English Actor.  He started out in British films in the 1930’s and appeared in some sixty movies during his career. He became an overnight star in England after his appearance in “The Man in Grey” attracting Hollywood’s attention leading to a contract with MGM where he appeared in a number of swashbuckler and white hunter roles…”King Solomon’s Mines” “Scaramouche” and a series color remake of “The Prisoner of Zenda and “Beau Brummel.”  He took his professional name Stewart Granger to avoid confusion with James Stewart.  His early English movies…”A Southern Maid” “Caesar and Cleopatra” and “Captain Boycott.”  He was born James Leblanche Stewart in London, England.  James studied acting at the Webber-Douglas School of Dramatic Art resulting in finding work as an extra in British films and working with various stage companies before getting his first lead role in “So This Is London” in 1939.  His career was interrupted during World War II as he served with the Black Watch regiment.  Stewart left MGM during the 1960’s co-producing mostly what would be considered mediocre “B” films in England, Germany, Italy and Serbia.  Some of his better productions…”Sodom and Gomorrah” “Frontier Hellcat” “Red Dragon” “The Last Safari” and “Wild Geese.”  Upon returning to the US in the ’70’s, Hollywood was not interested in his services and he turned exclusively to TV movies and character acting for many major television shows.  His movies…”Any Second Now” “The Hound of the Baskervilles” and as Prince Philip in “The Royal Romance of Charles and Dianna” and his final feature film of his career, “Hell Hunters.”  Finally a few of his television character acting appearances…Colonel Alan MacKenzie “The Men From Shiloh” and then revamped as “The Virginian.”  “Hotel” “The Wizard” and “Murder, She Wrote” followed and as a guest on “Toast of the Town” “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “This Is Your Life.”  Then in 1989, he made his Broadway debut opposite Rex Harrison and Glynis Jons in “The Circle,” which won excellent reviews. He died at age 80 in Santa Monica a naturalized citizen of the United States from prostate cancer, was cremated at Gates-Kingsley-Gates Mortuary in Santa Monica and the ashes were returned to his family.  Legacy…He wrote his 1981 autobiography “Sparks Fly Upwards”  He was ignored by both American and British film makers and received no awards, nominations or acclaim leaving his many fans mystified.  Grass roots petitions are circulated from time to time imploring the Academy to present a  belated posthumous Honorary Oscar to the talented actor who even performed his own stunts in his swashbuckler movies. (bio by: Donald Greyfield)  Family links:  Spouse:  Jean Merilyn Simmons (1929 – 2010)* *Calculated relationship