fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Search / Calendar

Leon Ames (born Harry L. Wycoff;[1][2][3] January 20, 1902 – October 12, 1993) was an American film and television actor. He is best remembered for playing father figures in such films as Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) with Judy Garland as one of his daughters, Little Women (1949), On Moonlight Bay (1951), and By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953). The fathers whom Ames portrayed were often somewhat stuffy and exasperated by the younger generation, but ultimately kind and understanding. Probably his best-known purely dramatic role was as DA Kyle Sackett in the crime film The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946).

Leon Ames
Trailer for The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Born
Harry Wycoff

(1902-01-20)January 20, 1902
Portland, Indiana, U.S.
DiedOctober 12, 1993(1993-10-12) (aged 91)
Laguna Beach, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills
Other namesLeon Waycoff
OccupationActor
Years active1931–1986
Spouse
Christine Gossett
​
​
(m. 1938)​
Children3
11th President of the Screen Actors Guild
In office
1957–1958
Preceded byWalter Pidgeon
Succeeded byHoward Keel

Early years


Leon Ames was born on January 20, 1902, in Portland, Indiana, son of Charles Elmer Wycoff and his wife Cora Ames De Moss (Ames) [4] Some sources list his original last name as "Wykoff" or "Waycoff", and in his early films, he acted under the name Leon Waycoff. In 1935, Ames explained that he changed his name because Waycoff was often misspelled and mispronounced. Ames was his mother's maiden name.[5] In the 1910 census, then residing in Fowler, Indiana, Ames' name is given as Harry L. Wycoff. His father Charles was employed as managing a meat market.[1]


Stage


Ames' involvement with entertainment began when he worked as stage manager for the Charles K. Champlin Theatre Company. He ventured into acting with the group and progressed to having the lead in a production of Tomorrow and Tomorrow in Los Angeles.[6] He acted for three years with the Stuart Walker Stock Company in Cincinnati, Ohio.[7]

He debuted on Broadway in It Pays to Sin (1933). His other Broadway credits include Howie (1958), Winesburg, Ohio, (1958), Slightly Married (1943), The Russian People (1942), Little Darling (1942), Guest in the House (1942), The Land Is Bright (1941), The Male Animal (1940), Thirsty Soil (1937), A House in the Country (1937), and Bright Honor (1936).[8]


Film


Ames made his film debut in Quick Millions in 1931. Later, during the 1940s, he was under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Among his important roles at MGM is his 1944 portrayal of Mr. Smith in the studio's massive hit and subsequent classic Meet Me in St. Louis.

Ames also appears in a featured role in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946), portraying the district attorney Kyle Sackett. He appears too in the Doris Day-Gordon MacRae film On Moonlight Bay (1951), in its sequel By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953), and in Peyton Place (1957). He performs the role of Samuel Eaton, Alfred Eaton's (Paul Newman) father, in From the Terrace (1960). In the 1961 Walt Disney comedy The Absent-Minded Professor, he is the college president Rufus Daggett and can be seen once again in that role in the film's 1963 sequel Son of Flubber. In 1970, he was cast as Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox in the action war film Tora! Tora! Tora! His last screen role is in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) in which he plays Kathleen Turner's character's grandfather Barney Alvorg.


Radio and television


Ames' first radio broadcast was in January 1942 on Grand Central Station.[9]

His television roles included leads in the adaptations of Life with Father (1953–55)[10]: 604  and Father of the Bride (1961–62).[10]: 336-337  His presence in the latter program was such that, after the show had been on the air a few months, Ames' role was increased because "'father, as played by veteran character actor Leon Ames became the dominant figure in the whole show."[11]

Ames had the title role of judge John Cooper in the syndicated series Frontier Judge[10]: 370  and played Howard McMann in Bewitched.[10]

He joined the cast of Mister Ed (1963–66) as Wilbur Post's neighbor, retired Colonel Gordon Kirkwood,[10]: 701  after the death of actor Larry Keating, who had played Post's original neighbor Roger Addison. Ames also appeared in episodes of the NBC anthology series The Barbara Stanwyck Show, and on the short-lived CBS legal drama Storefront Lawyers.

He played the part of Grandpa Willis in The Jeffersons, episode “Jenny’s Grandparents” (Season 2, episode 10 1975).


Other professional activities


Ames was one of the founders of the Screen Actors Guild in 1933.[3] He served as its president in 1957. During the 1960s, Ames owned several Ford dealerships in California.


Personal life


Ames was the father of Robert Fletcher, but was left with the mother when the couple split up in 1923.[12][13]

Ames wed actress Christine Gossett in 1938. The couple had a daughter, Shelley (b. 1940), and a son, Leon (b. 1943). Christine retired early from acting to raise their family. They remained married until Ames' death in 1993.[14]

Ames supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.[15]


Kidnapping


On February 12, 1964, Ames and his wife were held hostage in their home as an intruder demanded $50,000 before he would free them. Ames called his business partner, who obtained the money from a bank and delivered it to the house as instructed. After inspecting the cash, the kidnapper left Ames in the house, bound with tape, and instructed Mrs. Ames to drive him in the couple's car. He also forced both the business partner and a guest in the Ames house into the trunk. Eventually, police (who had been alerted by the partner while he was picking up the money) surrounded the car and freed the hostages.[16]


Death


On October 12, 1993, Ames died in Laguna Beach, California, of complications after suffering a stroke. He was 91.[17] His gravesite is at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.[18]


Recognition


In 1980, after 50 years in show business, Leon Ames received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.[19]


Complete filmography



Partial television credits



See also



References


  1. U.S. Federal Census for 1910 for Fowler, Center Township, Benton County, State of Indiana, access via Ancestry.com
  2. "Costume Designers Guild Local IA 892 - CAREER ACHIEVEMENT". Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  3. Cameron-Wilson, James; Speed, F. Maurice (1994), Film Review 1994-5, Great Britain: Virgin Books, p. 162, ISBN 0-86369-842-5
  4. "The Monthly Supplement: a current biographical reference service". A.N.Marquis Company. 5 February 2018 – via Google Books.
  5. "Name Change Causes Inquiry". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. February 21, 1935. p. 12. Retrieved February 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Monush, Barry (2003). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors: From the silent era to 1965. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 11–12. ISBN 9781557835512. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  7. "Leon Waycoff, Former Kokomo Boy, Real Star In Tomorrow and Tomorrow". The Kokomo Tribune. Indiana, Kokomo. July 25, 1931. p. 3. Retrieved February 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Leon Ames". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  9. Lesser, Jerry (January 17, 1942). "Radio Talent: New York". Billboard. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  10. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 96–97. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  11. {{cite Leon Ames played the G.P. Doctor, on the series “ My Three Sons, as Titled “ Dr. Osborne, M.D.” Season 9 , Episode 14, when Kati & Robbi were deciding on a Dr. to care for her during her Pregnancy as “ Katie Douglas” in which Dr Osborne had a call from the Hospital stating he had an expectant mother awaiting him.. as he was checking in on Katie at the Douglas Home, in 1968. They decided Dr Osborne was the Best for their1st child ( which turned our to be triplets ) ,Serienews|last1=Gray|first1=M|title=Father of Bride Dominant Figure|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3148142/simpsons_leadertimes/%7Cagency=Simpson's Leader-Times|date=March 3, 1962|page=10|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = September 2, 2015}}
  12. Robert Fletcher: A Star Among Stars, Now Living in KC
  13. Cardova, Kathy (2015-04-16). "From Klingons to kings, Taos area man has costumed them all". The Taos News. Retrieved 2021-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. Lentz, Harris M. III (2006). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2005: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 8. ISBN 9780786452101. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  15. Critchlow, Donald T. (2013-10-21). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. ISBN 9781107650282.
  16. Rieder, Ron (February 13, 1964). "Kidnap, Free Mrs. Leon Ames". The Van Nuys News. pp. 1, 18. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Willis, John, ed. (1996). "Obituaries". John Willis Theatre World 1993-1994 Season Volume 50. Applause Theatre Book Publishers. p. 238. ISBN 1-55783-235-8. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  18. Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. pp. 79–80. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  19. "("Leon Ames" search results)". Screen Actors Guild Award. Retrieved 5 February 2018.


Awards and achievements
Preceded by Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award
1980		 Succeeded by

На других языках

[de] Leon Ames

Leon Ames (* 20. Januar 1902 in Portland, Indiana als Leon Waycoff; † 12. Oktober 1993 in Laguna Beach, Kalifornien) war ein US-amerikanischer Schauspieler, der vor allem durch seine Darstellungen von Familienvätern bekannt war. Zwischen 1931 und 1986 spielte er in über 150 Film- und Fernsehproduktionen.
- [en] Leon Ames

[es] Leon Ames

Leon Ames (Portland, Indiana; 20 de enero de 1902-Laguna Beach, California; 12 de octubre de 1993) fue un actor teatral, cinematográfico y televisivo estadounidense. Es sobre todo conocido por su retrato de figuras paternas en filmes como Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Mujercitas (1949), On Moonlight Bay (1951) y By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953), siendo su papel más famoso el de Kyle Sackett en el filme El cartero siempre llama dos veces (1946).

[ru] Эймс, Леон

Леон Эймс (англ. Leon Ames; 20 января 1902 (1902-01-20) — 12 октября 1993), настоящее имя Гарри Вайкофф[4] (англ. Harry Wycoff) — американский актёр кино и телевидения.


Текст в блоке "Читать" взят с сайта "Википедия" и доступен по лицензии Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike; в отдельных случаях могут действовать дополнительные условия.

Другой контент может иметь иную лицензию. Перед использованием материалов сайта WikiSort.org внимательно изучите правила лицензирования конкретных элементов наполнения сайта.

2019-2024
WikiSort.org - проект по пересортировке и дополнению контента Википедии