Lew Ayres

Actor

About

Also Known As

Lewis Frederick Ayres Iii, Lewis Ayer

Birth Place

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Born

December 28, 1908

Died

December 30, 1996

Biography

Filmography

Altars of the World (1976)

Director

Hearts in Bondage (1936)

Director

Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart (1994)

Professor Kamen

MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)

Cast the First Stone (1989)

Mr Martin

Of Mice and Men (1981)

Photos & Videos

View All

Fingers At The Window -- (Movie Clip) You Must Not Forgive

Fingers At The Window (1942) — Can You Stand A Shock?

Family & Companions

Lola Lane

Wife

Actor. Married in 1931; divorced in 1933.

Ginger Rogers

Wife

Actor, dancer, singer. Married in 1934; divorced in 1941.

Diana Hall

Wife

Married in 1964; survived him.

Notes

Served on the US National Committee for UNESCO.

Biography

This earnest, boyishly handsome star of the pacifist classic "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930) was extremely prolific during the 1930s, at first primarily at Universal Studios, and then also at Fox and Paramount. Although a very talented and sensitive actor, Ayres found his early stardom fade during the decade as he was cast in either trivial light comedies which suited his gentle manner or in films which called for tough, streetwise characterizations which didn't always suit him. He gave an excellent performance, though, as Katharine Hepburn's drunken brother in George Cukor's "Holiday" (1938) and enjoyed considerable popularity in a series of Dr. Kildare films at MGM in the late 30s and early 40s. His career faded during WWII after he declared himself a conscientious objector, but he received renewed respect when he served bravely in a non-combat medical capacity.

After the war Ayres was able to resume his career--and his sometimes typecasting as doctors--in such films as "The Dark Mirror" (1946) and "Johnny Belinda" (1948), for which he received a Best Actor Oscar nomination, though he did little acting in film after the mid-50s. He did, however, do notable work as the vice president in "Advise and Consent" (1962) and as a sympathetic resident of the vampire-ridden TV-miniseries town of "Salem's Lot" (1979). A student of comparative theology, Ayres later produced the religious documentaries "Altars of the East" (1955) and "Altars of the World" (1976), also serving as director of the latter.

Filmography

Life Events

1929

Made film acting debut in "The Kiss", starring Greta Garbo

1930

Landmark film and performance for Ayres, "All Quiet on the Western Front"; film also began his association with Universal Pictures

1934

Last films under Universal contract, "Cross Country Cruise" and "Let's Be Ritzy"

1936

Directed a feature film, "Hearts in Bondage", for Republic Studios

1938

First played Dr. Kildare in "Young Dr. Kildare"

1941

Last Dr. Kildare film, "Dr. Kildare's Victory"

1942

Last film for four years, "Fingers at the Window"

1942

Was interred in a labor camp for conscientious objectors after offering to do "non-combatant service" in the army during WWII

1946

Returned to film acting after the war in "The Dark Mirror"

1953

Last films for nearly a decade, "No Escape" and "Donovan's Brain"

1958

Hosted the TV series "Frontier Justice"

1962

Returned to features to act supporting roles in several films, beginning with "Advise and Consent"

1968

TV-movie debut in the pilot for "Hawaii Five-O"

1972

Returned to feature films after an eight-year absence in "The Man" and "The Biscuit Eater"; continued acting in feature films until the end of the 1970s

1976

Directed the religious documentary, "Altars of the World"

1978

Made final feature appearances in "Battlestar Galactica" and "Damien--Omen II"

1985

TV series debut as regular on the short-lived ABC adventure series "Lime Street"

1994

Last TV-movie, "Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart"

Photo Collections

Young Dr. Kildare - Movie Poster

Here is the American One-Sheet Movie Poster from MGM's Young Dr. Kildare (1938). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

All Quiet on the Western Front - Movie Poster

Here is the original-release one-sheet movie poster for Universal's All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), starring Lew Ayres. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Johnny Belinda - Scene Stills

Here are some scene stills from Warner Bros' Johnny Belinda (1948), starring Jane Wyman and Lew Ayres.

Dr. Kildare's Strange Case - Glass Slide

Here is a Glass Slide for the MGM film Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940), starring Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore. Glass slides were used by many theaters to promote coming attractions during slide shows between movie screenings.

The People vs. Dr. Kildare - Title Lobby Card

Here is the Title Lobby Card from MGM's The People vs. Dr. Kildare (1941), starring Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Dr. Kildare's Crisis - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Dr. Kildare's Crisis (1940), starring Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.