Picture this: Kelly Stewart-Harcourt reminiscing about her childhood in the library of her Beverly Hills home. She vividly recalls the historic moments that unfolded on their TV screen, from the first American in space to the tragic Kennedy assassination. These weren't just news events; they were family moments shared with her parents. “Around 5 or 5:30, we'd gather in the library, and Dad would turn on the news,” Kelly exclusively shares with Closer. “Mom and Dad would enjoy their vodka and tonics, while my sister and I sipped our Shirley Temples. And when my brothers Mike and Ron were home from boarding school, we'd all be there together.”
Kelly and her twin sister, Judy, were born in 1951, the same year that Jimmy Stewart, the beloved star of It’s a Wonderful Life, and his wife, Gloria, purchased their ivy-covered Tudor-style home at 918 N. Roxbury Drive. This charming house would become their lifelong sanctuary. “It wasn’t extravagant,” Kelly reflects. “Mom did most of the decorating herself, and it was incredibly cozy inside. That’s what Mom and Dad loved about it.”
Henry Fonda, Jimmy’s long-time friend since their struggling actor days, once described the house as “as comfortable as Jimmy, with a splash of style added by Gloria.”
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Jimmy, who grew up in Indiana, Pennsylvania, discovered his passion for acting during college and eventually made his way to Broadway before landing in Hollywood in the early 1930s. He became a household name for portraying relatable everyman characters and won an Oscar for his role as a reporter who crosses paths with Katharine Hepburn’s socialite in 1940’s The Philadelphia Story.
Not long after his Oscar win, Jimmy, an accomplished private pilot, became the first major Hollywood star to enlist in the Army during World War II. He flew 20 combat missions over Europe and was awarded the distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.
Growing Up With a Hollywood Legend: Kelly's Perspective
By the time Jimmy met Gloria Hatrick McLean, a divorced former fashion model with two sons, he had already lived a life filled with adventure. The couple married in 1949 and moved into their Roxbury Drive home a few years later, creating a peaceful retreat from the outside world.
Their home, located in the prestigious "The Flats" neighborhood, was ideal for raising a family. Kelly fondly remembers walking the family golden retrievers and skateboarding with her sister on the quiet, tree-lined streets. “I loved that it was such a peaceful road, surrounded by lush greenery,” she says.
Despite its charm, the home was modest, yet it spanned over an acre. Jimmy and Gloria purchased a derelict house next door, tearing it down to expand her beloved flower and vegetable garden. “Mom spent hours in the garden with the dogs, while Dad would often be found in the library reading the newspaper,” Kelly recalls.
