Lew Ayres
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- December 28, 1908 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Died
- December 30, 1996
- Active Years
- 1929–2004 (76 Years)
- Total Credits
- 165 credits in database
Biography
Lewis Frederick Ayres III was an American actor born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on December 28, 1908. Raised in San Diego, California, he was a college dropout and dance-band musician before being discovered by a talent scout at the Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles. Ayres entered the film industry as a bit player and eventually served as a leading man to Greta Garbo in the 1929 film The Kiss. His career spanned 65 years, and he is best known for portraying the German soldier Paul Bäumer in the 1930 film All Quiet on the Western Front and for starring as Dr. Kildare in nine films. Ayres died on December 30, 1996, at the age of 88.
Career overview
Lewis Frederick Ayres III was an American actor whose career in film and television spanned 65 years. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on December 28, 1908, and raised in San Diego, California, he was a college dropout and dance-band musician. He was discovered by a talent scout while performing at the Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles and began his Hollywood career as a bit player.
Ayres gained early recognition as a leading man opposite Greta Garbo in the 1929 film The Kiss. His breakthrough role came in 1930 when he starred as the German soldier Paul Bäumer in All Quiet on the Western Front. He later became well known for his portrayal of the title character in nine Dr. Kildare films, beginning with Young Dr. Kildare in 1938. When he was drafted in 1942, Ayres registered as a conscientious objector, a decision that caused public outrage and led some theaters to boycott his films. Despite this, he served in the Medical Corps. Ayres died on December 30, 1996, at the age of 88. His filmography includes credits such as Omen 2, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, and The Horror at 37,000 Feet.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
165 titles- Checking Out: Grand Hotel (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart (1994) as Professor Cabel
- MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)
- Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (1991) as actor 'Advise and 'Consent' (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Cast the First Stone (1989) as Martin
- L.A. Law (1986) as Lorimar Henderson
- Outlaws (1986)
- Under Siege (1986) as John Pace
- Lime Street (1985) as Henry Wade Culver
- Highway to Heaven (1984)
- Finder of Lost Loves (1984) as Oliver Hawthorne
- Don Camillo (1984) as Doc
- Bruised Celluloid (1984) as Himself
- The A-Team (1983) as Bernie Greene
- Hotel (1982) as Nelson O'Neil
- Cagney & Lacey (1982)
- Fame (1982)
- Simon & Simon (1981)
- Of Mice and Men (1981) as Candy
- Magnum, P.I. (1980) as Sidney Dollinger
- Reunion (1980) as Bob Hollander
- Knots Landing (1979) as Andrew Douglas
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979)
- Salem's Lot (1979) as Jason Burke
- Letters from Frank (1979) as Dan Miller
- Battlestar Galactica (1978) as President Adar
- Battlestar Galactica (1978) as President Adar
- Flying High (1978)
- Damien - Omen II (1978) as Bill Atherton
- The Story of Noah (1978) as Noah
- Suddenly, Love (1978) as Mr. Graham
- The Love Boat (1977) as Carl Hooper
- The Fantastic Journey (1977) as Rayat
- End of the World (1977) as Com. Joseph Beckerman
- Quincy, M.E. (1976)
- The Bionic Woman (1976)
- That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) as (archive footage)
- Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident (1976) as Allen Dulles
- Altars of the World (1976) Director
- Wonder Woman (1975) as Dr. Kenneth Wilson
- Little House on the Prairie (1974)
- The Questor Tapes (1974) as Vaslovik
- Heatwave! (1974) as Dr. Grayson
- The Magician (1973) as Max Braden
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) as Mandemus
- Hawkins (1973) as Gus Bitterman
- The Stranger (1973) as Prof. Dylan MacAuley
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
- The Biscuit Eater (1972) as Mr. Ames
- The Man (1972) as Noah Calvin
- Kung Fu (1972) as Beaumont
- She Waits (1972) as Dr. Sam Carpenter
- Columbo (1971) as Howard Nicholson
- McMillan & Wife (1971)
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971)
- Earth II (1971) as President Charles Carter Durant
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970)
- The Interns (1970)
- San Francisco International Airport (1970)
- Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of Humanities (1969) as Dr. Andrew Swanson
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as The Governor
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Dr. Elias Haig
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Comm. Reginald Blackwell
- Here Come the Brides (1968)
- Cocoon (1968) as The Governor
- ABC Stage 67 (1966) as Arthur
- The Big Valley (1965) as Sheriff Roy Kingston
- The Big Valley (1965) as Jason Fleet
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Marshall Winslow
- Slattery's People (1964)
- The Carpetbaggers (1964) as Mac McAllister
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Dr. Thomas Clay
- The Upper Chamber (1963)
- The Virginian (1962) as Judge John Markham
- Saints and Sinners (1962)
- Advise & Consent (1962) as The Vice President
- Ben Casey (1961)
- Bus Stop (1961)
- My Three Sons (1960)
- Route 66 (1960)
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960) as Dr. Paul Harris
- Laramie (1959)
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Howard Moon
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Clint Howard
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Jud Lester
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Jesse Martin
- The Family Nobody Wanted (1956) as Carl Doss
- One Against Many (1956) as Dr. John Mohler
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Jonathan Cole
- MGM Parade (1955) as self
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955) as Dr. John Mohler
- Climax! (1954) as Bob Kilgore
- No Escape (1953) as John Howard Tracy
- Donovan's Brain (1953) as Dr. Patrick J. Cory
- Omnibus (1952)
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Matt Needham
- New Mexico (1951) as Capt. Hunt
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- The Capture (1950) as Lin Vanner / Lindley Brown
- The Ken Murray Show (1950)
- Johnny Belinda (1948) as Robert Richardson
- The Unfaithful (1947) as Larry Hannaford
- The Way of Peace (1947) as Narrator (voice)
- The Dark Mirror (1946) as Scott Elliott
- Blow-Ups of 1946 (1946) as Self
- Fingers at the Window (1942) as Oliver Duffy
- Dr. Kildare's Victory (1942) as Dr. James Kildare
- Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day (1941) as Dr. James Kildare
- Maisie Was a Lady (1941) as Bob Rawlston
- The People Vs. Dr. Kildare (1941) as Dr. James Kildare
- Dr. Kildare's Crisis (1940) as Dr. James Kildare
- Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940) as James Kildare
- Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940) as Dr. James Kildare
- A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound (1940) as Self
- The Golden Fleecing (1940) as Henry Twinkle
- Hollywood: Style Center of the World (1940) as Self
- The Secret of Dr. Kildare (1939) as James Kildare
- These Glamour Girls (1939) as Philip S. Griswold III
- Remember? (1939) as Sky Ames
- Broadway Serenade (1939) as James Geoffrey 'Jimmy' Seymour
- Calling Dr. Kildare (1939) as Dr. James Kildare
- The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939) as Eddie Burgess
- From the Ends of the Earth (1939) as Self
- Holiday (1938) as Ned Seton
- Young Dr. Kildare (1938) as Dr. James Kildare
- King of the Newsboys (1938) as Jerry Flynn
- Rich Man, Poor Girl (1938) as Henry Thayer
- Spring Madness (1938) as Sam Thatcher
- Scandal Street (1938) as Joe McKnight
- The Last Train from Madrid (1937) as Bill Dexter
- The Crime Nobody Saw (1937) as Nick Milburn
- Hold 'Em Navy (1937) as Tommy Graham
- Murder with Pictures (1936) as Kent Murdock
- Panic on the Air (1936) as Jerry
- The Leathernecks Have Landed (1936) as Woodruff 'Woody' Davis
- Shakedown (1936) as Bob Sanderson
- Lady Be Careful (1936) as Chester aka Dynamite
- Hearts in Bondage (1936) Director
- The Lottery Lover (1935) as Cadet Frank Harrington
- Silk Hat Kid (1935) as Eddie Howard
- Spring Tonic (1935) as Caleb Enix
- Let’s Be Ritzy (1934) as Jimmy Sterling
- Cross Country Cruise (1934) as Norman Winthrop
- Servants' Entrance (1934) as Erik Landstrom
- She Learned About Sailors (1934) as Larry Wilson
- State Fair (1933) as Pat Gilbert
- Don't Bet on Love (1933) as Bill McCaffrey
- My Weakness (1933) as Ronnie Gregory
- Okay, America! (1932) as Larry Wayne
- The Impatient Maiden (1932) as Dr. Myron Brown
- Night World (1932) as Michael Rand
- The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood (1932) as Lew Ayres
- The Spirit of Notre Dame (1931) as Edward Aloysius "Bucky" O'Brian
- Iron Man (1931) as Kid Mason
- Up for Murder (1931) as Robert Marshall
- Many a Slip (1931) as Jerry Brooks
- Heaven on Earth (1931) as States
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) as Paul Bäumer
- Common Clay (1930) as Hugh Fullerton
- East Is West (1930) as Billy Benson
- The Doorway to Hell (1930) as Louie Ricarno
- Big News (1929) as Copyboy (uncredited)
- The Sophomore (1929) as Sophomore Fraternity Brother (uncredited)
- The Kiss (1929) as Pierre
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lew Ayres best known for?
Lew Ayres is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992), L.A. Law (1986), Outlaws (1986), Lime Street (1985).
When and where was Lew Ayres born?
Lew Ayres was born on December 28, 1908 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. They passed away on December 30, 1996.
How many credits does Lew Ayres have?
Lew Ayres has accumulated over 165 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1929 to 2004.
What is Lew Ayres's background in cinema and television?
Lewis Frederick Ayres III was an American actor born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on December 28, 1908. Raised in San Diego, California, he was a college dropout and dance-band musician before being discovered by a talent scout at the Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles. Ayres entered the film industry as a bit player...
Lew Ayres by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Columbo (1971) as Howard Nicholson — aged about 62
- MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992) — aged about 83
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) — aged about 65
- Hawkins (1973) as Gus Bitterman — aged about 64
- Kung Fu (1972) as Beaumont — aged about 63
- The Ken Murray Show (1950) — aged about 41
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