Jimmy Stewart was Hollywood’s folksy everyman before Tom Hanks. Throughout Stewart’s illustrious movie career, the actor was best known for his roles in It’s A Wonderful Life, The Philadelphia Story, and Vertigo, in which he played likable, down-to-earth characters that audiences related to. Stewart’s presence on screen was always thoughtful and never brash, but he did steal every scene he was in. His famous filibuster scene from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington will be forever ingrained in the memory of moviegoers.

In addition to his acting, Stewart also had an impressive career with the U.S. Military. He served in the U.S. Army during World War 2, then joined the Air Force Reserves, where he served during part of the Vietnam War. He eventually earned the rank of Brigadier General, making Stewart the highest-ranking actor in U.S. Military history. But military service and acting aside, Stewart became the subject of a Hollywood urban legend. After his performance in Fool’s Parade, some viewers were left confused, asking, “How did Jimmy Stewart lose his eye?” The answer comes from one of Stewart’s last films before starring in a television series, then easing into retirement.

Jimmy Stewart Didn’t Lose His Eye — He Wore A Glᴀss Eye For Fool’s Parade

The Eye Has A Life Of Its Own In The Film

The rumor behind Stewart losing his eye comes from the 1971 film Fool’s Parade. The crime drama follows murderer Mattie Appleyard (Stewart) as he tries to go straight and open a general store after spending time in prison, only to find that the guard he entrusted with his money has sinister intentions.

In the film, Mattie wears a very conspicuous glᴀss eye, which he has given a persona named “Tighe”, and it’s this role that led many to believe Stewart was missing an eye in real life. However, this is not the case — the actor was wearing a fake glᴀss eye for his Fool’s Parade role.

Notably, in Fool’s Parade, Stewart plays against type as a movie anti-hero. Most of Stewart’s characters are straight-laced good guys, but Appleyard has a dark past and, potentially, a dark future on the way. Still, Stewart delivers a believable performance, all while wearing a glᴀss eye. However, while Stewart certainly shines in the film, the reviews were lukewarm. Fool’s Parade, with a middling rating of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. So, while Stewart might have brought an enjoyable warmth to the film, critics agree the story, effects, and execution were mediocre.

Other Actors Who Have Worn Fake Eyes For Roles & What They’ve Said About It

Vin Diesel’s Contact Lenses In Pitch Black Prompted A Trip To The Hospital

Jimmy Stewart’s fake glᴀss eye in Fool’s Parade was reportedly very uncomfortable to wear, and the actor allegedly could only stand wearing it for 20 minutes at a time while shooting (via Looper). And Stewart is also far from the only actor to suffer for his art when it comes to eyewear. In the Pitch Black franchise, Vin Diesel’s Riddick character famously has shining eyes, which required the actor to wear contacts. Like Stewart and his fake glᴀss eye, Diesel’s contacts were far from comfortable, and even required hospitalization. Diesel told IGN,

The contacts were prototypes, they had never been tested or worn before. So it felt like–imagine going to your father’s 1960 Plymouth, taking the hubcaps off, painting them blue and sticking them in your eyes. They had to fly out an optometrist from three hours away on the first day because they couldn’t get ’em out. And they were like, ‘What the–?’ And at the end of that, I had to go to the hospital. They were like, ‘We should take you to the hospital.’ I was like, ‘Why? What are you–?’ ‘Because there’s a little scratch, we have to make sure everything’s okay, we have to go to the hospital.’ It was a grueling experience having to wear those contacts.

While Jimmy Stewart and Vin Diesel both turned in excellent performances despite their aggravating eyewear, these stories just go to show that life as a famous Hollywood actor can be far from glamorous.