Leona Roberts
Leona Roberts was an American stage and film actress.
Life and career
Roberts was born in Monroe Center, Ashtabula County, Ohio. She made her debut on Broadway 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. 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.
Roberts also appeared with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in the screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby as the house servant Mrs. Gogarty, as well in Of Human Hearts with James Stewart and The Blue Bird 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. She made her last film in 1949.
Roberts had been a regular parishioner of the Catholic church. After retiring, she dedicated the last years of her life to charitable and religious causes until her death. Roberts died in 1954, age 74. She was the mother of actress Josephine Hutchinson.
Filmography
Poor Mrs. Jones! – Lane JonesBorder Cafe – Mrs. Emily WhitneySuper-Sleuth – Mrs. Effington There Goes the Groom – MarthaFight for Your Lady – Cleaning WomanQuick Money – Gossiping Woman Crashing Hollywood – Extra Assigned to Stage 6 Everybody's Doing It – Woman at Bar Of Human Hearts – Sister ClarkeBringing Up Baby – Mrs. GogartyCondemned Women – Kate HoltThis Marriage Business – Mrs. PlattHaving Wonderful Time – Mrs. ShawCrime Ring – Mrs. WhartonThe Affairs of Annabel – Mrs. HurleyI Stand Accused – Mrs. DavisKentucky – Grace GoodwinBoy Slaves – Farm Woman Persons in Hiding – Ma BronsonThey Made Her a Spy – EllaBachelor Mother – Old Lady Outside Orphanage The Spellbinder – Mrs. Jenkins The Escape – Aunt Mamie QualenThree Sons – Woman in Store Sued for Libel – Mrs. TrentGone with the Wind – Mrs. MeadeSwanee River – Mrs. FosterThou Shalt Not Kill – Mrs. StevensThe Man Who Wouldn't Talk – The Blue Bird – Mrs. BerlingotAbe Lincoln in Illinois – Mrs. RutledgeSki Patrol – Mother RyderFlight Angels – Mrs. HutchinsonGangs of Chicago – Mrs. WhitakerAnne of Windy Poplars – Queen of the Mob – Mrs. GreenoughGolden Gloves – Mrs. Parker Comin' Round the Mountain – Aunt Polly WattersWildcat Bus – Emma 'Ma' TalbotBlondie Plays Cupid – Aunt HannahWeek-End in Havana – PassengerDixie – Woman in Restaurant The Madonna's Secret – Mrs. CorbinBoomerang! – Mrs. Crossman The Loves of Carmen – Ancient Old Gypsy Chicago Deadline – Maggie