Lew Ayres

Lew Ayres (born December 28, 1908, died December 30, 1996) was an American actor.

Ayres career, which spanned from the 1930s in theatrical films, blossomed in the new world of television, starting with his role in the popular Doctor Kildare series, where he played the starring character.

His TV roles span the gamut from science fiction and fantasy (Kung Fu, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, The Questor Tapes) to popular drama (Marcus Welby, M.D., Hawaiii Five-O, Magnum, P.I., Knots Landing).

Lew Ayres was a pacifist who refused to be a soldier in the U.S. Military during World War II, but did partake in the war effort by saving lives as a medic. Ayres' controversial ideas made some people (and companies) boycott his productions.

Lew Ayres portrayed the misguided President Adar in the Original Series.