One of the most universally recognized and loved movie stars of the twentieth century, the prolific and popular career of iconic actor Jimmy Stewart spanned six decades, from the 1930s to the 1980s, as well as many filmmaking genres, from comedy to serious drama, from the dark Westerns of the 1950s to the brilliant suspense of Alfred Hitchcock. No matter what part Jimmy Stewart played, audiences responded to the gangly, good-looking actor, believing that underneath it all, he was always a good man, as his "aw shucks" personality endeared him to fans around the world.

Born in the small town of Indiana, Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth and Alexander Stewart, James Maitland Stewart was raised in a loving middle class home. His father was the proprietor of the local J.M. Stewart Hardware Store (which would become famous as the home of Stewart's Academy Award, which...