Lew Ayres

Ayres directed one picture, Hearts In Bondage (1936) at Republic.

Ayres' documentary film Altars of the World (1976) brought his Eastern philosophical beliefs to the screen and earned him critical acclaim.

Ayres served with the Medical Corps in the Pacific and in New Guinea.

Lew Ayres was discovered in 1927 playing banjo in the Henry Halstead Big Band Orchestra.

He was offered the part of Doctor James Kildare in Dr. Kildare, but thanks to his (now prescient) request that the show not have cigarette ads, the part went to Richard Chamberlain at the end.

Ayres played the title role in Young Dr. Kildare in 1938 and became a matinee idol, starring in several Kildare films.

Ayres played opposite Greta Garbo in Jacques Feyder's film The Kiss.

Ayres' co-star at Johnny Belinda, Jane Wyman, fell in love with him and left her husband Ronald Reagan, but the relationship was not successful.

Ayres began acting in bit player roles in films in 1927.

The film which made him a star, All Quiet on the Western Front, appears on the AFI's (American Film Institute) list of the 100 best American films of a time, ranked at #54.

Ayres was paid the sum of $250.00 for starring in Lewis Milestone's masterpiece All Quiet on the Western Front.

Ayres had one child, Justin, with Diana, his third wife.

In 1948 he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for Jean Negulesco's film Johnny Belinda.

Ayres was a pacifist who sought to become a member of the Medical Corps during World War II.

Ayres was married three times. He was married to actress Lola Lane from 1931 until 1933 and to actress Ginger Rogers from 1934 until 1940. His third marriage, to Diana Hall, lasted from 1964 until his death.

He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6385 Hollywood Blvd.

He died in his sleep after being in a coma for several days.

Ayres was a Big Band pianist before becoming an actor.

As a child, Ayres wanted to be a doctor.

He was 5'9" (1.75 m) tall.

He was born at 12:15am-CST