Lew Ayres

Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor known for his extensive film and television career spanning 65 years. He gained recognition for his role as Paul Bäumer, a German soldier, in the film 'All Quiet on the Western Front' (1930) and for portraying Dr. Kildare in nine movies. Ayres received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in 'Johnny Belinda' (1948). Born in Minneapolis, Ayres moved to San Diego, California, with his mother and step-father as a teenager. He initially pursued a career in music before transitioning to acting. Ayres also played banjo and guitar for various big bands before focusing solely on his acting career.