Lew Ayres by Lesley L Coffin

Lew Ayres by Lesley L Coffin

Lew Ayres (1908–1996) became known to the public when he portrayed the leading character in the epic war film All Quiet on the Western Front. The role made him a household name, introduced him to his closest friends, brought him to the attention of his first two wives, and would overshadow the rest of his career. To be a movie star was his first and only ambition as a child, but once he found success, he was never fully satisfied in his choice of profession. Although lacking a formal education, Ayres spent the rest of his life pursuing dozens of intellectual studies, interests, and hobbies. He even considered ending his acting career after just a few years to pursue a more "respectable and fulfilling" path as a director.

Ayres was given not one but two comeback opportunities in his acting career, in 1938 and 1945. He was cast in the film series Dr. Kildare where he showed his abilities in comedy and his unique strength at bringing a level of sincerity to even the most outlandish or idealist character. But he was willing to give up his star status to follow his moral compass, first as a conscientious objector and ultimately as a noncombat medic during World War II. To everyone’s surprise, he was welcomed back to Hollywood with open arms and new opportunities despite his objector status.

Biographer Lesley L. Coffin presents the story of a man of quiet dignity, constantly searching for the right way to live his life and torn between the public world of Hollywood and secluded life of spiritual introspection.

"This well-written book looks at Ayres’s entire life but provides extensive information about his actions during World War IIRecommended for readers interested in celebrity biographies, World War II, and conscientious objectors." - Sue White, Library Journal

Lesley L. Coffin is a film scholar with a master’s degree in star studies from New York University. In addition to her work online as a journalist, interviewer, and critic, she is author of Hitchcock’s Stars: Alfred Hitchcock and the Hollywood Studio System.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781496863614
ISBN 10	1496863615
Title	Lew Ayres
Author	Lesley L Coffin
Series	Hollywood Legends Series
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	University Press of Mississippi
Year published	2026-09-15
Number of pages	224
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.