Lewis Stone

Lewis Stone
Lewis Shepard Stone (November 15, 1879 – September 12, 1953) was an American film actor. He spent 29 years as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was best known for his portrayal of Judge James Hardy in the studio's popular Andy Hardy film series. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1929 for his performance as Russian Count Pahlen in The Patriot. Stone was also cast in seven films with Greta Garbo, including in the role of Doctor Otternschlag in the 1932 drama Grand Hotel.
Early life
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1879, Lewis was the youngest of four children of Philena (née Ball) and Bertrand Stone. His father, according to the federal census of 1880, supported the family as a boot cutter. After obtaining his public education in Worcester, Lewis joined the United States Army during the Spanish–American War, serving as a lieutenant and later being deployed to China to train troops. He returned to the United States and following his discharge from the army, began his career as a writer and actor.
Career
In the early-1900s Stone was considered by the critics to be the most popular leading man in stock in America. For eight years, he held the role as leading man with the Oliver Morosco Stock Company in Los Angeles.
In 1912, Stone found success in the popular play Bird of Paradise, which starred Laurette Taylor. The play was later filmed in 1932 and 1951.
For the summer of 1913 Stone appeared at Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado, as the leading man for the season. The proprietor of the theatre, Mary Elitch Long, recalled an event when Stone heard of a nearby family in need and he "went to a neighborhood grocery and, placing $25.00 on the counter, told the storekeeper to see to it that the bereaved little family wanted for nothing; and to let him know when more money was needed and to say nothing about it."
His career was interrupted by a return to the Army in World War I, serving as a major in the cavalry.
Before leaving for the war he made his feature film debut in Honor's Altar in 1916. He showed up in First National's 1920 Nomads of the North to good effect playing a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman. He portrayed the title role in the 1922 silent film version of The Prisoner of Zenda.
From 1920 to 1927, he lived in Los Angeles at 212 S. Wilton Place. The home is now Los Angeles Cultural-Historic Monument #925 and is in the Wilton Historic District.
In 1924, he joined newly formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio and was contracted by it up until his death.
Stone was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1929 for The Patriot. He played the character that gives the film its title, but he was not the top-billed star. He appeared in seven films with Greta Garbo, spanning both the silent and early sound periods. He played the role of Dr. Otternschlag in the Garbo film Grand Hotel, in which he utters the famous closing line "Grand Hotel. People coming. Going. Nothing ever happens."
He played a larger role in the 1933 Garbo film Queen Christina. His appearance in the successful prison film The Big House furthered his career. He played adventurers in the dinosaur epic The Lost World (1925) with Wallace Beery and The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) with Boris Karloff, and a police captain in Bureau of Missing Persons (1933).
In 1937, Stone got the role which became his most famous, that of honest and kind-hearted Judge James Hardy in the Andy Hardy film series, starring Mickey Rooney. Stone appeared as the judge in 14 of the 16 Hardy movies, beginning with You're Only Young Once (1937). Lionel Barrymore had played the judge in the first Hardy movie, and Stone died before the making of the last one, Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958), so the judge's own death was mentioned in the film. During the heyday of the series, Stone also appeared with Rooney in the short subject Andy Hardy's Dilemma, which promoted charitable donations to the Community Chest.
During World War II, the 60-plus year-old Stone was a lieutenant colonel in the California National Guard.
Stone was MGM's longest-contracted actor and the longest-ever-contracted actor at a studio up to his death. The week before his death, he (together with Lionel Barrymore) received a gold key to his dressing room. He made approximately 100 movies.
Personal life
Stone owned a beach house in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles. In 1930 the oil drilling boom in the Venice Beach-Del Ray oil field caused him to file a law suit to stop the beach lease to prevent property damage and public nuisance. "The court ruled for Stone even though derricks ringed the beach ..."
In the 1930s he owned a 104-foot luxury yacht named Serena. In 1937 the yacht was sold to Robert Paine Scripps (the father of Charles Scripps) and converted to a research vessel named the E. W. Scripps.
Stone campaigned for the reelection of President Herbert Hoover in 1932.
Death
Stone died in Hancock Park, Los Angeles on September 12, 1953, aged 73. He reportedly suffered a heart attack while chasing away some neighborhood kids who were throwing rocks at his garage or trampling his meticulously kept prized garden. Another published report states that on that date Stone and his third wife were watching television when they heard a racket in the back yard. When he investigated, Stone found lawn furniture once again floating in the pool and glimpsed three or perhaps four teenage boys running toward the street. Stone gave chase despite his wife's warning not to exert himself. Upon reaching the sidewalk, Stone suddenly collapsed. A gardener, Juan Vergara, witnessed the chase and summoned aid.
A photo published in newspapers of the day showed Stone lying on the sidewalk immediately after the incident. The photo was later included in Kenneth Anger's book of scandals titled Hollywood Babylon.
Lewis Stone was later honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6524 Hollywood Blvd.
Selected filmography
The Bargain (1914)
Honor's Altar (1916) as Warren Woods
The Havoc (1916) (with Gladys Hanson) as Richard Craig
According to the Code (1916) as Basil Beckenridge
Inside the Lines (1918) as Captain Cavendish
The Man of Bronze (1918) as John Adams
Man's Desire (1919) as Tom Denton
Milestones (1920) as John Rhead
Nomads of the North (1920) as Cpl. O'Connor
Held by the Enemy (1920) as Capt. Gordon Haine
The Concert (1921) as Augustus Martinot
Beau Revel (1921) as Lawrence 'Beau' Revel
The Golden Snare (1921) as Sergeant Philip Raine
Don't Neglect Your Wife (1921) as Langdon Masters
The Child Thou Gavest Me (1921) as Edward Berkeley
Pilgrims of the Night (1921) as Philip Champion / Lord Ellingham
The Rosary (1922) as Father Brian Kelly
A Fool There Was (1922) as John Schuyler
The Prisoner of Zenda (1922) as Rudolf Rassendyll / King Rudolf
Trifling Women (1922) as The Marquis Ferroni
The Dangerous Age (1923) as John Emerson
The World's Applause (1923) as John Elliott
You Can't Fool Your Wife (1923) as Garth McBride
Scaramouche (1923) as The Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr
The Stranger (1924) as Keith Darrant
Why Men Leave Home (1924) as John Emerson
Cytherea (1924) as Lee Randon
Husbands and Lovers (1924) as James Livingston
Inez from Hollywood (1924) as Stewart Cuyler
Cheaper to Marry (1925) as Jim Knight
The Lost World (1925) as Sir John Roxton
Confessions of a Queen (1925) as The King
The Talker (1925) as Harry Lennox
The Lady Who Lied (1925) as Horace Pierpont
Fine Clothes (1925) as Earl of Denham
What Fools Men (1925) as Joseph Greer
Too Much Money (1926) as Robert Broadley
The Girl from Montmartre (1926) asJerome Hautrive
Old Loves and New (1926) as Gervas Carew
Don Juan's Three Nights (1926) as Johann Aradi
Midnight Lovers (1926) as Maj. William Ridgewell, RFC
The Blonde Saint (1926) as Sebastian Maure
An Affair of the Follies (1927) as Hammersley
The Notorious Lady (1927) as Patrick Marlowe / John Carew
Lonesome Ladies (1927) as John Fosdick
The Prince of Headwaiters (1927) as Pierre
The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927) as Menelaus
The Foreign Legion (1928) as Col. Destin
The Patriot (1928) as Count Pahlen
Freedom of the Press (1928) as Daniel Steele
A Woman of Affairs (1928) as Dr. Hugh Trevelyan
Wild Orchids (1929) as John Sterling
The Trial of Mary Dugan (1929) as Edward West
Wonder of Women (1929) as Stephen Trombolt
Madame X (1929) as Louis Floriot
Their Own Desire (1929) as Marlett
Strictly Unconventional (1930) as Clive Champion-Cheney
The Big House (1930) as Warden James Adams
Romance (1930) as Cornelius Van Tuyl
The Office Wife (1930) as Lawrence Fellowes
Passion Flower (1930) as Antonio Morado
Inspiration (1931) as Raymond Delval
Father's Son (1931) as William Emory
The Secret Six (1931) as Richard Newton, Attorney at Law
My Past (1931) as Mr. John Thornley
Always Goodbye (1931) as John Graham
The Bargain (1931) as Maitland White
The Phantom of Paris (1931) as Detective Costaud
The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) as Carlo Boretti
Mata Hari (1931) as Andriani
Strictly Dishonorable (1931) as The Judge
The Wet Parade (1932) as Roger Chilcote
Grand Hotel (1932) as Dr. Otternschlag
Night Court (1932) as Judge William Osgood
Letty Lynton (1932) as District Attorney Haney
New Morals for Old (1932) as Mr. Thomas
Red-Headed Woman (1932) as William Legendre Sr.
Unashamed (1932) as Henry Trask
Divorce in the Family (1932) as John Parker
The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) as Nayland Smith
The Son-Daughter (1932) as Dr. Dong Tong
Men Must Fight (1933) as Edward Seward
The White Sister (1933) as Prince Guido Chiaromonte
Looking Forward (1933) as Gabriel Service Sr.
Bureau of Missing Persons (1933) as Capt. Webb
Queen Christina (1933) as Axel Oxenstierna
You Can't Buy Everything (1934) as John Burton
The Mystery of Mr. X (1934) as Inspector Connor
The Girl from Missouri (1934) as Frank Cousins
Treasure Island (1934) as Captain Smollett
David Copperfield (1935) as Mr. Wickfield
Vanessa: Her Love Story (1935) as Adam Paris
West Point of the Air (1935) as General Carter
Public Hero No. 1 (1935) as Prison Warden
Woman Wanted (1935) as District Attorney Martin
China Seas (1935) as Tom Davids
Shipmates Forever (1935) as Adm. Richard Melville
Tough Guy (1936) as Davis (scenes deleted)
Three Godfathers (1936) as James Underwood, aka Doc
The Unguarded Hour (1936) as General Lawrence
Small Town Girl (1936) as Doctor Dakin
Suzy (1936) as Baron Charville
Sworn Enemy (1936) as Doctor Simon 'Doc' Gattle
Don't Turn 'Em Loose (1936) as John Webster
Outcast (1937) as Anthony Abbott (lawyer)
The Thirteenth Chair (1937) as Inspector Marney
The Man Who Cried Wolf (1937) as Lawrence Fontaine
You're Only Young Once (1937) as Judge James K. Hardy
The Bad Man of Brimstone (1937) as Mr. Jackson Douglas
Judge Hardy's Children (1938) as Judge James K. Hardy
Stolen Heaven (1938) as Joseph Langauer
Yellow Jack (1938) as Major Reed
Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) as Judge James K. Hardy
The Chaser (1938) as Dr. Delford Q. Prescott
Out West with the Hardys (1938) as Judge James 'Jim' K. Hardy
The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939) as Douglas Tolliver Jr.
The Hardys Ride High (1939) as Judge James K. Hardy
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939) as Judge James K. Hardy
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (1939) as The President
Judge Hardy and Son (1939) as Judge James K. Hardy
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940) as Judge James K. Hardy
Sporting Blood (1940) as Davis Lockwood
Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things (1940, short) as Judge James K. Hardy
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary (1941) as Judge James K. Hardy
Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941) as Judge James K. Hardy
The Bugle Sounds (1942) as Col. Jack Lawton
The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942) as Judge James K. Hardy
Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942) as Judge James K. Hardy
Plan for Destruction (1943, short) as Himself – Commentator
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944) as Judge James K. Hardy
The Hoodlum Saint (1946) as Father Nolan
Three Wise Fools (1946) as Judge James Trumbell
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946) as Judge James K. Hardy
State of the Union (1948) as Sam Thorndyke
The Sun Comes Up (1949) as Arthur Norton
Any Number Can Play (1949) as Ben Gavery Snelerr
Key to the City (1950) as Judge Silas Standish
Stars in My Crown (1950) as Dr. Daniel Kalbert Harris, Sr.
Grounds for Marriage (1951) as Dr. Carleton Radwin Young
Night Into Morning (1951) as Dr. Horace Snyder
Angels in the Outfield (1951) as Commissioner Arnold P. Hapgood
Bannerline (1951) as Josh
The Unknown Man (1951) as Judge James V. Hulbrook
It's a Big Country (1951) as Church Sexton
Just This Once (1952) as Judge Samuel Coulter
Talk About a Stranger (1952) as Mr. Wardlaw
Scaramouche (1952) as Georges de Valmorin
The Prisoner of Zenda (1952) as The Cardinal
All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953) as Capt. Holt
See also
List of actors with Academy Award nominations
References
External links
Lewis Stone at The New York Times Movies
Lewis Stone at The International Silent Movie
Photographs of Lewis Stone
1879 births
1953 deaths
Military personnel from Massachusetts
United States Army Cavalry Branch personnel
Male actors from Worcester, Massachusetts
American male film actors
American male silent film actors
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players
20th-century American male actors
Burials at Kensico Cemetery
American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
United States Army personnel of World War I
United States Army officers