Famous Hollywood star has strong Roscommon roots

The late Hollywood star James Stewart, regarded as one of the greatest ever American male actors, has strong Roscommon roots, according to a Roscommon genealogy site.

The County Roscommon Ireland Genealogy Facebook page points out that the late actor descends from a Goheen family in Kilronan in North Roscommon. His great grandmother was Ruth Goheen.

Stewart was raised in Indiana, Pennsylvania and there is a town in Pennsylvania named Goheenville after a branch of the family.

He was known for his versatility and talent, and some of his most notable movies include It’s a Wonderful Life and Alfred Hitchock’s Vertigo.

Stewart was nominated for five Academy Awards throughout his career, winning one for Best Actor for his role in The Philadelphia Story (1940).

He died aged 89 on July 2, 1997 in Beverly Hills, California.