James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military officer who is among the most honored and popular stars in film history. Known for his distinctive drawl and down-to-earth persona, Stewart\'s film career spanned over 55 years, and included performances in 80 films Stewart was a major Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player and often portrayed American middle-class men struggling in crisis. Many of the films in which he starred have become enduring classics.\n', '

Stewart began his career as a performer on Broadway which earned him a film contract at MGM after attracting the attention of a talent scout. He also had a noted military career and was a World War II and Vietnam War veteran and pilot, who rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Air Force Reserve, becoming the highest-ranking actor in military history. In 1985, Stewart was promoted to Major General, reserve list by President Ronald Reagan, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.\n', '

In 1949, Stewart married former model Gloria Hatrick McLean with whom he had twin daughters and adopted her two children from her previous marriage. Stewart was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one for The Philadelphia Story (1940), and received an Academy Honorary Award for his achievements in 1985. In 1999, Stewart was named the third-greatest male screen legend of the Golden Age of Hollywood by the American Film Institute, behind Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant.\n', '

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