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Lew Ayres

Acting Born Dec 28, 1908 Died Dec 30, 1996 Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 165 credits
165
Total Credits
1929–2004
76 Years Career Span
74
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Lew Ayres was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised in San Diego, California. He was discovered by a talent scout at the Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles. Ayres was a leading man in the film The Kiss, starring alongside Greta Garbo. He gained significant recognition for his role as Paul Baumer in All Quiet on the Western Front. Ayres was a conscientious objector during World War II, which led to public backlash. Despite this, he served in the Medical Corps.

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Known for

MGM: When the Lion Roars

1992

L.A. Law

as Lorimar Henderson

Outlaws

1986

Lime Street

as Henry Wade Culver
Film

Joint Security Area

2000

Finder of Lost Loves

as Oliver Hawthorne

The A-Team

as Bernie Greene

Hotel

as Nelson O'Neil

Cagney & Lacey

1982

Fame

1982
Film

Solar Crisis

1992

Magnum, P.I.

as Sidney Dollinger

Frequent co-stars

Jim Carter 33 shared titles
Guo Qilin 12 shared titles
Vitaliya Kornienko 8 shared titles
Alan Curtis 6 shared titles
Jordan Christopher 6 shared titles
Alex Brightman 5 shared titles
Vishnu Agasthya 5 shared titles
Michelle Dockery 4 shared titles
Laura Carmichael 4 shared titles
Joanne Froggatt 4 shared titles

Career timeline

Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart
MGM: When the Lion Roars
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
Cast the First Stone
L.A. LawOutlawsUnder Siege
Lime Street
Highway to HeavenFinder of Lost LovesDon CamilloBruised Celluloid
The A-Team
HotelCagney & LaceyFame
Simon & SimonOf Mice and Men
Magnum, P.I.Reunion
Knots LandingTrapper John, M.D.Salem's LotLetters from Frank
Battlestar GalacticaBattlestar GalacticaFlying HighDamien - Omen IIThe Story of Noah
The Love BoatThe Fantastic JourneyEnd of the World
Quincy, M.E.The Bionic WomanThat's Entertainment, Part IIFrancis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy IncidentAltars of the World · Director
Wonder Woman
Little House on the PrairieThe Questor TapesHeatwave!
The MagicianBattle for the Planet of the ApesHawkinsThe Stranger
The Streets of San FranciscoThe Biscuit EaterThe ManKung FuShe Waits
ColumboMcMillan & WifeOwen Marshall: Counselor at LawEarth II
The Mary Tyler Moore ShowThe InternsSan Francisco International Airport
Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of Humanities
Hawaii Five-OHawaii Five-OHawaii Five-OHere Come the BridesCocoon
ABC Stage 67
The Big ValleyThe Big ValleyThe F.B.I.
Slattery's PeopleThe Carpetbaggers
Kraft Suspense TheatreThe Upper Chamber
The VirginianSaints and SinnersAdvise & Consent
Ben CaseyBus Stop

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
  • Advertisement
  • 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?

Lew Ayres was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised in San Diego, California. He was discovered by a talent scout at the Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles. Ayres was a leading man in the film The Kiss, starring alongside Greta Garbo. He gained significant recognition for his role as Paul Baumer in All Quiet on...

Lew Ayres by the numbers

165credits
101films
64TV series
1929–2004active years

Age in their best-rated roles

Full filmography (165) Born on December 28 In memoriam 1996

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