Florence Roberts
Florence Roberts (March 16, 1861/1864 – June 6, 1940 was an American actress of the stage and in motion pictures.
Born in New York City, she began acting onstage there. Her career began at the Brooklyn Opera House in Hoop of Gold. She secured her first stage role with the Denman Thompson Company and played leads with the N.B. Curtis Company. This experience led to appearances on Broadway. She once starred in Zala, a production of David Belasco. She headed a stock company in Philadelphia, for a period of 15 years. The actress made three world tours in stock. There was a South African repertoire and a tour of Australia with the Henry Duffy players. She also played in stock companies in Boston and other cities.
In the early 1900s, she made annual tours under the direction of Frederick Belasco.
Film career
Roberts' success in motion pictures began with a Mack Sennett comedy. The film producer saw her on the stage in Your Uncle Dudley and cast her in Grandma's Girl. Her earliest roles were in A Wife's Suspicion and A Wise Dummy, both in 1917. Among her film performances, the Jones Family series is the most renowned. She played the role of Grandma.
Personal life
Roberts married actor Walter Gale, and they had a son, Robert Gale.
Death
Roberts died from cardiovascular disease at her home in Hollywood. She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, with funeral services performed at Wee Kirk of the Heather.
Her eulogy was read by her adopted son, Edward Everett Horton, with whom she appeared in stock. The actress' death came unexpectedly three weeks after she had returned from a vacation trip to Panama. She went there following completion of 20th Century Fox's Jones Family series for the 1939–1940 season.
Partial filmography
Allan Quatermain - Mrs. McKenzieThe Man Who Was Afraid - Mrs. RobinsonThe Sleepwalker - Mrs. Fabian DumondThe Vulture's Prey - LandladyThe Best People - The Eyes of the World - The Maid Soup to Nuts - Junior's Mother Kept Husbands - Mrs. Henrietta ParkerBachelor Apartment - Mrs. Halloran Everything's Rosie - Mrs. LoweToo Many Cooks - Mother CookFanny Foley Herself - LucyHer Majesty, Love - Grandma Westward Passage - Mrs. OttendorfWhat Price Hollywood? - Elderly Brown Derby Diner Make Me a Star - Mrs. GashwilerThe All American - Mrs. KingVanity Street - Annie - Fern's Maid Officer Thirteen - GrannyEmployees' Entrance - Shoe Customer Dangerously Yours - Mrs. LathemFast Workers - Short Window Shopper Daring Daughters - Ginger Hemingway - the GrandmotherA Bedtime Story - Flower Shop Customer Lilly Turner - Wedding Guest Calling for Bride Melody Cruise - Miss PottsThe Song of Songs - Book Store Customer Torch Singer - Mother AngelicaEver in My Heart - Eunice Blood Money - Judge's Wife Hoop-La - Ma BensonThe Meanest Gal in Town - Mom - Old Stranded Actress Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen - AgnesSuccess at Any Price - Cleaning Woman Student Tour - Elderly Woman Cleopatra - Lady FloraBabes in Toyland - Widow PeepSons of Steel - Sarah MasonRocky Mountain Mystery - Mrs. BallardPublic Opinion - Mrs. ButtonsThe Nut Farm - Ma Barton - Willie's MotherLes Misérables - ToussaintEvery Night at Eight - Mrs. Murgatroyd Accent on Youth - Mrs. Benham Harmony Lane - Mrs. FosterYour Uncle Dudley - Janet DixonThe Country Doctor - Grandmother Every Saturday Night - Granny EversNobody's Fool - Mary JonesBack to Nature - Granny JonesOff to the Races - Granny JonesNobody's Baby - Mrs. Mason - LandladyThe Jones Family in Big Business - Granny JonesThe Life of Emile Zola - Madame ZolaThe Prisoner of Zenda - Duenna Hot Water - Granny JonesBorrowing Trouble - Granny JonesLove on a Budget - Granny Ida JonesA Trip to Paris - Granny JonesSafety in Numbers - Granny JonesPersonal Secretary - Mrs. J. J. FarrellDown on the Farm - Granny JonesThe Storm - Mrs. RobertsEverybody's Baby - Granny JonesThe Jones Family in Hollywood - Granny JonesQuick Millions - Granny JonesToo Busy to Work - Granny JonesAbe Lincoln in Illinois - Mrs. Bowling GreenYoung as You Feel - Granny JonesDouble Alibi - Landlady On Their Own - Granny Jones