Actor leon ames biography

Biography of Leon Ames

Leon Ames was an American television and film actor known for his charming and dapper appearance, often sporting a luxurious mustache. He frequently portrayed father figures and is best remembered for his roles as Mr. Alonzo Smith, the father of Judy Garland's character in the colorful romantic musical "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944), and as Mr. March in the family drama "Little Women" (1949). On television, he played Colonel Gordon in the series "Mr. Ed" (1963-1965).

Early Life and Career
Leon Ames, whose real name was Leon Waycoff, was born on January 20, 1903, in Portland, Indiana, to Russian immigrant parents. He began his career in the theater as a dreamy heartthrob for female audiences in 1925. In 1931, he made his first appearance on the big screen under his real name but soon started performing and acting under the more familiar stage name for American audiences.

In 1933, Ames was one of the 19 founders of the Screen Actors Guild and served as its president from 1957 to 1958. He held the 15th membership card of the guild. Additionally, Leon Ames was a popular theater actor. He made his Broadway debut in November 1933 and participated in 12 Broadway productions over the next 25 years.

Film and Television Career
From 1931 to 1986, Ames played 155 roles in movies and television series. Some of his notable films include the detective thriller "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1932), where he delivered his best early performance, the war dramas "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (1944) and "They Were Expendable" (1945), the thriller "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1946), and the drama "Peyton Place" (1957). His final role was in the romantic drama "Peggy Sue Got Married" (1986), where he portrayed the distinctive role of the protagonist's grandfather, played by Kathleen Turner.

Personal Life and Later Years
In 1938, Ames met aspiring actress Christine Gossett, who was 26 years old and under contract with 20th Century Fox Studios. They got married and remained together for 55 years until Leon's death. Christine left Hollywood and dedicated herself to family and household duties. They had a daughter named Shelley in 1940 and a son named Leon Jr. three years later. The family lived in Studio City, California, for about 30 years.

When their children grew up, Christine became the head of a car dealership company owned by their family. In the 1960s, the Ames family owned four California branches of the Ford Motor Company and sold them at a significant profit to Payton Craymer Ford in the late 1970s.

In 1963, Leon attracted media attention when his home was invaded, and Christine was kidnapped for ransom. Fortunately, the situation ended well. In 1978, Leon and Christine moved to Corona del Mar, a small town near Newport Beach, California, where they enjoyed the excellent weather and tranquil life of wealthy retirees.

Leon Ames passed away on October 12, 1993, at the age of 90 in Los Angeles, California, due to complications from a stroke. He was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, alongside other entertainment industry celebrities. Christine remained in their home in Corona del Mar until her death in 2005 at the age of 92.