Stewart Granger
With his commanding height and clipped mustache, he was the quintessential swashbuckling hero of postwar British and Hollywood cinema.
1913–1993 (age 80)·British actor·Birthday: May 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Stewart Granger embodied a very specific, now-vanished brand of movie star: the dashing, physically imposing adventurer who could handle a sword, a quip, and a leading lady with equal flair. Born James Stewart, he changed his name to avoid confusion with the American actor and found his footing in the lush, Technicolor 'Gainsborough melodramas' of 1940s Britain. His breakthrough in 'The Man in Grey' established his persona. He then conquered Hollywood in the 1950s as the star of high-octane historical adventures like 'Scaramouche,' famous for one of cinema's longest sword fights, and 'King Solomon's Mines.' Granger never pretended to be a method actor; he was a magnetic screen presence who delivered robust entertainment, his career a testament to the enduring appeal of the pure, uncomplicated hero.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Stewart was born in 1913, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Stewart Was Born
The biggest hits of 1913
Stewart's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1913Born
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Started school
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Became a teenager
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Could drive
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1931Could vote
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Turned 21
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1943Turned 30
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 40
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 50
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 60
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 70
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 80
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
Key Achievements
- Starred as the lead in the classic adventure film 'Scaramouche' (1952), famed for its climactic seven-minute duel.
- Headlined the successful film adaptation of H. Rider Haggard's 'King Solomon's Mines' (1950) with Deborah Kerr.
- Was a major box-office draw in the UK through the Gainsborough period dramas like 'The Man in Grey' (1943) and 'Fanny by Gaslight' (1944).
- Played the title role in 'Beau Brummell' (1954) opposite Elizabeth Taylor.
Did You Know?
His real name was James Stewart; he adopted 'Stewart Granger' after a London Underground station.
He served as a lieutenant in the British Army's Black Watch regiment during World War II.
He turned down the lead role in 'Ben-Hur' (1959), which later went to Charlton Heston.
He was married to actress Jean Simmons from 1950 to 1960.
“I've made over 50 films, and 45 of them have been rubbish.”
