James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997), also known as Jimmy Stewart (although he seldom used that name in formal credits), was an American actor and military officer, known for his distinctive drawl and down-to-earth persona. A major Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player, Stewart starred in many films that are considered to be classics, and is known for portraying American middle-class men struggling in crisis.
Stewart was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition for The Philadelphia Story (1940) and receiving an Academy Lifetime Achievement award in 1985. He also had a noted military career and was a World War II and Vietnam War veteran, who rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Air Force Reserve, becoming the highest-ranking actor in military history.
In 1999, Stewart was named the third greatest male screen legend of the Golden Age of Hollywood by the American Film Ins