful* (1952), as Syd Murphy — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bad-and-the-beautiful.md)
- *We're Not Married!* (1952), as Attorney Stone
- *Deadline - U.S.A.* (1952), as Harry Thompson
- *Loan Shark* (1952), as Lou Donelli
- *Carbine Williams* (1952), as 'Dutch' Kruger
- *Walk Softly, Stranger* (1950), as Whitey Lake
- *Edge of Doom* (1950), as Mr. Craig
- *Appointment with Danger* (1950), as Earl Boettiger
- *Twelve O'Clock High* (1949), as Major "Doc" Kaiser (flight surgeon) — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/twelve-oclock-high.md)
- *She Loves Me Not* (1949), as Paul Lawton
- *Easy Living* (1949), as Dave Argus
- *Illegal Entry* (1949), as Zack Richards
- *The Window* (1949), as Joe Kellerson
- *Champion* (1949), as Tommy Haley
- *Suspense* (1949), series, as Sam Cragg
- *Berlin Express* (1948), as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- *Government Girl* (1943), as Branch Owens
- *Mr. Lucky* (1943), as Zepp
- *The World at War* (1942), as Narrator (voice)
- *Johnny Eager* (1941), as Julio
- *Citizen Kane* (1941), as Raymond — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/citizen-kane.md)
- *Ever Since Eve* (1937), as Cocktail Customer (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Promotional still for the 1941 film, Citizen Kane Image is marked CK-152 at lower right](https://film.one/media/person/59036/gallery-f3603081c7a7.jpg) Promotional still for the 1941 film, Citizen Kane Image is marked CK-152 at lower right — RKO Radio Pictures, still photographer Alexander Kahle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Citizen-Kane-Alland-Stewart.jpg/1280px-Citizen-Kane-Alland-Stewart.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Screenshot of Paul Stewart from the Citizen Kane trailer (1940)](https://film.one/media/person/59036/gallery-2e153dc5ca01.jpg) Screenshot of Paul Stewart from the Citizen Kane trailer (1940) — RKO Radio Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Citizen_Kane-Paul_Stewart.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Screenshot of Paul Stewart from the Citizen Kane trailer (1940)](https://film.one/media/person/59036/gallery-7c16f81f3e5c.jpg) Screenshot of Paul Stewart from the Citizen Kane trailer (1940) — RKO Radio Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Citizen_Kane-Paul_Stewart2.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Publicity photo of the cast of The House of Glass, a short-lived radio show by Gertrude Berg. Berg played the owner of a hotel. Cast: standing, rear-Arline Blac](https://film.one/media/person/59036/gallery-6b3f5c85cc38.jpg) Publicity photo of the cast of The House of Glass, a short-lived radio show by Gertrude Berg. Berg played the owner of a hotel. Cast: standing, rear-Arline Blac — NBC Radio

Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/House_of_glass_1935.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Paul Stewart](https://film.one/media/person/59036/gallery-b78fc6a77b6a.jpg) Paul Stewart — Image via TMDB
- ![Promotional photograph of Henry Fonda and Paul Stewart in a scene from the Broadway production of Mister Roberts at the Alvin Theatre, New York (1950)](https://film.one/media/person/59036/gallery-7c18a1b9728a.jpg) Promotional photograph of Henry Fonda and Paul Stewart in a scene from the Broadway production of Mister Roberts at the Alvin Theatre, New York (1950) — Culver Service, 660 First Avenue, New York 16, N.Y., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Mister-Roberts-1950.jpg/1280px-Mister-Roberts-1950.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actor Paul Stewart for The Cobweb (1955)](https://film.one/media/person/59036/gallery-4856e9f61f20.jpg) Actor Paul Stewart for The Cobweb (1955) — Studio Publicity, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/PaulStewart55.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

---
© 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/paul-stewart