Leon Ames Movies and Career Information

Leon Ames (January 20, 1903 – October 12, 1993) was an American film and television actor. Ames was born Leon Wycoff in Portland, Indiana to Russian immigrants. He is best remembered for playing fatherly figures in such films as Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), as Judy Garland's father, and in Little Women (1949). He also appeared in featured roles in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946), the Doris Day-Gordon MacRae film On Moonlight Bay (1951) and its sequel, By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953), and Peyton Place (1957). He played the role of Samuel Eaton, Alfred Eaton (Paul Newman)'s father in From the Terrace (1960). His last film role was in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), playing Kathleen Turner's character's grandfather Barney Alvorg. Television roles included leads in the adaptations of Life With Father (1953–55) and Father of the Bride (1961–62), and as Mr. Ed's neighbor, Gordon "The Colonel" Kirkwood (1961–66). He also appeared in the NBC anthology series, The Barbara Stanwyck Show. He was one of the founders of the Screen Actors Guild in 1933. He served as its president in 1957.