Leon Ames

Biography

Leon Ames was an American actor whose work ranged across stage, film, and television. Born in Portland, Indiana, he began behind the scenes with the Charles K. Champlin Theatre Company, moved into acting with that group, and spent three years with Stuart Walker's stock company in Cincinnati. He debuted on Broadway in It Pays to Sin, then made his first film, Quick Millions, and later spent the 1940s under contract at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Ames became known for fatherly parts, including Mr. Smith in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Little Women (1949), and On Moonlight Bay (1951). He played the district attorney in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946). On television he had leads in Life with Father and Father of the Bride and later appeared on Mister Ed. A Screen Actors Guild founder, he served as its president in 1957 and received its Life Achievement Award in 1980.

91years old at death

Born January 20, 1902Portland
Died October 12, 1993Laguna Beach
Star sign: AquariusFirst day of the sign, on the Capricorn cusp
Harry Wycoff (birth name)Also credited as Leon Waycoff

Movie Career

Films: 38
Career span: 54 years1932 to 1986

Genres

Comedy50%, 19 films
Drama50%, 19 films
Crime32%, 12 films
Romance29%, 11 films
Family21%, 8 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Ames first worked in entertainment as a stage manager for the Charles K. Champlin Theatre Company. He then tried acting with that group and advanced to the lead in a Los Angeles production of Tomorrow and Tomorrow.
Behind the award
In 1980, Ames received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. It came after he had spent 50 years working in show business.

Leon Ames movies on Netflix

Jake Speed1986IMDb rating 4.9as Pop Winston
Peggy Sue Got Married1986IMDb rating 6.4as Barney Alvorg
Testament1983IMDb rating 6.9as Henry Abhart
Just You and Me, Kid1979IMDb rating 5.9as Manduke the Magnificent
Sherlock Holmes in New York1976IMDb rating 5.7as Daniel Furman
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever1970IMDb rating 6.4as Burt Clews
Tora! Tora! Tora!1970IMDb rating 7.5as Frank Knox
The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9as Judge Holmsby
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2as Judge Holmsby / Lex Fortas
Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1as President Rufus Daggett
The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7as President Rufus Daggett
From the Terrace1960IMDb rating 6.7as Samuel Eaton
Peyton Place1957IMDb rating 7.2as Leslie Harrington
Angel Face1953IMDb rating 7.2as Fred Barrett
By the Light of the Silvery Moon1953IMDb rating 7.0as George Winfield
On Moonlight Bay1951IMDb rating 6.9as George Winfield
Crisis1950IMDb rating 6.7as Sam Proctor
Dial 11191950IMDb rating 6.8as Earl
Watch the Birdie1950IMDb rating 6.1as Grantland D. Farns
Battleground1949IMDb rating 7.4as The Chaplain
Little Women1949IMDb rating 7.2as Father March
Scene of the Crime1949IMDb rating 6.6as Capt. A.C. Forster
A Date with Judy1948IMDb rating 6.5as Lucien T. Pringle
The Velvet Touch1948IMDb rating 6.8as Gordon Dunning
Merton of the Movies1947IMDb rating 6.3as Lawrence Rupert
Song of the Thin Man1947IMDb rating 6.9as Mitchell Talbin
Lady in the Lake1946IMDb rating 6.5as Derace Kingsby
The Postman Always Rings Twice1946IMDb rating 7.4as Kyle Sackett
Anchors Aweigh1945IMDb rating 7.0as Admiral's Aide
Son of Lassie1945IMDb rating 6.4as Anton
They Were Expendable1945IMDb rating 7.2as Major James Morton
Meet Me in St. Louis1944IMDb rating 7.5as Mr. Alonzo Smith
The Thin Man Goes Home1944IMDb rating 7.3as Edgar Draque
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo1944IMDb rating 7.2as Lieut. Jurika
No Greater Sin1941IMDb rating 4.8as Dr. Edward Cavanaugh
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife1938IMDb rating 7.1as Ex-Chauffeur
A Successful Calamity1932IMDb rating 6.9as Barney Davis
Murders in the Rue Morgue1932IMDb rating 6.3as Pierre Dupin

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Meet Me in St. Louis1944 Comedy, Drama, Familyas Mr. Alonzo Smith
IMDb rating 7.531K votes
The Postman Always Rings Twice1946 Crime, Drama, Romance, Thrilleras Kyle Sackett
IMDb rating 7.425K votes
Murders in the Rue Morgue1932as Pierre Dupin
IMDb rating 6.36.0K votes
Angel Face1953as Fred Barrett
IMDb rating 7.210K votes
The Absent-Minded Professor1961as President Rufus Daggett
IMDb rating 6.710K votes
Lady in the Lake1946as Derace Kingsby
IMDb rating 6.57.2K votes
By the Light of the Silvery Moon1953as George Winfield
IMDb rating 7.02.8K votes
On Moonlight Bay1951as George Winfield
IMDb rating 6.93.4K votes

Most often with

Robert Stevenson directed four of these films, Vincente Minnelli two and Robert Montgomery two. Morris Ankrum appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Morris Ankrum

Connie Gilchrist

Donald Curtis

Alan Hewitt

Tommy Kirk

Keenan WynnRobert StevensonDirector, 4 films

Vincente MinnelliDirector, 2 films

Robert MontgomeryDirector, 2 films

Films together

Morris Ankrum5 films together, 1944 to 1947
Morris Ankrum's page
- Merton of the Movies1947IMDb rating 6.3Ames as Lawrence RupertAnkrum as Goodfellow's Club Manager
- Song of the Thin Man1947IMDb rating 6.9Ames as Mitchell TalbinAnkrum as Inspector
- Lady in the Lake1946IMDb rating 6.5Ames as Derace KingsbyAnkrum as Eugene Grayson
- The Postman Always Rings Twice1946IMDb rating 7.4Ames as Kyle SackettAnkrum as Judge
- The Thin Man Goes Home1944IMDb rating 7.3Ames as Edgar DraqueAnkrum as Willoughby
Connie Gilchrist4 films together, 1947 to 1965
Connie Gilchrist's page
- The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9Ames as Judge HolmsbyGilchrist as Mrs. Gossett
- The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2Ames as Judge Holmsby / Lex FortasGilchrist as Mrs. Gossett
- Little Women1949IMDb rating 7.2Ames as Father MarchGilchrist as Mrs. Kirke
- Song of the Thin Man1947IMDb rating 6.9Ames as Mitchell TalbinGilchrist as Bertha
Donald Curtis4 films together, 1944 to 1945
Donald Curtis's page
- Son of Lassie1945IMDb rating 6.4Ames as AntonCurtis as Sergeant Eddie Brown
- They Were Expendable1945IMDb rating 7.2Ames as Major James MortonCurtis as Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long / Radio Announcer
- Meet Me in St. Louis1944IMDb rating 7.5Ames as Mr. Alonzo SmithCurtis as Dr. Girard
- Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo1944IMDb rating 7.2Ames as Lieut. JurikaCurtis as Lieut. Randall
Alan Hewitt4 films together, 1961 to 1965
Alan Hewitt's page
- The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9Ames as Judge HolmsbyHewitt as Professor Shattuck
- The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2Ames as Judge Holmsby / Lex FortasHewitt as Professor Shattuck
- Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1Ames as President Rufus DaggettHewitt as Prosecuting Attorney
- The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7Ames as President Rufus DaggettHewitt as General Hotchkiss
Tommy Kirk4 films together, 1961 to 1965
Tommy Kirk's page
- The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9Ames as Judge HolmsbyKirk as Merlin Jones
- The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2Ames as Judge Holmsby / Lex FortasKirk as Merlin Jones
- Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1Ames as President Rufus DaggettKirk as Biff Hawk
- The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7Ames as President Rufus DaggettKirk as Biff Hawk
Keenan Wynn3 films together, 1947 to 1963
Keenan Wynn's page
- Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1Ames as President Rufus DaggettWynn as Alonzo P. Hawk
- The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7Ames as President Rufus DaggettWynn as Alonzo P. Hawk
- Song of the Thin Man1947IMDb rating 6.9Ames as Mitchell TalbinWynn as Clarence 'Clinker' Krause
Robert StevensonDirector, 4 films, 1961 to 1965
All films by Robert Stevenson
- The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9Ames as Judge Holmsby
- The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2Ames as Judge Holmsby / Lex Fortas
- Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1Ames as President Rufus Daggett
- The Absent-Minded Professor1961IMDb rating 6.7Ames as President Rufus Daggett
Vincente MinnelliDirector, 2 films, 1944 to 1970
All films by Vincente Minnelli
- On a Clear Day You Can See Forever1970IMDb rating 6.4Ames as Burt Clews
- Meet Me in St. Louis1944IMDb rating 7.5Ames as Mr. Alonzo Smith
Robert MontgomeryDirector, 2 films, 1945 to 1946
All films by Robert Montgomery
- Lady in the Lake1946IMDb rating 6.5Ames as Derace Kingsby
- They Were Expendable1945IMDb rating 7.2Ames as Major James Morton
Also three films together6 more actors
- Myrna LoyFrom the Terrace (1960), Song of the Thin Man (1947) and The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)
- Harry DavenportLittle Women (1949), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) and The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)
- Van JohnsonBattleground (1949), Scene of the Crime (1949) and Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
- Mary AstorLittle Women (1949), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) and A Successful Calamity (1932)
- Edward AndrewsTora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Son of Flubber (1963) and The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
- Marshall ThompsonDial 1119 (1950), Battleground (1949) and They Were Expendable (1945)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.