Let’s talk about love, Hollywood style. Eighteen months into their marriage, Gloria McLean, the wife of the legendary Jimmy Stewart, opened up about her initial worries. She was nervous about transforming Hollywood’s ultimate bachelor into a family man. “At first, I wondered—now that Jimmy would be around my kids 24/7, would he still enjoy spending time with them?” Gloria revealed. This confession painted a picture of her concerns as a mother bringing two sons into the relationship.
When Academy Award-winning actor Jimmy Stewart tied the knot at 41 in 1949, the world paid attention. This wasn’t just any Hollywood romance—it was a major event. Jimmy, a decorated war hero and longtime heartthrob, had charmed his way through the hearts of some of the most iconic women in film history, including Olivia de Havilland, Ginger Rogers, Loretta Young, Norma Shearer, and Dinah Shore. Even Marlene Dietrich had been part of his romantic adventures. As author Robert Matzen, who penned Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe, puts it, "Jimmy sowed his wild oats, and they were wild indeed." But his union with Gloria was different—it was a match between two mature individuals ready to embrace life together.
Love at First Sight? Not So Fast
Gloria, a New York socialite with modeling and acting credits to her name, caught Jimmy's eye at a dinner party. "For me, it was love at first sight," Jimmy admitted. However, the pairing wasn’t without its challenges. “She had a few things going against her,” Matzen notes. “She was divorced, not Presbyterian, and she smoked.” And let’s not forget, she came with two young sons—Ronald, who was five, and Michael, who was three at the time of their marriage. But Gloria noticed something remarkable about Jimmy from the start: he genuinely liked her boys. "He treated them like friends," she fondly remembered. During their courtship, Jimmy never seemed bored or annoyed by the children's presence, which reassured Gloria.
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A Day at the Beach
After they married, Gloria found herself pleasantly surprised by Jimmy’s continued affection for her sons. In one early memory, Jimmy announced, "I promised the boys a picnic on my first day off." On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the new family, along with their German shepherd, Bello, headed to Malibu’s public beach. They spent the day building sandcastles and enjoying each other’s company. “It was quite a ball,” Gloria reminisced. “With Jimmy, every outing becomes an occasion, and the boys absolutely loved it.”
In 1951, the family grew even bigger with the arrival of twin daughters, Kelly and Judy. Kelly recalls her childhood fondly, describing her parents as a united front but not overly strict. “When we got into trouble, Mom would say, ‘How could you do this to your father?’ And Dad would whisper to us, ‘How could you do this to your mother?’” she shared exclusively with Closer.
A Family Tested by Tragedy
Tragedy struck in 1969 when their son Ronald was killed in action in Vietnam at the young age of 24. “Both Jimmy and Gloria were heartbroken,” Matzen said. “It was a very dark time for them. Seeing Gloria suffer so deeply hurt Jimmy immensely.” Yet, they found strength in each other and went on to enjoy the company of their grandchildren. “All of us kids have wonderful memories of our grandparents,” Kelly reflects. “They were hilarious around the grandkids—it brought so much joy to their lives.”
Jimmy and Gloria’s love story lasted 45 years, ending only with Gloria’s passing in 1994. “There are countless stories about life with Jimmy—funny, heartwarming, and touching tales,” Gloria once gushed. “He’s always in a good mood, never temperamental. He loves his home and his work.” And most importantly, he loved Gloria, the woman who made it all possible.
