Lew Ayres (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor.

Born Lewis Frederick Ayre III in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised in San Diego, California, Ayres began acting in bit player roles in films in 1927. He played opposite Greta Garbo in 1929's The Kiss, but it was his starring role in 1930's All Quiet on the Western Front which made him a star. He played the title role in Young Dr. Kildare in 1938, and became a matinee idol, starring in several Kildare films.

But his conscientious objector status during World War II caused outrage throughout America, until he volunteered with the Medical Corps, serving in the Pacific and in New Guinea. In 1948 he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for Johnny Belinda, but his career was sparse after the war. Fatefully his Johnny Belinda costar, Jane Wyman fell in love with Ayres and left her husband, Ronald Reagan, for him, albeit unsuccessfully.

More on [ Lew Ayres ]

AP - Celebrity News

David Spade is the father to a baby girl, born to Playboy playmate Jillian Grace
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:46:00 -0700
%meta(topic:01016000;ap_topic:general entertainment;subtopic:tv;%)
Michael Moore to release new film on 2004 election, 'Slacker Uprising,' online for free
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:33:00 -0700
NEW YORK (AP) _ Inspired by Neil Young and Radiohead, Michael Moore will release his new film online and for free.
Ritchie rocks again with crime romp 'RocknRolla,' denies marital trouble with Madonna
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:11:00 -0700
TORONTO (AP) _ Crime just never stops paying for Guy Ritchie.

Subscribe to People RSS feed