Trivia

Following his death, he was interred next to Frank Zappa at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Zappa's grave is unmarked but to the right of Ayres.

Big Band musician before becoming an actor. His instruments were tenor banjo, long-neck banjo and guitar.

Died in his sleep after being in a coma for several days.

He was a conscientious objector during World War II, which made him rather unpopular at the studio.

Had portrayed the title character for the syndicated radio show "The Story of Dr. Kildare" (1950-1951).

In 1960, MGM toyed with the idea of doing an all-male remake of 1939's The Women which would have been entitled, Gentlemen's Club. Like the female version, this would have involved an all masculine cast and the plot would have involved a man (Jeffrey Hunter) who recently discovers among his comrades that his wife is having an affair with another man (Earl Holliman) and after going to Reno to file for divorce and begin a new life, he later finds himself doing what he can to rectify matters later on when he discovers that the other man is only interested in money and position and he decides to win his true love back again. Although nothing ever came of this, it would have consisted of the following ensemble had it did: Jeffrey Hunter (Martin Heal), Earl Holliman (Christopher Allen), Tab Hunter (Simon Fowler), Lew Ayres (Count Vancott), Robert Wagner (Mitchell Aarons), James Garner (Peter Day), Jerry Mathers (Little Martin), James Stewart (Mr. Heal), Ronald Reagan (Larry), Troy Donahue (Norman Blake), and Stuart Whitman (Oliver, the bartender who spills the beans about the illicit affair).

Appears in three Best Picture Oscar nominees: All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), State Fair (1933) and Johnny Belinda (1948), with All Quiet on the Western Front the only winner.

On August 28, 2018, he was honored with a day of his film work during the TCM Summer Under The Stars.

He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 6385 Hollywood Boulevard; and for Radio at 1724 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

Had one son with Diana Hall: Justin Ayres.

As a child, he wanted to be a doctor.

His wife, Diana Hall, is a former flight attendant.

Had played the Vice-President of the United States twice (in Advise & Consent (1962) and The Man (1972)), the President twice (in Advise & Consent (1962) and Earth II (1971)), and the Galactic President (in Battlestar Galactica (1978)).

Co-starred with Lana Turner in three films: Rich Man, Poor Girl (1938), Calling Dr. Kildare (1939), and These Glamour Girls (1939).

He was a lifelong conservative Republican.

Appeared alongside Laraine Day in eight films: Calling Dr. Kildare (1939), The Secret of Dr. Kildare (1939), Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940), Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940), Dr. Kildare's Crisis (1940), The People vs. Dr. Kildare (1941), Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day (1941), and Fingers at the Window (1942).

He appeared with Anita Louise in two films - Heaven on Earth (1931), made at Universal and These Glamour Girls (1939) at MGM.

Was paired with Mae Clarke in three films: The Impatient Maiden (1932), Night World (1932) and, Silk Hat Kid (1935). She also starred in his only outing as a director, the civil war drama, Hearts in Bondage (1936).

Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 22-23. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

He and Janet Gaynor co-starred three times, in the films State Fair (1933), and Servants' Entrance (1934), and in a segment of the television series, Doc's Dismissal/A Frugal Pair/The Girl Next Door (1981).

Ayres and Maureen O'Sullivan appeared together in three movies - Okay America! (1932), Spring Madness (1938), and Maisie Was a Lady (1941).

Born at 12:15am-CST