James Maitland Stewart was born on May 20, 1908.  Later on he would become known better as James Stewart, and star in many great Hollywood films. He started his life in Indiana, Pennsylvania where he lived with his father and mother (Alexander and Elizabeth Stewart) along with two younger sisters (Virginia and Mary). Growing up James Stewart was expected to take over the hardware store that had been in his family for three generations, however, that is not what suited Stewart, and he spent much of his childhood in his basement working on model airplanes. He had always wanted to join the Naval Academy, but his father wanted him to go to Princeton University instead. Following his fathers wishes James Stewart enrolled at the University in 1928. He would soon become a member of the class of 1932. Although Stewart took architecture in school, he also fell in love with the schools drama club. It was here where he found his love for acting. His great acting talent would soon give him an invite to the University Players.

            After being with the University Players for some time, James Stewart moved to New York to further his acting career. It was during this time in his life where he shared an apartment with Henry Fonda, who would soon be a man that helps jump start Stewart's career. While in New York, Stewart got his first major Broadway role in the comedy “Goodbye Again”, which led to bigger things. Checking the eye of MGM scout Bill Grady on the opening night of “Divided by Three”, his friends and the scout got him to sign a contract with MGM in 1935. This contract got James Stewart seven years of making $350 dollars a week. His first major film, “The Murder Man” was not very well received, however, his films that followed ended up doing a little better. Of course, it was not until his role as a psychotic killer in “After the Thin Man” that he started to get the respect that he needed. James Stewart would go on to star in many comedies before he was drafted into the war in the 1940's. Before he left for the war, he had twenty eight movies credited to his name. Some received better reviews then others, but all of the films help shape who he was.

            James Stewart served in the Air Force for 27 years, and at one point, served as the Air Force Reserve Commander at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. During his years in the Air Force he kept making films, and many were very successful. In fact one of his hit films was, “It's A Wonderful Life” which  came out in 1946. After that James went on to be in many more films before he started his acclaimed suspense career with Alfred Hitchcock. Many of these films became some of his best know work. He started in many Hitchcock films, but one of his best was the 1954 smash hit “Rear Window”. Finally in 1968 after making many movies while he was in the Air Force, he retired. James Stewart kept making great films until his death in 1997.