Skip to main content
Leon Ames
★ Acting

Leon Ames

1902 – 1993 · Portland, Indiana, USA · Active 1931–1986

Leon Ames, born in 1902, was an American actor known for his distinctive roles in classic cinema. In The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli (1973), Ames provides insight into the filmmaking process and the impact of Minnelli's work. His career, spanning several decades, often featured him in fatherly roles, reflecting a warm authority that resonated with audiences. Ames' contributions to the film industry highlight the significance of character actors in shaping the narratives of classic American cinema.

▶ Watch on SassyFlix 1 film available
The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli

The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli

1973 ★ 8.3
as Self (archive footage)

Acclaimed profiles of eight great American film directors. Produced and directed by Richard Schickel and narrated by Cliff Robertson, with solid interviews and film clips, the series reviews the careers of Raoul Walsh, Frank Capra, Howard Hawks, King Vidor, George Cukor, William A. Wellman, Alfred Hitchcock and Vincente Minnelli.

Watch Now
Career Highlights Top 6 by popularity · TMDB

Filmography

147 credits
1980s 3 credits
1986
Jake Speed as Pop Winston
Movie ★ 4.6
1986
Peggy Sue Got Married as Barney Alvorg
Movie ★ 6.1
1983
Testament as Henry Abhart
Movie ★ 6.4
1970s 16 credits
1979
Just You and Me, Kid as Manduke the Magnificent
Movie ★ 5.4
1979
The Best Place to Be as William Callahan
Movie ★ 7.5
1977
Claws as Ben Jones, Forest Commissioner
Movie ★ 5.0
1977
TV ★ 7.1
1976
Movie ★ 6.0
1975
The Meal as Kroger
Movie ★ 6.0
1975
Timber Tramps as Deacon
Movie ★ 9.0
1975
TV ★ 7.3
1974
That's Entertainment! as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie ★ 7.4
1973
Movie ★ 7.0
1972
Movie ★ 6.7
1972
Hammersmith Is Out as General Sam Pembroke
Movie ★ 5.9
1972
TV ★ 7.9
1971
Toklat as Old Man
Movie ★ 7.0
1970
Tora! Tora! Tora! as Frank Knox
Movie ★ 7.2
1970
Movie ★ 6.8
1960s 16 credits
1968
TV ★ 7.0
1966
TV ★ 6.8
1965
The Monkey's Uncle as Judge Holmsby
Movie ★ 5.9
1964
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones as Judge Holmsby / Lex Fortas
Movie ★ 6.6
1964
TV ★ 7.9
1963
Son of Flubber as Rufus Daggett
Movie ★ 6.1
1962
The Lucy Show as Colonel Anderson
TV ★ 7.1
1962
The Beverly Hillbillies as Colonel Foxhall
TV ★ 6.9
1962
The Virginian as Judge Fitzroy
TV ★ 6.5
1961
Movie ★ 6.5
1961
Mister Ed as Gordon Kirkwood
TV ★ 6.8
1961
Father of the Bride as Stanley Banks
TV ★ 9.5
1960
From the Terrace as Samuel Eaton
Movie ★ 6.6
1960
TV ★ 7.6
1960
TV ★ 6.6
1960
The Barbara Stanwyck Show as Damon Carlisle
TV ★ 6.4
1950s 25 credits
1957
Peyton Place as Leslie Harrington
Movie ★ 6.8
1957
TV ★ 8.0
1956
Engagement Party as Elliott Winston
Movie
1955
Screen Director's Playhouse as Col. T. Jennings Parker - Pop
TV ★ 7.0
1955
TV ★ 9.0
1954
The Wonderful World of Disney as President Rufus Daggett (archive footage)
TV ★ 7.9
1953
Angel Face as Fred Barrett
Movie ★ 7.1
1953
Movie ★ 6.1
1953
Sabre Jet as Lt. Col. Eckert
Movie ★ 7.0
1953
Let's Do It Again as Chet Stuart
Movie ★ 4.2
1953
TV ★ 6.8
1953
TV ★ 10.0
1953
General Electric Theater as Malcolm Fownes
TV ★ 6.8
1951
On Moonlight Bay as George Winfield
Movie ★ 6.5
1951
It's a Big Country as Secret Service Man
Movie ★ 5.9
1951
Cattle Drive as Chester Graham, Sr.
Movie ★ 6.5
1950
Dial 1119 as Earl
Movie ★ 5.5
1950
Crisis as Sam Proctor
Movie ★ 6.7
1950
The Happy Years as Sr. Samuel H. Stover
Movie ★ 7.5
1950
The Big Hangover as Carl Bellcap
Movie ★ 6.4
1950
Watch the Birdie as Grantland D. Farns
Movie ★ 5.5
1950
Ambush as Maj. C.E. Breverly
Movie ★ 5.4
1950
Movie ★ 5.3
1950
Lux Video Theatre as Michael J. O'Connor
TV ★ 6.7
1950
TV ★ 6.7
1940s 35 credits
1949
Battleground as The Chaplain
Movie ★ 6.7
1949
Little Women as Father March
Movie ★ 7.4
1949
Scene of the Crime as Capt. A.C. Forster
Movie ★ 6.1
1949
Any Number Can Play as Dr. Palmer
Movie ★ 6.9
1948
The Velvet Touch as Gordon Dunning
Movie ★ 6.3
1948
On an Island with You as Commander Harrison
Movie ★ 5.9
1948
A Date with Judy as Lucien T. Pringle
Movie ★ 6.1
1948
Alias a Gentleman as Matt Enley
Movie ★ 6.8
1948
Studio One as Cyrus Walker
TV ★ 5.4
1947
Song of the Thin Man as Mitchell Talbin
Movie ★ 6.8
1947
Merton of the Movies as Lawrence Rupert
Movie ★ 6.3
1947
Undercover Maisie as Amor/Willis Farnes
Movie ★ 8.0
1947
The Amazing Mr. Nordill as Everett Nordill aka Everton
Movie ★ 6.6
1946
Lady in the Lake as Derace Kingsby
Movie ★ 6.1
1946
Movie ★ 7.1
1946
The Cockeyed Miracle as Ralph Humphrey
Movie ★ 7.5
1946
No Leave, No Love as Colonel Elliott
Movie ★ 6.5
1946
The Show-Off as Frank Harlin
Movie ★ 7.0
1945
Movie ★ 6.0
1945
They Were Expendable as Major James Morton
Movie ★ 6.5
1945
Movie ★ 6.4
1945
Fall Guy as Floyd Parkson
Movie ★ 8.0
1945
Movie ★ 6.0
1945
Movie ★ 6.1
1945
Anchors Aweigh as Admiral's Aide
Movie ★ 6.8
1945
Movie ★ 6.2
1944
Meet Me in St. Louis as Alonzo Smith
Movie ★ 7.0
1944
The Thin Man Goes Home as Edgar Draque
Movie ★ 7.1
1944
Movie ★ 6.7
1943
The Iron Major as Robert 'Bob' Stewart
Movie ★ 5.7
1943
Crime Doctor as William Wheeler
Movie ★ 6.4
1942
George Washington Slept Here as Leon Ames (uncredited)
Movie ★ 6.4
1941
Movie ★ 5.6
1941
No Greater Sin as Dr. Edward Cavanaugh
Movie ★ 4.8
1940
East Side Kids as Pat O'Day
Movie ★ 6.4
1930s 52 credits
1939
Movie ★ 7.0
1939
Mr. Moto in Danger Island as Commissioner Madero
Movie ★ 6.7
1939
Thunder Afloat as Recruiting Officer (uncredited)
Movie ★ 6.1
1939
Movie ★ 6.8
1939
Panama Patrol as Maj. Phillip Waring
Movie ★ 7.5
1939
Risky Business as Hinge Jackson
Movie ★ 6.5
1939
Help Wanted as J.T. Evans-Labor Commissioner
Movie ★ 7.0
1939
Blackwell's Island as Ballinger (uncredited)
Movie ★ 5.5
1939
The Marshal Of Mesa City as Sheriff Jud Cronin
Movie ★ 7.5
1939
Movie ★ 10.0
1939
Movie ★ 6.5
1939
Code of the Streets as 'Chick' Foster
Movie ★ 7.7
1939
Movie ★ 5.0
1938
Movie ★ 5.5
1938
Bluebeard's 8th Wife as Ex-Chauffeur (uncredited)
Movie ★ 7.1
1938
Mysterious Mr. Moto as Paul Brissac
Movie ★ 6.2
1938
Island in the Sky as Marty Butler
Movie ★ 7.0
1938
Movie ★ 6.3
1938
Suez as Napoleon III - Emperor of France
Movie ★ 5.5
1938
Cipher Bureau as Maj. Philip Waring
Movie ★ 5.3
1938
Come On, Leathernecks! as Otto Wagner / Baroni
Movie ★ 7.5
1938
The Spy Ring as Frank Denton
Movie ★ 5.6
1938
Movie ★ 6.8
1938
Strange Faces as Joe Gurney
Movie ★ 10.0
1937
Movie ★ 7.1
1937
Soak the Poor as Special Investigator Stanton
Movie ★ 7.8
1937
Movie ★ 5.6
1937
Movie ★ 5.8
1937
Song of Revolt as Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Movie ★ 6.5
1937
45 Fathers as Vincent
Movie ★ 4.5
1936
Pilot X as Carl Goering
Movie ★ 6.3
1935
Rescue Squad as Lester Vaughn (as Leon Waycoff)
Movie ★ 4.5
1935
Strangers All as Frank Walker
Movie ★ 6.8
1935
Get That Man as Don Clayton / McDonald
Movie ★ 4.3
1935
Reckless as Ralph Watson
Movie ★ 5.1
1935
Mutiny Ahead as McMurtrie
Movie ★ 6.5
1934
Now I'll Tell as Max (as Leon Waycoff)
Movie ★ 5.1
1934
I'll Tell the World as Spud Marshall
Movie ★ 7.0
1933
Forgotten as Louie Strauss
Movie ★ 7.0
1933
Parachute Jumper as Pilot with Alabama (uncredited)
Movie ★ 5.9
1933
Ship of Wanted Men as John Holden
Movie ★ 3.8
1933
The Man Who Dared as Yosef Novak
Movie ★ 7.5
1933
Alimony Madness as John Thurman
Movie ★ 9.0
1933
Only Yesterday as Lee (Uncredited)
Movie ★ 7.3
1932
Movie ★ 6.1
1932
Uptown New York as Max Silver (as Leon Waycoff)
Movie ★ 6.5
1932
Movie ★ 6.6
1932
A Successful Calamity as Barney Davis
Movie ★ 5.6
1932
Stowaway as Tommy
Movie ★ 6.5
1932
That's My Boy as Al Williams
Movie ★ 8.0
1932
Cannonball Express as Jack Logan
Movie ★ 10.0
1931
Movie ★ 7.3