Paul Stewart (actor)

Paul Stewart
Stewart on the set of Citizen Kane (1941)
Born	Paul Sternberg (1908-03-13)March 13, 1908 Manhattan, New York. U.S.
Died	February 17, 1986(1986-02-17) (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Heart failure
Alma mater	Columbia University
Occupation	Actor director producer
Years active	1930–1985
Spouse(s)	Peg LaCentra (married 1939–1986)

Paul Stewart (born Paul Sternberg; March 13, 1908 – February 17, 1986) was an American character actor, director and producer who worked in theatre, radio, films and television. He frequently portrayed cynical and sinister characters throughout his lengthy career. A friend and associate of Orson Welles for many years, he helped Welles get his first job in radio and was associate producer of the celebrated radio program "The War of the Worlds", in which he also performed. One of the Mercury Theatre players who made their film debut in Welles's landmark film Citizen Kane, Stewart portrayed Kane's butler and valet, Raymond. He appeared in 50 films, and performed in or directed some 5,000 radio and television shows.

Paul Stewart was born in Manhattan March 13, 1908, as Paul Sternberg. His parents were Maurice D. Sternberg, a salesman and credit agent for a textile manufacturer, and Nathalie C. (Nathanson) Sternberg; both were born in Minneapolis. Stewart attended public school and completed two years at Columbia University, studying law. He had received first place in the Belasco Theatre Tournament in 1925 and decided on an acting career.

Stewart began his stage career in New York as teenager. He made his Broadway debut in 1930, in Subway Express. He next appeared in the 1931 play, Two Seconds, adapted as a film the next year.

In 1932, after two additional Broadway credits, Stewart moved to Cincinnati and went to work at radio station WLW. It was there in 1928 that radio pioneer Fred Smith had created the program Newscasting, which in 1931 evolved into the popular national news series, The March of Time. For 13 months Stewart worked in all aspects of radio production at WLW — acting, announcing, directing, producing, writing and creating sound effects. When he returned to New York he was on The March of Time and a member of radio's elite corps of actors.