Generally, the first image that’s conjured when the name James Stewart is mentioned is of George Bailey running down the road shouting “Merry Christmas,” at the top of his lungs in the film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Some people may think of Scottie Ferguson facing his fears in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller “Vertigo.”
Others may recall Stewart in the film “Anatomy of a Murder,” for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
However, what people may not realize is that Stewart entertained on TV as well.
Stewart’s charm and personable style allowed for an easy transition to TV.
1. According to IMDb, in 1955, Stewart made his network TV debut on General Electric Theater, a drama anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that employed different actors for different episodes. Stewart made two more appearances on the program in 1957.
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2. He went on the "Jack Benny Program" four times between the late 1950s and early 1960s.
3. In 1962, Stewart starred in “Flashing Spikes,” which was part of the “Alcoa Premiere Anthology Series.”
4. It was nine years before Stewart's next foray into television. “The Jimmy Stewart Show, ” which aired from 1971 to 1972 on NBC, allowed Stewart to take a stab at situational comedy.
According to TV.com, the show’s premise was a bit off the wall: "Jim Howard had a fairly easy-going life as an anthropology professor at small Josiah Kessel College, which was founded by his grandfather. However, things have gotten a little crazy since his son Peter's house burned down and he offered to let Peter's entire family move in with him temporarily."
5. In “Hawkins,” Stewart played West Virginia attorney, Billy Jim Hawkins, in a show that was, essentially, a precursor to “Matlock,” from 1973 to 1974 on CBS.
The show was also short-lived, but earned Stewart a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama. Both series are currently available for purchase on DVD.
6. In addition to TV shows, Stewart also made his way into television films, starring in “Mr. Kruger’s Christmas” in 1980, “Right of Way” in 1983, and the ABC miniseries “North and South Book II” in 1986. “North and South Book II” was Stewart’s final TV appearance.
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