Stewart was born on January 1, 1940, in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and moved to
San Marino, California during his adolescence. He graduated from
Claremont McKenna College in 1962. From 1962 to 1965, Stewart served in the
United States Navy, He was transferred to a unit overseeing the transportation of
7th Marine Regiment to
South Vietnam. His experiences in Candidate School would later form the basis for his screenplay for
An Officer and a Gentleman. After his discharge, Stewart earned a Masters of Arts in radio, Film and Television from
Northwestern University. == Career ==