Eleanor Stewart (February 2, 1913 – July 4, 2007), was an American film actress of the 1930s and 1940s, appearing mostly in

western films Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

. Born in Chicago, Stewart attended

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

. She worked as a model, and after winning a talent contest she moved to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

in the mid-1930s. Initially on contract with

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

, she eventually worked freelance for various studios, starring often as the

heroine A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''hero' ...

opposite Bob Steele,

Tex Ritter Woodward Maurice Ritter (January 12, 1905 – January 2, 1974) was a pioneer of American country music, a popular singer and actor from the mid-1930s into the 1960s, and the patriarch of the Ritter acting family (son John, grandsons Jason and ...

, Jack Randall,

Bob Custer Bob Custer (born Raymond Anthony Glenn, October 18, 1898 – December 27, 1974) was an American film actor who appeared in over 50 films, mostly Westerns, between 1924 and 1937, including ''The Fighting Hombre'', '' Arizona Days'', '' The La ...

Ken Maynard Kenneth Olin Maynard (July 21, 1895 – March 23, 1973) was an American actor and producer. He was mostly active from the 1920s to the 1940s and considered one of the biggest Western stars in Hollywood. Maynard was also an occasional screenwrit ...

and Tom Keene, among others. She is probably best known for her role in the serial ''

The Fighting Devil Dogs ''The Fighting Devil Dogs'' (1938) is a 12-chapter Republic movie serial starring Lee Powell and Herman Brix, the latter better known by his later stage name, Bruce Bennett. It was directed by William Witney and John English. While not often co ...

'', which was released throughout 1938. During the 1940s she did three

Hopalong Cassidy Hopalong Cassidy is a fictional cowboy hero created in 1904 by the author Clarence E. Mulford, who wrote a series of short stories and novels based on the character. Mulford portrayed the character as rude, dangerous, and rough-talking. He was ...

films. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, she was a Gray Lady volunteer at the Veterans Administration Hospital in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. She was also a voice actor and a writer. She was the author of ''A Fair Vision'', a book about the Pilgrims. Her career spanned a total of thirty six films. Retiring from film in the 1940s, her last role of the era was in the 1944 Hopalong Cassidy film ''Mystery Man''. She had no acting roles until 1979, when she played a small role in the film ''The Orphan''. Twice married, she had one child, a daughter, Karen Peterson, from her first marriage to MGM publicity man Les Peterson. Her second marriage was to Maurice Greiner, from 1991 until her death.

Partial filmography

* ''

The Gun Ranger ''The Gun Ranger'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Robert N. Bradbury. Plot summary Cast * Bob Steele as Dan Larson *Eleanor Stewart as Molly Pearson *John Merton as Kemper Mills * Ernie Adams as Wally Smeed *Earl Dwire as Bud C ...

'' (1936) * ''

Headin' for the Rio Grande ''Headin' for the Rio Grande'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Robert North Bradbury and written by Robert Emmett Tansey. The film stars Tex Ritter, Eleanor Stewart, Syd Saylor, Warner Richmond, Charles King, Earl Dwire, Forrest Tay ...

'' (1936) * ''

Red Lights Ahead ''Red Lights Ahead'' is a 1936 American film directed by Roland D. Reed. It was the last film released by the Poverty Row studio Chesterfield Pictures before it became part of Republic Pictures. Plot A family evening situation with quarreling ...

'' (1936) * ''

Headline Crasher ''Headline Crasher'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Leslie Goodwins from a screenplay by Sherman L. Lowe and Charles R. Condon. The film stars Frankie Darro, Kane Richmond, and Muriel Evans. Cast * Frankie Darro as Jimmy Tallant * K ...

'' (1936) * ''

Where Trails Divide ''Where Trails Divide'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Robert N. Bradbury and starring Tom Keene, Warner Richmond and Eleanor Stewart Eleanor Stewart (February 2, 1913 – July 4, 2007), was an American film actress of ...

'' (1937) * '' Arizona Days'' (1937) * ''

Range Defenders ''Range Defenders'' is a 1937 American Western " Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by Mack V. Wright. Plot Set in modern times, Stony Brooke's kid brother George rides into town saying that he is wanted for murder, a charge he denies. Ston ...

'' (1937) * '' The Rangers Step In'' (1937) * ''

Santa Fe Rides ''Santa Fe Rides'' is a 1937 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray and starring Bob Custer, Eleanor Stewart and David Sharpe (actor), David Sharpe.Pitts p.320-21 Partial cast * Bob Custer as Santa Fe Evans * Eleano ...

'' (1937) * ''

Trapped by G-Men ''Trapped by G-Men'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Jack Holt, Wynne Gibson, and C. Henry Gordon. Cast *Jack Holt as Martin Galloway *Wynne Gibson as Alice Segar *C. Henry Gordon as Kilgour * Jack L ...

'' (1937) * ''

'' (1938, serial) * ''

The Mexicali Kid ''The Mexicali Kid'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Robert Emmett Tansey. The film stars Jack Randall, Wesley Barry, Eleanor Stewart, Wilhelm von Brincken, Chester Gan and Glenn Strange. The film was rele ...

'' (1938) * '' The Painted Trail'' (1938) * ''

Rolling Caravans ''Rolling Caravans'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by Joseph Levering and written by Nate Gatzert. The film stars Jack Luden, Eleanor Stewart, Harry Woods, Lafe McKee, Buzz Barton and Slim Whitaker. The film was released on March 7, ...

'' (1938) * ''

Stagecoach Days ''Stagecoach Days'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by Joseph Levering and written by Nate Gatzert. The film stars Jack Luden, Eleanor Stewart, Harry Woods, Wally Wales, Lafe McKee and Jack Ingram. The film was released on June 20, ...

'' (1938) * ''

Flaming Lead ''Flaming Lead'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars Ken Maynard, Eleanor Stewart, Dave O'Brien, Walter Long, Tom London and Reed Howes. The film was released on November 1, ...

'' (1939) * ''

Waterloo Bridge Waterloo Bridge () is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges. Its name commemorates the victory of the British, Dutch and Prussians at the ...

'' (1940) * '' Pirates on Horseback'' (1941) * ''

Riders of the Timberline ''Riders of the Timberline'' is a 1941 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars William Boyd (actor), William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Tom Tyler, Brad King (actor), Brad King, V ...

'' (1941) * ''

Men of San Quentin ''Men of San Quentin'' is a 1942 American film directed by William Beaudine. Plot Cast * J. Anthony Hughes as Jack Holden *Eleanor Stewart as Anne Holden *Dick Curtis as Butch Mason *Charles B. Middleton as Saunderson * Jeffrey Sayre as Jim ...

'' (1942) * ''

Silver Queen ''Silver Queen'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring George Brent and Priscilla Lane. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards; one for Best Score and one for Best Art Direction ( Ralph Berger, Emile Ku ...

'' (1942) * '' Mystery Man'' (1944)

Death

On July 4, 2007, Stewart died in Rancho Bernardo, California, from complications of

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...

, at the age of 94.

References

External links

* *
Eleanor Stewart, western heroines
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, Eleanor 1913 births 2007 deaths American film actresses American television actresses American voice actresses Deaths from dementia in California Deaths from Alzheimer's disease People from Rancho Bernardo, San Diego Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Northwestern University alumni 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women