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Lew Ayres
Actor

Lew Ayres

28 Dec 1908Born
30 Dec 1996Died
88Age at death
152Credits

Biography

Lew Ayres was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised in San Diego, California. A college dropout, he was found by a talent scout in the Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles and entered Hollywood as a bit player. He was leading man to Greta Garbo in The Kiss (1929), but it was the role of Paul Baumer in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) that was his big break. He was profoundly affected by the anti-war message of that film, and when, in 1942, the popular star of Young Dr. Kildare (1938) and subsequent Dr. Kildare films was drafted, he was a conscientious objector.

Read the full biography

America was outraged, and theaters vowed never to show his films again, but quietly he achieved the Medical Corps status he had requested, serving as a medic under fire in the South Pacific and as a chaplain's aid in New Guinea and the Phillipines. His return to film after the war was undistinguished until Johnny Belinda (1948) - his role as the sympathetic physician treating the deaf-mute Jane Wyman won him an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor. Subsequent movie roles were scarce; an opportunity to play Dr. Kildare in television was aborted when the network refused to honor his request for no cigarette sponsorship. He continued to act, but in the 1970s put his long experience into a project to bring to the west the philosophy of the East - the resulting film, Altars of the World (1976), while not a box-office success, won critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award. Lew Ayres died in Los Angeles, California on December 30, 1996, just two days after his 88th birthday.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 152 credits.

  1. 1994Hart to Hart: Crimes of the HartFilm: Professor Cabel
  2. 1992MGM: When the Lion RoarsSeries (3 episodes)
  3. 1991Preminger: Anatomy of a FilmmakerFilm: actor 'Advise and 'Consent' (archive footage) (uncredited)
  4. 1989Cast the First StoneFilm: Martin
  5. 1986OutlawsSeries (1 episode)
  6. 1986L.A. LawSeries: Lorimar Henderson (1 episode)
  7. 1986Under SiegeFilm: John Pace
  8. 1985Lime StreetSeries: Henry Wade Culver (8 episodes)
  9. 1984Finder of Lost LovesSeries: Oliver Hawthorne (1 episode)
  10. 1984Highway to HeavenSeries (3 episodes)
  11. 1984Don CamilloFilm: Doc
  12. 1983The A-TeamSeries: Bernie Greene (1 episode)
  13. 1982HotelSeries: Nelson O'Neil (1 episode)
  14. 1982Cagney & LaceySeries (1 episode)
  15. 1982FameSeries (1 episode)
  16. 1981Of Mice and MenFilm: Candy
  17. 1981Simon & SimonSeries (1 episode)
  18. 1980Magnum, P.I.Series: Sidney Dollinger (1 episode)
  19. 1980ReunionFilm: Bob Hollander
  20. 1979Knots LandingSeries: Andrew Douglas (1 episode)
  21. 1979Letters from FrankFilm: Dan Miller
  22. 1979Salem's LotSeries: Jason Burke (2 episodes)
  23. 1979Trapper John, M.D.Series (1 episode)
  24. 1978Suddenly, LoveFilm: Mr. Graham
  25. 1978The Story of NoahFilm: Noah
  26. 1978Battlestar GalacticaFilm: President Adar
  27. 1978Flying HighSeries: Wilbur Dodson (1 episode)
  28. 1978Battlestar GalacticaSeries: President Adar (1 episode)
  29. 1978Damien - Omen IIFilm: Bill Atherton
  30. 1977The Love BoatSeries: Carl Hooper (1 episode)
  31. 1977End of the WorldFilm: Com. Joseph Beckerman
  32. 1977The Fantastic JourneySeries: Rayat (1 episode)
  33. 1976Quincy, M.E.Series (1 episode)
  34. 1976Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy IncidentFilm: Allen Dulles
  35. 1976That's Entertainment, Part IIFilm: (archive footage)
  36. 1976Altars of the WorldFilm: Director
  37. 1976The Bionic WomanSeries (2 episodes)
  38. 1975Wonder WomanSeries: Dr. Kenneth Wilson (1 episode)
  39. 1974Little House on the PrairieSeries (1 episode)
  40. 1974Heatwave!Film: Dr. Grayson
  41. 1974The Questor TapesFilm: Vaslovik
  42. 1973The MagicianSeries: Max Braden (1 episode)
  43. 1973Battle for the Planet of the ApesFilm: Mandemus
  44. 1973HawkinsSeries: Gus Bitterman (1 episode)
  45. 1973The StrangerFilm: Prof. Dylan MacAuley
  46. 1972Kung FuSeries: Beaumont (1 episode)
  47. 1972The Streets of San FranciscoSeries (1 episode)
  48. 1972The ManFilm: Noah Calvin
  49. 1972The Biscuit EaterFilm: Mr. Ames
  50. 1972She WaitsFilm: Dr. Sam Carpenter
  51. 1971Earth IIFilm: President Charles Carter Durant
  52. 1971McMillan & WifeSeries (1 episode)
  53. 1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at LawSeries (1 episode)
  54. 1971ColumboSeries: Howard Nicholson (1 episode)
  55. 1970San Francisco International AirportSeries (1 episode)
  56. 1970The Mary Tyler Moore ShowSeries (1 episode)
  57. 1970The InternsSeries (1 episode)
  58. 1969Hawaii Five-OSeries: The Governor, Dr. Elias Haig, Comm. Reginald Blackwell (1 episode)
  59. 1969Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of HumanitiesFilm: Dr. Andrew Swanson
  60. 1968Here Come the BridesSeries (1 episode)
  61. 1968CocoonFilm: The Governor
  62. 1966ABC Stage 67Series: Arthur (1 episode)
  63. 1965The F.B.I.Series: Marshall Winslow (1 episode)
  64. 1965The Big ValleySeries: Sheriff Roy Kingston, Jason Fleet (1 episode)
  65. 1964Slattery's PeopleSeries (1 episode)
  66. 1964The CarpetbaggersFilm: Mac McAllister
  67. 1963The Upper ChamberFilm
  68. 1963Kraft Suspense TheatreSeries: Dr. Thomas Clay (1 episode)
  69. 1962The VirginianSeries: Judge John Markham (1 episode)
  70. 1962Saints and SinnersSeries (1 episode)
  71. 1962Advise & ConsentFilm: The Vice President
  72. 1961Ben CaseySeries (1 episode)
  73. 1961Bus StopSeries (1 episode)
  74. 1960Route 66Series (1 episode)
  75. 1960My Three SonsSeries (1 episode)
  76. 1960The Barbara Stanwyck ShowSeries: Dr. Paul Harris (1 episode)
  77. 1959The DuPont Show with June AllysonSeries: Howard Moon (1 episode)
  78. 1959LaramieSeries (1 episode)
  79. 1958Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseSeries (1 episode)
  80. 1956The Family Nobody WantedFilm: Carl Doss

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.