Lew Ayres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lew Ayres
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Ayres in the 1930s
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Lewis Frederick Ayres III
December 28, 1908 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Died | December 30, 1996 (aged 88) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1927–1996 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
Lewis Frederick Ayres III (born December 28, 1908 – died December 30, 1996) was an American actor. He worked in movies and on TV for 65 years! He is most famous for playing a German soldier named Paul Bäumer in the movie All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). He also played Dr. Kildare in nine different movies. Lew Ayres was even nominated for an Oscar for his role in Johnny Belinda (1948).
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Early Life and First Roles
Lew Ayres was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His parents divorced when he was four years old. As a teenager, he moved to San Diego, California, with his mother and stepfather.
He left high school early to start a small band that traveled to Mexico. When he came back, he wanted to be an actor. But he kept working as a musician, playing banjo and guitar for big bands. He even recorded one of the first movie shorts with sound, called Carnival Night in Paris, in 1927.
Lew Ayres once wrote about playing music with the Henry Halstead orchestra in San Diego. He said it was a "memorable occasion" when he rejoined them for the opening night of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Soon after, he decided to become a full-time actor.
Becoming a Movie Star
Lew Ayres was discovered by a talent agent at a nightclub. He got a role acting with the famous actress Greta Garbo in The Kiss (1929). But it was his main role in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) that made him a big star. This movie also led him to sign a contract with Universal.
He made several movies for Universal. Some of his most successful films were made when other studios borrowed him. These included The Doorway to Hell (1930) with James Cagney. He also starred with Janet Gaynor in State Fair (1933) and Servants' Entrance (1934). The movie Servants' Entrance even had a cool dream scene with Walt Disney animation!
Later, Lew Ayres signed with MGM in 1938. This is where he got the part of Dr. James Kildare. He played Dr. Kildare in nine movies from 1938 to 1942. He also appeared in comedies like Spring Madness (1938) and The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939).
After a break, he returned to acting in films like The Dark Mirror (1946). For his role in Johnny Belinda (1948), he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor. His co-star, Jane Wyman, won Best Actress for the same movie.
Lew Ayres slowly started working more in television. He appeared in many TV shows as a guest star. In 1958, he hosted a Western TV series called Frontier Justice. He was offered the role of Dr. Kildare again for an NBC TV series. However, he asked that the show not have any cigarette ads. Because of this, the role went to Richard Chamberlain instead.
He also made a documentary film called Altars of the World (1976). This movie shared his beliefs about Eastern philosophy. It won him a Golden Globe Award for best documentary in 1977. For a guest role in the TV show Kung Fu (1974), he was nominated for an Emmy.
His last role was in a TV movie called Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Heart (1994).
World War II Service
In March 1942, Lew Ayres declared himself a conscientious objector. This meant he believed war was wrong and did not want to fight. This caused a lot of discussion in Hollywood and among the public.
However, he had actually asked to serve as a non-combat medic. The military's rules meant he couldn't choose where he would serve. So, he had to request a different status. Once the U.S. military confirmed he could be a medic, his status changed. He joined the United States Army in May 1942.
He first taught first aid in the Army. Then, he asked to lower his rank so he could serve as a medic and chaplain's assistant in the Pacific. He was one of only 16 medics who went under fire during the invasion of Leyte. There, he helped soldiers and civilians in the Philippines and New Guinea. He even gave all the money he earned as a soldier to the American Red Cross.
Lew Ayres served for three and a half years in the Medical Corps. He earned three battle stars for his service. After the war, he went back to acting.
Family Life
Lew Ayres was married three times. His first marriage was to actress Lola Lane from 1931 to 1933. He then married actress Ginger Rogers in 1934, but they divorced in 1940. His third marriage was to Diana Hall in 1964. They stayed married until his death in 1996. Their son, Justin, was born in 1968.
Lew Ayres was also a strict vegetarian.
Legacy and Death
In 1960, Lew Ayres received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One star is for his movies and the other is for his radio work.
Lew Ayres passed away on December 30, 1996. He is buried at Westwood Memorial Park in Westwood, Los Angeles.
Notable Films
- The Kiss (1929) as Pierre
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) as Paul
- The Doorway to Hell (1930) as Louie
- Iron Man (1931) as Kid Mason
- State Fair (1933) as Pat Gilbert
- Servants' Entrance (1934) as Erik Landstrom
- Holiday (1938) as Ned Seton
- Young Dr. Kildare (1938) as Dr. James Kildare
- The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939) as Eddie Burgess
- The Dark Mirror (1946) as Dr. Scott Elliott
- Johnny Belinda (1948) as Dr. Robert Richardson
- Donovan's Brain (1953) as Dr. Patrick Cory
- Advise & Consent (1962) as the U.S. Vice President
- The Carpetbaggers (1964) as 'Mac' McAllister
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) as Mandemus
- Damien: Omen II (1978) as Bill Atherton
- Salem's Lot (1979, TV movie) as Jason Burke
Images for kids
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Lew Ayres in the 1930s
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Lew Ayres in Johnny Belinda (1948)
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Doris Day and Lew Ayres in The Doris Day Show (1970)
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Lew Ayres' grave
See also
In Spanish: Lew Ayres para niños
- List of actors with Academy Award nominations
