This earnest, boyishly handsome star of the pacifist classic "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930) was extremely prolific during the 1930s, at first primarily at Universal Studios, and then also at Fox and Paramount. Although a very talented and sensitive actor, Ayres found his early stardom fade during the decade as he was cast in either trivial light comedies which suited his gentle manner or in films which called for tough, streetwise characterizations which didn't always suit him. He gave an excellent performance, though, as Katharine Hepburn's drunken brother in George Cukor's "Holiday" (1938) and enjoyed considerable popularity in a series of Dr. Kildare films at MGM in the late 30s and early 40s. His career faded during WWII after he declared himself a conscientious objector, but he received renewed respect when he served bravely in a non-combat medical capacity.
After the war Ayres was able to resume his career--and his sometimes typecasting as doctors--in such films as "The Dark Mirror" (1946) and "Johnny Belinda" (1948), for which he received a Best Actor Oscar nomination, though he did little acting in film after the mid-50s. He did, however, do notable work as the vice president in "Advise and Consent" (1962) and as a sympathetic resident of the vampire-ridden TV-miniseries town of "Salem's Lot" (1979). A student of comparative theology, Ayres later produced the religious documentaries "Altars of the East" (1955) and "Altars of the World" (1976), also serving as director of the latter.
- Also Credited As:
Lewis Ayer, Lewis Frederick Ayres III
- Born:
December 28, 1908 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Died:
December 30, 1996.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Filmmaker, Author, Musician
Education
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University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, medicine
Milestones
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1929 Made film acting debut in "The Kiss", starring Greta Garbo
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1930 Landmark film and performance for Ayres, "All Quiet on the Western Front"; film also began his association with Universal Pictures
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1934 Last films under Universal contract, "Cross Country Cruise" and "Let's Be Ritzy"
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1936 Directed a feature film, "Hearts in Bondage", for Republic Studios
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1938 First played Dr. Kildare in "Young Dr. Kildare"
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1941 Last Dr. Kildare film, "Dr. Kildare's Victory"
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1942 Last film for four years, "Fingers at the Window"
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1942 Was interred in a labor camp for conscientious objectors after offering to do "non-combatant service" in the army during WWII
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1946 Returned to film acting after the war in "The Dark Mirror"
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1953 Last films for nearly a decade, "No Escape" and "Donovan's Brain"
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1958 Hosted the TV series "Frontier Justice"
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1962 Returned to features to act supporting roles in several films, beginning with "Advise and Consent"
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1968 TV-movie debut in the pilot for "Hawaii Five-O"
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1972 Returned to feature films after an eight-year absence in "The Man" and "The Biscuit Eater"; continued acting in feature films until the end of the 1970s
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1976 Directed the religious documentary, "Altars of the World"
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1978 Made final feature appearances in "Battlestar Galactica" and "Damien--Omen II"
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1985 TV series debut as regular on the short-lived ABC adventure series "Lime Street"
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1994 Last TV-movie, "Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart"
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Later served with distinction in the military medical services, sometimes under dangerous conditions; was awarded several medals