Lew Ayres: Hollywood's Conscientious Objector

Prologue

ix proLogue On April 3, 1942, Americans awoke to learn that in the midst of World War II, a Hollywood star had declared himself a conscientious objector and had been ordered to a conscientious objector camp in Oregon. Actor Lew Ayres was best known for his performances as the titular character in the MGM film series Dr.฀Kildare. The press even referred to him by his alter ego’s name. It was an irony lost on no one that he had first been famous for the antiwar film All Quiet on the Western Front. Newspapers across the country ran stories, saying that it was the experience of making this film that led him to oppose all forms of violence and particularly war. Others assumed that the role of Dr. Kildare had gone to his head and he was suffering from a case of mistaken identity, mistaking himself for the good-hearted doctor who lived by the Hippocratic Oath, “First do no harm.” In truth, it was a decision Ayres made with very little connection to his career as an actor and without any concern for his professional life. He was simply choosing to truly live by his moral views after years of quiet self-discovery. Always inquisitive, Lew’s film career had afforded him the opportunity to pursue a multitude of interests, including science, music, art, religion , and philosophy. Through these studies, Lew developed an “intellectual ” interest in religion that, though he did not identify with a single organized religion, evolved into a deeply personal view of God’s will. By 1940, only a small group of friends were aware of his spiritual beliefs. However, as war loomed, Lew came to terms with the fact that he could not participate in the impending violence. It was his decision and he was willing to live with the consequences. This page intentionally left blank ...