Jimmy Stewart
Although hardly an unknown, at the time he made Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Jimmy Stewart had not yet attained star status. His performance as Jefferson Smith launched him into the spotlight and made him a genuine star.
Stewart was one of Hollywood's biggest stars and is known for a wide range of films including Vertigo, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Anatomy of A Murder, The Philadelphia Story, You Can't Take It With You, Rope, Rear Window, The Spirit of St. Louis, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and How the West Was Won. He appeared in 122 films and television series during his long career in the pictures. He was nominated for five Oscars, winning one for The Philadelphia Story for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Jean Arthur
Jean Arthur was an American actress active mostly in the 1930s and 40s, known for having key roles in three Frank Capra films: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, You Can't Take it with You, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Known for her down-to-earth appeal, Arthur was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in the film The More the Merrier in 1943.
Her other films include Shane, Talk of the Town, Only Angels Have Wings, A Foreign Affair, and Too Many Husbands.
Claude Rains
Rains would receive the first of four Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the deceptively corrupt Senator Paine. Rains was an English actor who made his debut in 1933's The Invisible Man. His other roles include The Adventures of Robin Hood, Notorious, The Wolf Man, Casablanca, Notorious, and Lawrence of Arabia. He won a Tony Award for his performance in the play Darkness at Noon.
Harry Carey
Harry Carey also received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor along with Claude Rains. Carey was an American actor who first came to prominence in silent films. In the silent era, one of his most recognizable roles was Cheyenne Harry, an ethical outlaw in westerns.
Thomas Mitchell
In the same year that Mr. Smith was nominated for a number of Academy Awards, Thomas Mitchell beat out Harry Carey and Claude Rains to take home the Academy Award for his performance as another drunkard, Doc Boone, in Stagecoach. The first man to win an Academy Award, Emmy Award, and Tony Award, Thomas Mitchell's other films include Gone with the Wind, The Hurricane, It's a Wonderful Life, Lost Horizon, High Noon, and The Miracle on 34th Street.
