In Memoriam: James Stewart

Today, we are celebrating and remembering the life and career of Academy Award-winning actor James Stewart on what would have been his 104th birthday. A Pennsylvania native, Jimmy began his acting career in the mid-1930s, landing his first role in a feature film in 1935's The Murder Man. He worked consistently throughout the 1930s, appearing in a total of twenty-one feature films from 1935 to 1939, where he scored his first Oscar nomination for his performance in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The following year, Stewart nabbed his sole Oscar statuette for his role in 1940's The Philadelphia Story, which officially shot him to superstardom. Over the next twenty years, Stewart would score three more Oscar nominations for 1946's It's a Wonderful Life, 1950's Harvey and 1959's Anatomy of a Murder while also appearing in the 1952 film The Greatest Show on Earth, 1954's Rear Window and 1957's The Spirit of St. Louis. Sadly, Stewart passed away in 1997 at the age of 89, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate his memory. And so, I've listed my five favorite of Jimmy's performances for your viewing pleasure. I hope we can all enjoy the work that Stewart produced throughout his career and cherish the legacy he created on the Hollywood scene.

5. Dr. Hostleter

The Shootist (1977)

*****

4. L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies

Rear Window (1954)

***** 

3. John 'Scottie' Ferguson

Vertigo (1958)

***** 

2. George Bailey

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

***** 

1. Jefferson Smith

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)