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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →At the start of filming on April 15, 1946, James Stewart was 37 and Donna Reed was 25. By the film’s December 20, 1946 release, Stewart was 38 and Reed was still 25. Those figures use specific dates: “age during filming” can vary depending on when production took place.
James Stewart and Donna Reed’s ages
The available birth-date records support age calculations for the two leads:
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| Performer | Role | Birth date | Age when production began (April 15, 1946) | Age at release (December 20, 1946) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Stewart | George Bailey | May 20, 1908 | 37 | 38 |
| Donna Reed | Mary Hatch Bailey | January 27, 1921 | 25 | 25 |
Stewart’s birth date is given by the U.S. Postal Service; Reed’s is listed by the Donna Reed Foundation. The AFI Catalog dates the release to December 20, 1946, and TCM’s AFI Top 100 feature reports that production began April 15, 1946.
Why “age during filming” needs a date
Production did not happen on a single day. TCM gives the April 15 start date, while the AFI Catalog Spotlight describes principal photography as running from April to July 1946. A performer’s age can therefore depend on the specific day being discussed. The table gives a consistent snapshot at production start and a separate one at release; neither claims to be an actor’s age in every scene or on the final day of work.
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What is known about the wider cast
The AFI Catalog credits a larger ensemble that includes Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Gloria Grahame and H. B. Warner, among others. The cited records do not establish birth dates for every credited performer, so a complete cast-age table cannot be verified from them. TCM reports that Barrymore played Mr. Potter and Travers played Clarence; its account also notes that Reed was selected for Mary after Olivia de Havilland, Ann Dvorak and Jean Arthur had been considered.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Film dates at a glance
- Production began: April 15, 1946, at RKO-Pathé Studios, according to TCM. Its account also places exterior work at the RKO Ranch in Encino.
- Principal photography: April to July 1946, according to the AFI Catalog Spotlight.
- Release: December 20, 1946, according to the AFI Catalog.
The film was directed by Frank Capra and was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1990, as noted by AFI.
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