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

Western films The Western is a film genre defined by the American Film Institute as films which are "set in the American West that mbodythe spirit, the struggle, and the demise of the Frontier Thesis, new frontier." Generally set in the American frontier b ...

Biography

Born in Chicago, Stewart attended

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

. 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, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

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

heroine A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or Physical strength, strength. The original hero type of classical epics did such thin ...

opposite Bob Steele,

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

, 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 L ...

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 (genre), Western stars in Hollywood. Maynard was also an occa ...

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 Pictures, Republic Serial (film), movie serial starring Lee Powell (actor), Lee Powell and Herman Brix, the latter better known by his later stage name, Bruce Bennett. It was directed by ...

'', 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 wa ...

films. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. 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''.

Personal life

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'' (1936) * '' Headin' for the Rio Grande'' (1936) * ''

Red Lights Ahead ''Red Lights Ahead'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Roland D. Reed and starring Andy Clyde, Lucile Gleason and Roger Imhof. It was the last film released by the Poverty Row studio Chesterfield Pictures before it became part of Republi ...

'' (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. Plot Cast * Frankie Darro as Jimmy Talla ...

'' (1936) * ''

Where Trails Divide ''Where Trails Divide'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Robert N. Bradbury and starring Tom Keene, Warner Richmond Warner Richmond (born Werner Paul Otto Raetzmann; January 11, 1886 – June 19, 1948) was an American stage and ...

'' (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'' (1937) * '' Trapped by G-Men'' (1937) * ''

'' (1938, serial) * '' The Mexicali Kid'' (1938) * '' The Painted Trail'' (1938) * '' Rolling Caravans'' (1938) * '' Stagecoach Days'' (1938) * '' Flaming Lead'' (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 ''Pirates on Horseback'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Ethel La Blanche and J. Benton Cheney. The film stars William Boyd, Russell Hayden, Andy Clyde, Eleanor Stewart, Morris Ankrum and William Haad ...

'' (1941) * '' Riders of the Timberline'' (1941) * '' Men of San Quentin'' (1942) * ''

Silver Queen ''Silver Queen'' is a 1942 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring George Brent and Priscilla Lane. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards; one for Academy Award for Best Original Score, Best Score and ...

'' (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 neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

, at the age of 94.

References

External links

*
Eleanor Stewart, Western heroine
{{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 in California People from Rancho Bernardo, San Diego Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Northwestern University alumni 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women