James Stewart
James Stewart has become an icon for his role as George Bailey in Frank Capra's classic holiday film, It's a Wonderful Life. He was one of Hollywood's biggest stars and is known for a wide range of films including Vertigo, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Anatomy of A Murder, The Philadelphia Story, You Can't Take It With You, Rope, Rear Window, The Spirit of St. Louis, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and How the West Was Won. He appeared in 122 films and television series during his long career in the pictures. He was nominated for five Oscars, winning one for The Philadelphia Story for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Donna Reed
Donna Reed is most recognized for her role in It's A Wonderful Life, as well as in the sitcom The Donna Reed Show. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in From Here to Eternity. She became an advocate for the group Another Mother for Peace during the Vietnam War. Her other films include Apache Trail, The Human Comedy, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Faithful in My Fashion, Three Hours to Kill, The Far Horizons, Ransom!, and The Whole Truth.
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore is best known for the films It's A Wonderful Life, Key Largo, You Can't Take It With You, his Academy Award-winning performance in A Free Soul, and as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. He was born to a family of actors, and though he was more drawn to painting and drawing, he pursued a life on the stage and screen. After a brief attempt at becoming a painter in Paris, he returned to the States where he appeared in over 200 films during his 50-year career.
Thomas Mitchell
Thomas Mitchell was nominated for two Academy Awards. He won one for Best Supporting Actor in John Ford's Stagecoach and was nominated for his performance in The Hurricane. His other films include Gone with the Wind, It's a Wonderful Life, Lost Horizon, High Noon, and The Miracle on 34th Street. He was the first man to win an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award.
Henry Travers
Henry Travers is best known for his role in It's A Wonderful Life. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for 1942's Mrs. Miniver. Born in England, he enjoyed a fruitful stage career before transitioning to Broadway, where he had a very successful career capped by his most famous stage performance as the lead in You Can't Take It With You, which was later turned into an Academy Award-winning film. His other films include Reunion in Vienna, The Invisible Man, Random Harvest, The Bells of St. Mary's, Shadow of a Doubt, and The Girl from Jones Beach.
