Kelly Stewart Harcourt Reflects on Her Parents' Timeless Love
In a heartfelt conversation with Closer, Kelly Stewart Harcourt shares her admiration for the enduring bond between her parents, Jimmy Stewart and Gloria Stewart (née McLean). "They had this incredible sense of humor and a deep respect for each other," she fondly recalls. "My mom was not only a great sport but also stunningly beautiful. I think my dad was truly waiting for the right woman to come along."
The Hollywood Heartthrob Before Finding Love
Before becoming the devoted family man we all know from It’s a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart charmed his way through Hollywood's golden age, dating some of the era's most iconic actresses. However, these relationships were often fleeting, leaving Jimmy heartbroken at times. Among the list of famous names he romanced were Olivia de Havilland, Ginger Rogers, Norma Shearer, and especially Marlene Dietrich. Yet, it was Margaret Sullavan, his co-star in The Shop Around the Corner, who truly turned his world upside down.
When Jimmy Stewart first arrived in Hollywood in the mid-1930s, he was a shy young Broadway actor eager to prove himself to MGM’s powerful boss, Louis B. Mayer. "Because Jimmy was so reserved, some people thought he might be gay," explains Marc Eliot, author of Jimmy Stewart: A Biography, in Closer's latest issue, now available on newsstands. To clear up any doubts, Mayer put Jimmy to the test.
Read also:Craig Melvin Opens Up About Stepping Into Hoda Kotbs Shoes On Nbcrsquos Today
"Mayer sent Jimmy to the studio house, where chorus girls and starlets were more than willing to help out the studio head," Eliot reveals. "Jimmy spent time with one of these ladies and passed the test with flying colors. This act saved his career," Eliot adds, painting a vivid picture of the challenges Jimmy faced in those early days.
Jimmy's On-and-Off Screen Romances
With the rumors put to rest, MGM began setting Jimmy up with some of their most dazzling stars, though these relationships were often more about appearances than genuine connections. "Jimmy and Ginger Rogers didn’t mesh well. The only thing they had in common was their conservative politics," Eliot explains. He had better chemistry with Loretta Young, but she was too serious for Jimmy's tastes. "She wanted to settle down, but there wasn’t much about her that kept Jimmy intrigued," Eliot continues.
In 1937, Jimmy caught the eye of Norma Shearer, widow of studio mogul Irving Thalberg. She paraded Jimmy around in a limousine and gifted him a diamond cigarette case. However, Jimmy wasn’t comfortable being treated like a possession. "I tried every subtle way possible to hint that I wasn’t her property," Jimmy later admitted.
