Leona Roberts (born Leona Celinda Doty; July 26, 1879 – January 29, 1954) was an American stage and film actress.

Life and career

Roberts was born in a small village in Illinois. According to Find A Grave she was born in Monroe Twp, Ashtabula County, Ohio. She made her debut on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in 1926 and appeared there in about 40 productions between 1926 and 1945, mostly in supporting roles. Roberts started her film career in 1926 as the lead in ''Poor Mrs. Jones'', produced by the

United States Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of com ...

. She went to Hollywood in 1937 and played in over 40 films, mostly in motherly supporting roles. She portrayed "society gossip" Mrs. Meade in ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...

'' (1939). Roberts also appeared with

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one o ...

and Katharine Hepburn in the screwball comedy ''

Bringing Up Baby ''Bringing Up Baby'' is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, and starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film tells the story of a paleontologist in a number of predic ...

'' (1938) as the house servant Mrs. Gogarty, as well in '' Of Human Hearts'' (1938) with James Stewart and '' The Blue Bird'' (1940) with Shirley Temple. In 1941, she returned to Broadway, where she worked until the mid-1940s. Subsequently, Roberts worked again in Hollywood and made a few last films there, including a small part in '' The Loves of Carmen'' (1948). She made her last film in 1949.

Personal life/death

Roberts died in 1954, age 74. She was the mother of actress

Josephine Hutchinson Josephine Hutchinson (October 12, 1903 – June 4, 1998) was an American actress. She acted in several theater plays and films. Early years Hutchinson was born in Seattle, Washington. Her mother, Leona Roberts, was an actress best known for ...

Filmography

* '' Poor Mrs. Jones!'' (1926) – Lane Jones * '' Border Cafe'' (1937) – Mrs. Emily Whitney * ''

Super-Sleuth ''Super-Sleuth'' is a 1937 comedy film directed by Ben Stoloff. It was an early lead role for Jack Oakie. ''Super Sleuth'' was a remade in 1946 as ''Genius at Work'', with comedy team of Wally Brown and Alan Carney. Plot A film detective believ ...

'' (1937) – Mrs. Effington (uncredited) * '' There Goes the Groom'' (1937) – Martha * '' Fight for Your Lady'' (1937) – Cleaning Woman * '' Quick Money'' (1937) – Gossiping Woman (uncredited) * '' Crashing Hollywood'' (1938) – Extra Assigned to Stage 6 (uncredited) * '' Everybody's Doing It'' (1938) – Woman at Bar (uncredited) * '' Of Human Hearts'' (1938) – Sister Clarke * ''

'' (1938) – Mrs. Gogarty * ''

Condemned Women ''Condemned Women'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Lionel Houser. The film stars Sally Eilers, Louis Hayward, Anne Shirley, Esther Dale and Lee Patrick. The film was released on March 18, 1938. Plot Linda ...

'' (1938) – Kate Holt * ''

This Marriage Business ''This Marriage Business'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne from a screenplay by Gladys Atwater and J. Robert Bren, based on a story by Mel Riddle and Alex Rubin. The film stars Allan Lane, Jack Carson, Victor Moore, ...

'' (1938) – Mrs. Platt * ''

Having Wonderful Time ''Having Wonderful Time'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film, based on the Broadway play of the same name, starring Ginger Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and directed by Alfred Santell. It was Red Skelton’s film debut. Plot summary Bo ...

'' (1938) – Mrs. Shaw * ''

Crime Ring Organized crime (or organised crime) is a category of transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for profit. While organized crime is generally th ...

'' (1938) – Mrs. Wharton * '' The Affairs of Annabel'' (1938) – Mrs. Hurley * '' I Stand Accused'' (1938) – Mrs. Davis * ''

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

'' (1938) – Grace Goodwin * ''

Boy Slaves ''Boy Slaves'' is a 1939 drama film starring Roger Daniel and Anne Shirley. The film was directed by P.J. Wolfson and based upon an Albert Bein story. ''Boy Slaves'' is an exposé of child labor. Plot Runaway boy Jesse Thompson, hoping to earn ...

'' (1939) – Farm Woman (uncredited) * ''

Persons in Hiding ''Persons in Hiding'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Louis King and written by William R. Lipman and Horace McCoy. The film stars Lynne Overman, Patricia Morison, J. Carrol Naish, William "Bill" Henry, Helen Twelvetrees and William F ...

'' (1939) – Ma Bronson * ''

They Made Her a Spy ''They Made Her a Spy'' is a 1939 American spy drama film produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. It was the first film directed by Jack Hively, who after toiling as an editor for RKO for the prior five years, was given the opportunity ...

'' (1939) – Ella * ''

Bachelor Mother ''Bachelor Mother'' (1939) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna from an Academy Award-nominated story by Felix Jac ...

'' (1939) – Old Lady Outside Orphanage (uncredited) * '' The Spellbinder'' (1939) – Mrs. Jenkins (uncredited) * '' The Escape'' (1939) – Aunt Mamie Qualen * '' Three Sons'' (1939) – Woman in Store (uncredited) * ''

Sued for Libel ''Sued for Libel'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Leslie Goodwins from a screenplay by Jerry Cady, based on Wolfe Kaufman's story. Released on October 27, 1939, by RKO Radio Pictures (who also produced it), the film stars Kent Tay ...

'' (1939) – Mrs. Trent * ''

'' (1939) – Mrs. Meade * '' Swanee River'' (1939) – Mrs. Foster * ''Thou Shalt Not Kill'' (1939) – Mrs. Stevens * '' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1940) – (uncredited) * '' The Blue Bird'' (1940) – Mrs. Berlingot * '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' (1940) – Mrs. Rutledge * ''

Ski Patrol Ski patrols are organizations that provide medical, rescue, and hazard prevention services to the injured in ski area boundaries, or sometimes beyond into backcountry settings. Many have technical-medical certifications, such as Outdoor Emergen ...

'' (1940) – Mother Ryder * ''

Flight Angels ''Flight Angels'' is a 1940 commercial aviation film from Warner Bros. Pictures, produced by Edmund Grainger and directed by Lewis Seiler, from an original story by Jerry Wald and Richard Macaulay. The film stars Virginia Bruce, Dennis Morgan, W ...

'' (1940) – Mrs. Hutchinson * ''

Gangs of Chicago ''Gangs of Chicago'' is a 1940 crime film, starring Lloyd Nolan, Barton MacLane, Lola Lane, Ray Middleton, Astrid Allwyn, and Horace McMahon. Alan Ladd has a small uncredited role. Plot After the death of his corrupt father, young Matty Burn ...

'' (1940) – Mrs. Whitaker * ''

Anne of Windy Poplars Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

'' (1940) – (uncredited) * '' Queen of the Mob'' (1940) – Mrs. Greenough * ''

Golden Gloves The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States, where they are awarded a belt and a ring. And the title of nations champion is awarded. The Golden Gloves is a term used to refer to the Nation ...

'' (1940) – Mrs. Parker (uncredited) * '' Comin' Round the Mountain'' (1940) – Aunt Polly Watters * '' Wildcat Bus'' (1940) – Emma 'Ma' Talbot * '' Blondie Plays Cupid'' (1940) – Aunt Hannah * ''

Week-End in Havana ''Week-End in Havana'' (also known as ''A Week-End in Havana'' and ''That Week-End in Havana'') is a 1941 20th Century Fox Technicolor musical film directed by Walter Lang and starring Alice Faye and Carmen Miranda. It was the second of three pict ...

'' (1941) – Passenger * ''

Dixie Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cover ...

'' (1943) – Woman in Restaurant (uncredited) * ''The Madonna's Secret'' (1946) – Mrs. Corbin * '' Boomerang!'' (1947) – Mrs. Crossman (uncredited) * '' The Loves of Carmen'' (1948) – Ancient Old Gypsy (uncredited) * '' Chicago Deadline'' (1949) – Maggie (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Leona 1879 births 1954 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Illinois American stage actresses American film actresses People from Bond County, Illinois