James Stewart, the beloved everyman of Hollywood's Golden Age, was as dedicated to his family as he was to his craft. Alongside his wife, Gloria, he raised four children, including twin daughters who grew up under the vast shadow of his iconic status. While the world knew him as a decorated war hero and the star of classics like It's a Wonderful Life and Vertigo, his daughters knew him simply as Dad, a man who prioritized their privacy and a normal upbringing above all else. The story of James Stewart's daughters, Kelly and Judy, is not one of Hollywood dynasties, but of quiet dedication, academic achievement, and the profound, lifelong work of preserving a legendary father's legacy.
 ### A Family Built Away from the SpotlightWhen James Stewart married Gloria Hatrick McLean on August 9, 1949, he was 41 years old and one of Hollywood's most famous bachelors. Gloria, a former model, was a divorcée with two young sons, Ronald and Michael. Stewart, in a move that spoke volumes about his character, immediately adopted both boys and raised them as his own. The family was completed on May 7, 1951, with the birth of twin daughters, Judy and Kelly Stewart.
From the outset, James and Gloria Stewart were determined to provide their children with a life insulated from the intrusive glare of the entertainment industry. They raised their family not in the heart of Beverly Hills, but in a more subdued, traditional home. Stewart famously turned down roles that would have required long absences from his family and structured his career to be present for their childhoods. This commitment to normalcy profoundly shaped the lives of his daughters, instilling in them values of privacy, education, and integrity that would define their adult lives.
This dedication to family was tragically tested in 1969 when their adopted son, 1st Lt. Ronald McLean, was killed in action in the Vietnam War. The loss was a devastating blow to the deeply patriotic Stewart, a decorated WWII veteran himself, and it cast a long shadow over the family. This event further solidified their private bond and reinforced their desire to live meaningful lives away from public scrutiny.
### Kelly Stewart Harcourt: The Scholar and Legacy KeeperOf the two daughters, Kelly Stewart Harcourt has led a more public, though distinctly non-Hollywood, life. She carved out a distinguished career in academia, a path that reflects the value her parents placed on education. After her upbringing in California, she pursued higher education with vigor, earning her Ph.D. in biological anthropology from the prestigious University of Cambridge in England.
Dr. Harcourt went on to become a respected professor of anthropology at the University of California, Davis, where she specialized in primatology. Her work focused on the behavior and conservation of primates, particularly mountain gorillas, a field she shared with her husband, Alexander "Sandy" Harcourt, also a renowned primatologist and professor at UC Davis. Together, they conducted research and published numerous academic papers, contributing significantly to their field.
Despite her demanding career, Kelly has also taken on the primary role of stewarding her father's immense legacy. She has worked tirelessly to ensure his life and work are remembered accurately and with dignity. Her most significant contribution is the book she co-authored with film historian Robert Matzen, Jimmy Stewart: A Wonderful Life, which offers an intimate, personal look at the actor through family photos and memories. In interviews promoting the book, she provided rare insight into her father's true character.
“He was pretty much the same person off-screen as he was on-screen,” Kelly once stated in an interview. “He was a very moral man, a very kind man, a very patient man, and a very humble man. He had a great sense of humor.”
Her work extends to consulting on documentaries and providing personal archives to The James M. Stewart Museum in his hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Through her efforts, Kelly has managed to balance the public’s affection for Jimmy Stewart, the movie star, with her private, cherished memories of James Stewart, the father.
### Judy Stewart: A Commitment to PrivacyIn stark contrast to her sister, Judy Stewart has chosen to live her life almost entirely outside of the public domain. True to her parents' wishes, she has maintained a deep commitment to privacy, shunning interviews and public appearances. Consequently, very little is known about her personal life, career, or current activities. This decision is, in itself, a powerful testament to the upbringing she and Kelly received—one that prioritized personal fulfillment and family over fame.
While the public may be curious, Judy Stewart’s quiet life demonstrates a different way of honoring a famous parent. By choosing to remain private, she has preserved a part of her father's life for the family alone, away from public consumption. Her absence from the public sphere underscores the central theme of the Stewart family: that a life of substance does not require public validation. Her path reflects the core values her father embodied—humility and a focus on what truly matters: family, integrity, and personal peace.
### What They Are Doing Now: Upholding a Lasting LegacyToday, James Stewart's daughters continue to live lives defined by the principles he and Gloria instilled in them. Kelly Stewart Harcourt, now retired from her professorship, remains actively involved in projects that honor her father's memory. She participates in select events and interviews, always with the goal of presenting an authentic portrait of the man she knew and loved. Her role as a family historian and legacy keeper is crucial in preserving the truth of his life story for future generations.
Judy Stewart continues to maintain her private life, and her wishes for privacy are respected by both the media and her family. The sisters, along with their half-brother Michael McLean, manage the James Stewart estate, ensuring his name and image are used in a manner consistent with his values.
The lives of James Stewart's daughters offer a compelling look at the children of a global icon who chose substance over celebrity. They did not seek to replicate their father's fame but instead forged their own paths rooted in education, family, and a profound respect for privacy. Through Kelly's dedicated archival work and Judy's quiet dignity, they both ensure that the legacy of James Stewart—the actor, the veteran, and most importantly, the father—endures with the same integrity and grace that he himself embodied throughout his wonderful life.
   
