Leon Ames

Leon Ames Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: January 20, 1902

Death Date: October 12, 1993

Birth Place: Portland, Indiana

Pleasant-looking, dapper, often mustachioed character actor best known for his paternal roles and a wide variety of professional types. Ames, who early in his career used the surname of "Waycoff," made his screen debut as the romantic hero in Robert Florey's striking horror film, "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1932). Shortly afterward, Ames played a role as important as any he played onscreen when, in 1933, he was one of 19 actors who met to form the Screen Actors Guild. In an organization whose ranks eventually swelled to well over 80,000, Ames, card number 15, served long and well as a member of the board for over 30 years and also as recording secretary (1947-48), first vice president (1952-56) and president (1957-58).

Waycoff adopted the surname "Ames" beginning with the film "Strangers All" (1935) and continued his long stage ("It Pays to Sin" 1933, "Bright Honor" 1936) and screen ("The Mysterious Mr. Moto" 1938, "Man of Conquest" 1939) apprenticeship in dozens of minor and then supporting roles. Ames gained increased prominence at MGM in the 1940s after he gave a marvelous performance as the harassed head of the Smith household in Vincente Minnelli's delightful period musical, "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944). Thereafter he was immediately typecast as forceful, but warm and benevolent, fathers and professional men in films ranging from "Yolanda and the Thief" (1945) to "Battleground" (1949).

Although he gave a strong performance as the shrewd prosecuting attorney in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1946), Ames returned to his paternal role on the television series, "Life With Father" (1953-55) and "Father of the Bride" (1961-62). He also later played neighbor Gordon Kirkwood in TV's "Mr. Ed" (1961-66).

In a film and TV career spanning hundreds of credits covering more than half a century (his last feature part was as Kathleen Turner's grandfather in "Peggy Sue Got Married" 1986), the always-welcome Ames brought to his roles his attractive, commanding voice and a smooth professionalism.

Credits

Jake Speed

Actor
Pop
Movie
1986

Peggy Sue Got MarriedStream

Actor
Barney Alvorg
Movie
1986
87%

TestamentStream

Actor
Henry Abhart
Movie
1983
89%

The Littlest HoboStream

Guest Star
Series
1979

Disney's Wonderful World

Actor
President Rufus Daggett
Show
1979

Just You and Me, Kid

Actor
Manduke the Magnificent
Movie
1979

The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew MysteriesStream

Guest Star
Series
1977

Timber Tramps

Actor
Deacon
Movie
1977

Claws

Actor
Ben Jones
Movie
1977

Sherlock Holmes in New York

Actor
Daniel Furman
Movie
1976

The JeffersonsStream

Guest Star
Grandpa Willis
Series
1975

The Meal

Actor
Kroger
Movie
1975

Apple's Way

Guest Star
Henshaw
Show
1974

Brother of the Wind

Narrator
Movie
1973

Toklat

Actor
Movie
1972

Hammersmith Is Out

Actor
General Sam Pembroke
Movie
1972

A Capitol Affair

Actor
Diedrick
Movie
1971

Men at Law

Guest Star
Series
1970

On a Clear Day You Can See ForeverStream

Actor
Clews
Movie
1970
100%

Tora! Tora! Tora!Stream

Actor
Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox
Movie
1970
55%

The Ghost & Mrs. Muir

Guest Star
Series
1968

The Name of the Game

Guest Star
Series
1968

Please Don't Eat the Daisies

Guest Star
Series
1965

The Monkey's UncleStream

Actor
Judge Holmsby
Movie
1965

BewitchedStream

Guest Star
Howard McMann
Series
1964

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones

Actor
Judge Holmsby/Lex Fortas
Movie
1964

Son of Flubber

Actor
President Rufus Daggett
Movie
1963

The Lucy ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1962

The Beverly HillbilliesStream

Guest Star
Series
1962

Father of the Bride

Actor
Stanley Banks
Series
1961

Mister Ed

Actor
Series
1961

The Absent Minded ProfessorStream

Actor
President Rufus Daggett
Movie
1961
83%

The Andy Griffith ShowStream

Guest Star
Mr. Hampton
Series
1960

My Three SonsStream

Guest Star
Series
1960

The Comedy Spot

Actor
Mark Bradley
Show
1960

From the TerraceStream

Actor
Samuel Eaton
Movie
1960
31%

Peyton PlaceStream

Actor
Mr. Harrington
Movie
1957
65%

Screen Directors Playhouse

Actor
Show
1955

Life With Father

Actor
Clarence Day Sr.
Show
1953

General Electric TheaterStream

Guest Star
Malcolm Fownes
Series
1953

By the Light of the Silvery MoonStream

Actor
George Winfield
Movie
1953

Let's Do It Again

Actor
Chet Stuart
Movie
1953

Angel Face

Actor
Fred Barrett
Movie
1952
77%

Mira el Pajarito

Actor
Movie
1951

Cattle Drive

Actor
Chester Graham Sr.
Movie
1951

On Moonlight BayStream

Actor
George "Father" Winfield
Movie
1951

Watch the Birdie

Actor
Grantland D. Farns
Movie
1951

The Big Hangover

Actor
Carl Bellcap
Movie
1950

The Skipper Surprised His Wife

Actor
Dr. Philip Abbott
Movie
1950

CrisisStream

Actor
Sam Proctor
Movie
1950

The Happy Years

Actor
Samuel H. Stover, Sr.
Movie
1950

Dial 1119

Actor
Earl
Movie
1950

Battleground

Actor
The Chaplain
Movie
1949

Any Number Can Play

Actor
Dr. Palmer
Movie
1949

Scene of the CrimeStream

Actor
Capt. A.C. Forster
Movie
1949

Ambush

Actor
Maj. C.E. Breverly
Movie
1949

Studio One

Actor
Series
1948

The Velvet Touch

Actor
Gordon Dunning
Movie
1948

On an Island With You

Actor
Commander Harrison
Movie
1948

A Date With JudyStream

Actor
Lucien T. Pringle
Movie
1948
57%

Alias a Gentleman

Actor
Matt Enley
Movie
1948

Undercover MaisieStream

Actor
Amor aka Willis Farnes
Movie
1947

The Amazing Mr. Nordill

Actor
Everett Nordill aka Everton
Movie
1947

Song of the Thin ManStream

Actor
Mitchell Talbin
Movie
1947
91%

Merton of the Movies

Actor
Lawrence Rupert
Movie
1947

La Señora del Lago

Actor
Movie
1946

La Dama en el Lago

Actor
Movie
1946

The Great Morgan

Actor
K.F. Studio Exec
Movie
1946

Lady in the LakeStream

Actor
Derace Kingsby
Movie
1946
60%

No Leave, No Love

Actor
Colonel Elliott
Movie
1946

The Show-Off

Actor
Frank Harlin
Movie
1946

The Cockeyed Miracle

Actor
Ralph Humphrey
Movie
1946

The Postman Always Rings TwiceStream

Actor
Kyle Sackett
Movie
1946
89%

Son of Lassie

Actor
Anton
Movie
1945

Anchors AweighStream

Actor
Commander (Admiral's Aide)
Movie
1945
53%

Weekend at the Waldorf

Actor
Henry Burton
Movie
1945

They Were ExpendableStream

Actor
Maj. James Morton
Movie
1945
92%

Yolanda and the Thief

Actor
Mr. Candle
Movie
1945
80%

Fall Guy

Actor
Movie
1945

Thirty Seconds Over TokyoStream

Actor
Lieut. Jurika
Movie
1944
100%

Meet Me in St. LouisStream

Actor
Mr. Alonzo Smith
Movie
1944
100%

The Thin Man Goes HomeStream

Actor
Edgar Draque
Movie
1944
75%

Crime Doctor

Actor
.William Wheeler
Movie
1943

The Iron Major

Actor
Robert 'Bob' Stewart
Movie
1943

No Greater Sin

Actor
Dr. Edward Cavanaugh
Movie
1941

East Side Kids

Actor
Pat O'Day
Movie
1940

Mr. Moto in Danger Island

Actor
Commissioner Madero
Movie
1939

Panama Patrol

Actor
Maj. Phillip Waring
Movie
1939

Risky Business

Actor
Hinge Jackson
Movie
1939

The Marshal of Mesa City

Actor
Sheriff Jud Cronin
Movie
1939

Fugitive at Large

Actor
Carter
Movie
1939

Danger Island

Actor
Commissioner Madero
Movie
1939

Suez

Actor
Napoleon III - Emperor of France
Movie
1938

Mysterious Mr. Moto

Actor
Paul Brissac
Movie
1938

Cipher Bureau

Actor
Maj. Philip Waring
Movie
1938

Island in the Sky

Actor
Marty Butler
Movie
1938

Song of Revolt

Actor
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Show
1937

Soak the Poor

Actor
Special Investigator Stanton
Movie
1937

Charlie Chan on Broadway

Actor
Buzz Moran
Movie
1937

Dangerously Yours

Actor
Phil
Movie
1937

Rescue Squad

Actor
Lester Vaughn
Movie
1936

Pilot X

Actor
Carl Goering
Movie
1936

Get That Man

Actor
Don Clayton / McDonald
Movie
1935

RecklessStream

Actor
Ralph Watson
Movie
1935

Mutiny Ahead

Actor
McMurtrie
Movie
1935

Forgotten

Actor
Louie Strauss
Movie
1933

Ship of Wanted Men

Actor
Capt. John Holden
Movie
1933

Alimony Madness

Actor
John Thurman
Movie
1933

That's My Boy

Actor
Al Williams
Movie
1932

Uptown New York

Actor
Max Silver
Movie
1932

The Famous Ferguson Case

Actor
Judd Brooks
Movie
1932

Murders in the Rue MorgueStream

Actor
Pierre Dupin
Movie
1932
79%

Quick Millions

Actor
Hood
Movie
1931