‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Cast of Characters

(NBC Photo)

“It’s a Wonderful Life

This movie is a classic staple when it comes to holiday films and this year we honor the movie as it celebrates its 70th anniversary. The plot synopsis of the movie, via Google, reads: George Bailey is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart have led him to stay. He sacrificed his education for his brother’s, kept the family-run savings and loan afloat, protected the town from the avarice of the greedy banker Mr. Potter, and married his childhood sweetheart. As he prepares to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel intercedes; showing him what life would have become for the residents of Bedford Falls if he had never lived. After so many years, it’s hard to find any cast members that are still living. Karolyn Grimes played the role of your Zuzu Bailey in the film and she is reportedly still alive today. She was born July 4, 1940 and her character Zuzu was her most famous role. As for the other main cast members, it appears that they have all passed away.

James Stewart as George Bailey

James Stewart died on July 2, 1997 in Beverly Hills, California at the age of 89. He was born May 20, 1908 and he was an Academy Award winner. Stewart died of a Pulmonary embolism and he was laid to rest at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California. The embolism resulted after a thrombosis formed in his right leg. Stewart had been in and out of the hospital for the last couple years of his life. His last words were reported to be, “I’m going to be with Gloria now.” Gloria was his wife who had died of cancer.

Donna Reed as Mary Hatch [Bailey]

Donna Reed died on January 14, 1986, at the age of 64 years old. She died in Beverly Hills, California after battling pancreatic cancer, just two weeks before her 65th birthday. Reed was diagnosed with the illness just a few months before her death and was told her disease was terminal. Her final resting place is Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

Henry Travers as Clarence Odbody

Travers lived to be 91 years old and passed away on October 18, 1965. His death was a result of arteriosclerosis, which is a thickening of the walls of the arteries. He was buried with his second wife Ann G. Murphy at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter

Many know Drew Barrymore as a popular actress today. She is actually the grandniece of Lionel Barrymore, who died on November 15, 1954 at the age of 76. Barrymore received TWO Hollywood Walk of Fame stars in his life time and died of a heart attack in Van Nuys, California. He was then entombed in the Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles.

Thomas Mitchell as Uncle Billy Bailey

Mitchell died on December 17, 1962 at the age of 70 years old. His final resting place is the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles, California. Mitchell died of peritoneal mesothelioma, which is cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen.

Beulah Bondi as Ma Bailey

Bondi died on January 11, 1981 and lived to the age of 91. She was cremated and her remains were scattered into the Pacific Ocean. When Bondi tripped over her cat in her home, she suffered some broken ribs. The broken ribs reportedly caused pulmonary complications, which are what Bondi died from.

Frank Faylen as Ernie Bishop

Faylen died at the age of 79 years old on August 2, 1985. His final resting place is San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California. Pneumonia was his cause of death. In his life, he had two daughters and one of them, Catherine “Kay” Faylen, was Regis Philbin’s first wife.

Ward Bond as Bert

Ward Bond died of a heart attack on November 5, 1960. He was 57 years old and John Wayne gave the eulogy at his funeral. At one time, Wayne accidentally shot Bond.

Gloria Grahame as Violet Bick

Grahame was only 57 years old when she died on October 5, 1981. Her final resting place is Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery and she passed away from both breast cancer and Peritonitis. Peritonitis affects the tissue in the walls of the abdomen as well as your organs and Grahame contracted this after a doctor’s mistake. In her life, Grahame was married four times.

H. B. Warner as Mr. Gower

Warner died of a heart attack on December 21, 1958 in Woodland Hills, California. He was 83 years old and his final resting place is the Chapel of the Crematory, Los Angeles, California. In his career, he attained a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Frank Albertson as Sam Wainwright

Albertson died at just 55 years old on February 29, 1964. He actually died in his sleep at his home in Santa Monica, California.