--- name: "Leon Ames" canonical: "https://film.one/person/leon-ames" roles: [] born: "20 January 1902" died: "12 October 1993" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-20T03:07:35.544130+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Leon Ames Actor. Born 20 January 1902 in Portland, Indiana, USA. Died 12 October 1993. ## Details - **Born:** 20 January 1902, Portland, Indiana, USA - **Died:** 12 October 1993 - **Active:** 1945–1986 - **Also known as:** Leon Waycoff, Harry Leon Wycoff, Harry L. Wycoff - **SAG Awards:** 1 SAG Award (1 won) - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 75 (2), 1950s 64 (1), 1980s 79 (1) - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 2, Romance 2, Action 1, Fantasy 1, Music 1 - **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $49m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Ames, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q326723, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000748/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13994 ## Biography Leon Ames (born Harry Leon Wycoff, also credited early as Leon Waycoff) was an American film and television actor. He made his screen debut in the early 1930s and appeared in more than 150 films and television productions over a career spanning more than fifty years. Ames is best known for playing father figures, including Alonzo Smith in *Meet Me in St. Louis* (1944), Father March in *Little Women* (1949), Rufus Daggett in *The Absent-Minded Professor* (1961) and its sequel, and Barney Alvorg in *Peggy Sue Got Married* (1986). Other notable roles include Kyle Sackett in *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1946), Frank Knox in *Tora! Tora! Tora!* (1970), and The Chaplain in *Battleground* (1949). He also appeared in *The Andy Griffith Show* and other television series. One of the nineteen founding members of the Screen Actors Guild in 1933, Ames served as its president from 1957 to 1958. He received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1980. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, watch.plex.tv, tvinsider.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *Peggy Sue Got Married* (1986), Fi1m 79, as Barney Alvorg — [page](https://film.one/film/peggy-sue-got-married.md) - *Peyton Place* (1957), Fi1m 64, as Leslie Harrington — [page](https://film.one/film/peyton-place.md) - *Battleground* (1949), Fi1m 80, as The Chaplain — [page](https://film.one/film/battleground.md) - *Anchors Aweigh* (1945), Fi1m 70, as Admiral's Aide — [page](https://film.one/film/anchors-aweigh.md) ## Complete filmography (145) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Peggy Sue Got Married* (1986), as Barney Alvorg — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/peggy-sue-got-married.md) - *Jake Speed* (1986), as Pop Winston - *Testament* (1983), as Henry Abhart - *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Henry Abhart - *Just You and Me, Kid* (1979), as Manduke the Magnificent - *The Best Place to Be* (1979), as William Callahan - *The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries* (1977), series, as Messenger - *Claws* (1977), as Ben Jones, Forest Commissioner - *Sherlock Holmes in New York* (1976), as Daniel Furman - *Timber Tramps* (1975), as Deacon - *The Meal* (1975), as Kroger - *The Jeffersons* (1975), series, Actor - *That's Entertainment!* (1974), as (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Brother of the Wind* (1972), Actor - *Hammersmith Is Out* (1972), as General Sam Pembroke - *Emergency!* (1972), series, Actor - *Toklat* (1971), as Old Man - *On a Clear Day You Can See Forever* (1970), as Burt Clews - *Tora! Tora! Tora!* (1970), as Frank Knox - *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, Actor - *ABC Stage 67* (1966), series, as Gray - *The Monkey's Uncle* (1965), as Judge Holmsby - *Bewitched* (1964), series, Actor - *The Misadventures of Merlin Jones* (1964), as Judge Holmsby / Lex Fortas - *Son of Flubber* (1963), as Rufus Daggett - *The Lucy Show* (1962), series, as Colonel Anderson - *The Beverly Hillbillies* (1962), series, as Colonel Foxhall - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Judge Fitzroy - *Father of the Bride* (1961), series, as Stanley Banks - *The Absent-Minded Professor* (1961), as Rufus Daggett - *Mister Ed* (1961), series, as Gordon Kirkwood - *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Mr. Hampton - *My Three Sons* (1960), series, Actor - *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Damon Carlisle - *From the Terrace* (1960), as Samuel Eaton - *Peyton Place* (1957), as Leslie Harrington — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/peyton-place.md) - *Panic!* (1957), series, Actor - *Engagement Party* (1956), as Elliott Winston - *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Col. T. Jennings Parker - Pop - *MGM Parade* (1955), series, Actor - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as President Rufus Daggett (archive footage) - *Life With Father* (1953), series, Actor - *Sabre Jet* (1953), as Lt. Col. Eckert - *Let's Do It Again* (1953), as Chet Stuart - *By the Light of the Silvery Moon* (1953), as George Winfield - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Dr. Butolph, Malcolm Fownes - *Angel Face* (1953), as Fred Barrett - *It's a Big Country* (1951), as Secret Service Man - *Cattle Drive* (1951), as Chester Graham, Sr. - *On Moonlight Bay* (1951), as George Winfield - *Watch the Birdie* (1950), as Grantland D. Farns - *Dial 1119* (1950), as Earl - *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Michael J. O'Connor, Adam - *Crisis* (1950), as Sam Proctor - *The Happy Years* (1950), as Sr. Samuel H. Stover - *The Skipper Surprised His Wife* (1950), as Dr. Philip Abbott - *The Big Hangover* (1950), as Carl Bellcap - *Ambush* (1950), as Maj. C.E. Breverly - *Battleground* (1949), as The Chaplain — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/battleground.md) - *Scene of the Crime* (1949), as Capt. A.C. Forster - *Any Number Can Play* (1949), as Dr. Palmer - *Little Women* (1949), as Father March - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Cyrus Walker - *A Date with Judy* (1948), as Lucien T. Pringle - *The Velvet Touch* (1948), as Gordon Dunning - *On an Island with You* (1948), as Commander Harrisen - *Alias a Gentleman* (1948), as Matt Enley - *Merton of the Movies* (1947), as Lawrence Rupert - *The Amazing Mr. Nordill* (1947), as Everett Nordill aka Everton - *Song of the Thin Man* (1947), as Mitchell Talbin - *Undercover Maisie* (1947), as Amor/Willis Farnes - *Lady in the Lake* (1946), as Derace Kingsby - *The Show-Off* (1946), as Frank Harlin - *The Cockeyed Miracle* (1946), as Ralph Humphrey - *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1946), as Kyle Sackett - *No Leave, No Love* (1946), as Colonel Elliott - *They Were Expendable* (1945), as Major James Morton - *Yolanda and the Thief* (1945), as Mr. Candle - *Week-End at the Waldorf* (1945), as Henry Burton - *Anchors Aweigh* (1945), as Admiral's Aide — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/anchors-aweigh.md) - *Son of Lassie* (1945), as Anton - *Fall Guy* (1945), as Floyd Parkson - *Between Two Women* (1945), as Masters - *The Great Morgan* (1945), as K. F. - *The Thin Man Goes Home* (1944), as Edgar Draque - *Meet Me in St. Louis* (1944), as Alonzo Smith - *Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo* (1944), as Lieut. Jurika - *The Iron Major* (1943), as Robert 'Bob' Stewart - *Crime Doctor* (1943), as William Wheeler - *George Washington Slept Here* (1942), as Leon Ames (uncredited) - *Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring* (1941), as John Stack - *No Greater Sin* (1941), as Dr. Edward Cavanaugh - *East Side Kids* (1940), as Pat O'Day - *Fugitive at Large* (1939), as Carter - *The Marshal Of Mesa City* (1939), as Sheriff Jud Cronin - *Legion of Lost Flyers* (1939), as Smythe - *Pack Up Your Troubles* (1939), as Adjutant - *Calling All Marines* (1939), as Murdock - *Thunder Afloat* (1939), as Recruiting Officer (uncredited) - *Help Wanted* (1939), as J.T. Evans-Labor Commissioner - *Code of the Streets* (1939), as 'Chick' Foster - *Mr. Moto in Danger Island* (1939), as Commissioner Madero - *Panama Patrol* (1939), as Maj. Phillip Waring - *I Was a Convict* (1939), as Jackson - *Risky Business* (1939), as Hinge Jackson - *Blackwell's Island* (1939), as Ballinger (uncredited) - *Secrets of a Nurse* (1938), as Joe Largo - *Strange Faces* (1938), as Joe Gurney - *Suez* (1938), as Napoleon III - Emperor of France - *Cipher Bureau* (1938), as Maj. Philip Waring - *Mysterious Mr. Moto* (1938), as Paul Brissac - *Come On, Leathernecks!* (1938), as Otto Wagner / Baroni - *Island in the Sky* (1938), as Marty Butler - *Bluebeard's 8th Wife* (1938), as Ex-Chauffeur (uncredited) - *Walking Down Broadway* (1938), as Frank Gatty - *International Settlement* (1938), as Monte Silver - *The Spy Ring* (1938), as Frank Denton - *45 Fathers* (1937), as Vincent - *Murder in Greenwich Village* (1937), as Rodney Hunter - *Charlie Chan on Broadway* (1937), as Buzz Moran - *Dangerously Yours* (1937), as Phil - *Soak the Poor* (1937), as Special Investigator Stanton - *Song of Revolt* (1937), as Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle - *Pilot X* (1936), as Carl Goering - *Get That Man* (1935), as Don Clayton / McDonald - *Rescue Squad* (1935), as Lester Vaughn (as Leon Waycoff) - *Reckless* (1935), as Ralph Watson - *Strangers All* (1935), as Frank Walker - *Mutiny Ahead* (1935), as McMurtrie - *Now I'll Tell* (1934), as Max (as Leon Waycoff) - *I'll Tell the World* (1934), as Spud Marshall - *Only Yesterday* (1933), as Lee (Uncredited) - *Ship of Wanted Men* (1933), as John Holden - *The Man Who Dared* (1933), as Yosef Novak - *Alimony Madness* (1933), as John Thurman - *Forgotten* (1933), as Louie Strauss - *Parachute Jumper* (1933), as Pilot with Alabama (uncredited) - *Uptown New York* (1932), as Max Silver (as Leon Waycoff) - *That's My Boy* (1932), as Al Williams - *A Successful Calamity* (1932), as Barney Davis - *The Famous Ferguson Case* (1932), as Judd Brooks - *Stowaway* (1932), as Tommy - *Cannonball Express* (1932), as Jack Logan - *Murders in the Rue Morgue* (1932), as Pierre Dupin - *Quick Millions* (1931), as Hood ## Gallery - ![Leon Ames](https://film.one/media/person/393424/gallery-75e22bed148b.jpg) Leon Ames — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Leon_Ames_%281902-1993%29_portrait_in_1950.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Leon Ames](https://film.one/media/person/393424/gallery-b89e2242bf7d.jpg) Leon Ames — Image via TMDB - ![Leon Ames](https://film.one/media/person/393424/gallery-7445126a7888.jpg) Leon Ames — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### SAG Awards — 1 won - 1980: Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/leon-ames