Lewis Stone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lewis Stone
Portrait in Photoplay, 1923
Born	Lewis Shepard Stone (1879-11-15)November 15, 1879 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	September 12, 1953(1953-09-12) (aged 73) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1911–1953
Employer	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1924–1953)
Spouse(s)	Margaret Langham (stage name) ​ ​ (m. 1906; died 1917)​ Florence Oakley (stage name) ​ ​ (m. 1920; div. 1929)​ Hazel Elizabeth Woof (m. 1930; his death)
Children	3

Lewis Shepard Stone (born November 15, 1879 – died September 12, 1953) was an American actor who starred in many films. He worked for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studio for 29 years. He is most famous for playing Judge James Hardy in the popular Andy Hardy movie series.

In 1929, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. This was for his role as Count Pahlen in the movie The Patriot. Lewis Stone also acted in seven films with the famous actress Greta Garbo. One of his well-known roles was Doctor Otternschlag in the 1932 movie Grand Hotel.

Early Life and Military Service

Lewis Stone in According to the Code (1916)

Lewis Stone was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1879. He was the youngest of four children. His father made shoes for a living. After finishing school, Lewis joined the United States Army. He served as a lieutenant during the Spanish–American War. He also went to China to help train soldiers.

After leaving the army, Lewis Stone started his career. He worked as both a writer and an actor.

Acting Career Highlights

In the early 1900s, Lewis Stone was a very popular actor in live plays. For eight years, he was the main actor for the Oliver Morosco Stock Company in Los Angeles.

In 1912, Stone had a big success in a play called Bird of Paradise. This play later became a movie in 1932 and 1951.

During the summer of 1913, Stone performed at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado. The owner of the theater, Mary Elitch Long, shared a story about his kindness. When Stone heard about a family in need, he gave money to a grocery store. He asked the store to make sure the family had everything they needed, without telling anyone about his help.

His acting career was paused when he returned to the Army for World War I. He served as a major in the cavalry.

Early Film Roles

Before going to war, Lewis Stone made his first feature film, Honor's Altar, in 1916. He also appeared in Nomads of the North in 1920. In this movie, he played a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman. He also played the main character in the 1922 silent film The Prisoner of Zenda.

From 1920 to 1927, Lewis Stone lived in a historic home in Los Angeles.

Joining Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

In 1924, Lewis Stone joined the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studio. He worked for MGM until he passed away. This made him MGM's longest-contracted actor.

Stone was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1929 for his role in The Patriot. He also acted in seven films with the famous actress Greta Garbo. These films included both silent movies and early sound movies. In the 1932 Garbo film Grand Hotel, he played Dr. Otternschlag. He said the famous last line: "Grand Hotel. People coming. Going. Nothing ever happens."

Lewis Stone in the trailer for Woman Wanted (1935)

He had a bigger role in the 1933 Garbo film Queen Christina. His role in the successful prison movie The Big House also helped his career. He played adventurers in movies like the dinosaur film The Lost World (1925) and The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932). He also played a police captain in Bureau of Missing Persons (1933).

Lewis Stone in the trailer for The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)

The Andy Hardy Series

In 1937, Lewis Stone got his most famous role. He played the honest and kind Judge James Hardy in the Andy Hardy film series. This series starred Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy. Stone appeared as the judge in 14 of the 16 Hardy movies. He started with You're Only Young Once (1937). The first Hardy movie had a different actor playing the judge. Lewis Stone passed away before the last movie, Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958), was made. So, the judge's death was mentioned in that film.

During World War II, Lewis Stone, who was over 60 years old, served as a lieutenant colonel in the California National Guard.

Lewis Stone made about 100 movies during his career. The week before he died, he received a special gold key to his dressing room.

Personal Life

Lewis Stone owned a beach house in the Venice area of Los Angeles. He also owned a large luxury yacht called Serena in the 1930s. This yacht was later sold and used as a research vessel.

Death

Lewis Stone died in Los Angeles on September 12, 1953, at the age of 73. He reportedly had a heart attack while outside his home. A gardener saw what happened and called for help.

Lewis Stone was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6524 Hollywood Blvd.

Selected Filmography

See Also

In Spanish: Lewis Stone para niños

• List of actors with Academy Award nominations