Florence Roberts (March 16, 1861/1864 – June 6, 1940(photo included) was an American actress of the stage and in motion pictures.

Stock company actress

Born in New York City, she began acting onstage there. Her career began at the

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

Opera House in ''Hoop of Gold''. She secured her first stage role with the

Denman Thompson Henry Denman Thompson (October 15, 1833 – April 14, 1911) was an American playwright and theatre actor. Biography Rufus Thompson, a carpenter, and his wife Anne Hathaway Baxter moved in 1831 from West Swanzey, New Hampshire to Girard, Pe ...

Company and played leads with the N.B. Curtis Company. This experience led to appearances 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 ...

. She once starred in ''Zala'', a production of David Belasco. She headed a stock company in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, 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 Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

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 Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...

comedy. The film producer saw her on the stage in ''Your Uncle Dudley'' and cast her in ''Grandma's Girl'' (1930). Her earliest roles were in ''A Wife's Suspicion'' and ''A Wise Dummy'', both in 1917. Among her film performances, the ''

Jones Family The Jones Family film series is seventeen 20th Century Fox second feature family comedies produced between 1936 and 1940. Somewhat similar to the mildly comic tone of MGM's '' Andy Hardy'' and Columbia Pictures '' Blondie'' films, the Joneses st ...

'' 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 Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, h ...

at her home in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * 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 Edward Everett Horton Jr. (March 18, 1886 – September 29, 1970) was an American character actor. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television, and voice work for animated cartoons. Early life Horton was born in Kings County ...

, with whom she appeared in stock. The actress' death came unexpectedly three weeks after she had returned from a vacation trip to

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...

. She went there following completion of

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

's ''Jones Family'' series for the 1939–1940 season."Famed Film Actress Dies", ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'', June 7, 1940, p. A1.

Partial filmography

* ''Allan Quatermain'' (1919) - Mrs. McKenzie * ''The Man Who Was Afraid'' (1920) - Mrs. Robinson * '' The Sleepwalker'' (1922) - Mrs. Fabian Dumond * ''The Vulture's Prey'' (1922) - Landlady * ''

The Best People ''The Best People'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount. It was directed by Sidney Olcott with Warner Baxter in the leading role. The film was remade in 1930 as '' Fast and Loose ...

'' (1925) - (uncredited) * '' The Eyes of the World'' (1930) - The Maid (prologue) * ''

Soup to Nuts ''Soup to Nuts'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film written by cartoonist, sculptor, author, and inventor Rube Goldberg and directed by Benjamin Stoloff. It was the film debut of the original four members who would later, minus Ted Healy, ...

'' (1930) - Junior's Mother (uncredited) * ''

Kept Husbands ''Kept Husbands'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Lloyd Bacon, starring Dorothy Mackaill and Joel McCrea, with major supporting roles filled by Robert McWade, Florence Roberts and Mary Carr. The original story was written by t ...

'' (1931) - Mrs. Henrietta Parker * ''

Bachelor Apartment Bachelor Apartment is a 1931 American pre-Code romance film directed by and starring Lowell Sherman as a bachelor/playboy, Wayne Carter, who falls in love with Irene Dunne's honest working girl, Helene Andrews. The credits for the film, and a ...

'' (1931) - Mrs. Halloran (uncredited) * ''

Everything's Rosie ''Everything's Rosie'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code slapstick comedy film directed by Clyde Bruckman, from a screenplay by Ralph Spence, Tim Whelan, and Al Boasberg, based on a story by Boasberg. Although the screenplay was credited as origina ...

'' (1931) - Mrs. Lowe * '' Too Many Cooks'' (1931) - Mother Cook * ''

Fanny Foley Herself ''Fanny Foley Herself'' is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy-drama film shot entirely in Technicolor. The film was the second feature to be filmed using a new Technicolor process, which removed grain and resulted in improved color. It was released ...

'' (1931) - Lucy * ''

Her Majesty, Love ''Her Majesty, Love'' is a 1931 American pre-Code musical comedy drama film directed by William Dieterle for First National Pictures, starring Broadway stars Marilyn Miller and Ben Lyon, and in his talking feature debut, W. C. Fields. It is ...

'' (1931) - Grandma (uncredited) * ''

Westward Passage ''Westward Passage'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Robert Milton and starring Ann Harding, Laurence Olivier, ZaSu Pitts and Irving Pichel. The screenplay concerns a woman who falls in love and marries, but soon discovers ho ...

'' (1932) - Mrs. Ottendorf * ''

What Price Hollywood? ''What Price Hollywood?'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Constance Bennett with Lowell Sherman. The screenplay by Gene Fowler, Rowland Brown, Jane Murfin and Ben Markson is based on a story by A ...

'' (1932) - Elderly Brown Derby Diner (uncredited) * '' Make Me a Star'' (1932) - Mrs. Gashwiler * '' The All American'' (1932) - Mrs. King * ''

Vanity Street ''Vanity Street'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code crime drama film directed by Nick Grinde and starring Charles Bickford, Helen Chandler and Mayo Methot.Scott p.42 A New York policeman assists a down-on-her-luck showgirl, helping her get a job at th ...

'' (1932) - Annie - Fern's Maid (uncredited) * '' Officer Thirteen'' (1932) - Granny * ''

Employees' Entrance ''Employees' Entrance'' is a 1933 pre-Code film about the devious manager of a New York department store (Warren William) and his romantic involvement with a reluctant new employee (Loretta Young). It was directed by Roy Del Ruth. In 2019, the f ...

'' (1933) - Shoe Customer (uncredited) * '' Dangerously Yours'' (1933) - Mrs. Lathem * ''

Fast Workers ''Fast Workers'', also known as ''Rivets'', is a 1933 pre-Code drama film starring John Gilbert and Robert Armstrong as construction workers and romantic rivals for the character played by Mae Clarke. The film, which is based on the unproduced ...

'' (1933) - Short Window Shopper (uncredited) * ''

Daring Daughters ''Daring Daughters'' is a 1933 American pre-Code melodrama film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Marian Marsh, Kenneth Thomson, and Joan Marsh, and was released on March 25, 1933. Cast list * Marian Marsh as Terry Cummings * Kenneth ...

'' (1933) - Ginger Hemingway - the Grandmother * ''

A Bedtime Story ''A Bedtime Story'' is a 1933 American pre-Code romantic comedy film starring Maurice Chevalier. Plot Chevalier plays a Parisian playboy who finds himself obliged to care for an abandoned baby. The film was directed by Norman Taurog and also st ...

'' (1933) - Flower Shop Customer (uncredited) * ''

Lilly Turner ''Lilly Turner'' is a 1933 American pre-Code melodrama directed by William A. Wellman and starring Ruth Chatterton. It was based on the 1932 play of the same name by Phillip Dunning and George Abbott. Plot A woman who marries a bigamist, then a ...

'' (1933) - Wedding Guest Calling for Bride (uncredited) * ''

Melody Cruise ''Melody Cruise'' is Slipping Stitches' first full-length release. Michael Monroe of Hanoi Rocks fame appears on the bonus tracks as producer, lyricist, and vocalist. Track listing Personnel Band * Cashmire Starz – vocals, guitar, keyboard ...

'' (1933) - Miss Potts * '' The Song of Songs'' (1933) - Book Store Customer (uncredited) * ''

Torch Singer A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affecte ...

'' (1933) - Mother Angelica * ''

Ever in My Heart ''Ever in My Heart'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Otto Kruger, and Ralph Bellamy. It portrays the tragic consequences of the virulent propaganda that spread false stories of atroci ...

'' (1933) - Eunice (uncredited) * ''

Blood Money Blood money may refer to: * Blood money (restitution), money paid to the family of a murder victim Films * Blood Money (1917 film), ''Blood Money'' (1917 film), a film starring Harry Carey * Blood Money (1921 film), ''Blood Money'' (1921 film ...

'' (1933) - Judge's Wife (uncredited) * ''

Hoop-La ''Hoop-La'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Clara Bow (in her final film role), Preston Foster, Richard Cromwell and Minna Gombell also in the cast. The film is based on the play ''The Barker'' by Ke ...

'' (1933) - Ma Benson * '' The Meanest Gal in Town'' (1934) - Mom - Old Stranded Actress (uncredited) * ''

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen ''Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen'' is a 1934 pre-Code American comedy-drama film, starring Dorothea Wieck, Alice Brady, and Baby LeRoy, written by Adela Rogers St. Johns and Jane Storm from a novel and story by Rupert Hughes, and directed by Alexa ...

'' (1934) - Agnes * ''

Success at Any Price ''Success at Any Price'' is a 1934 sound film starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Genevieve Tobin, Frank Morgan and silent film star Colleen Moore. It is based on the 1932 play '' Success Story'' by John Howard Lawson. Plot Joe, an amoral capitali ...

'' (1934) - Cleaning Woman (uncredited) * ''

Student Tour ''Student Tour'' is a 1934 American musical film directed by Charles Reisner, written by Ralph Spence and Philip Dunne, and starring Jimmy Durante, Charles Butterworth, Maxine Doyle, Phil Regan, Douglas Fowley and Nelson Eddy. It was release ...

'' (1934) - Elderly Woman (uncredited) * ''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

'' (1934) - Lady Flora * '' Babes in Toyland'' (1934) - Widow Peep * '' Sons of Steel'' (1934) - Sarah Mason * '' Rocky Mountain Mystery'' (1935) - Mrs. Ballard * ''

Public Opinion Public opinion is the collective opinion on a specific topic or voting intention relevant to a society. It is the people's views on matters affecting them. Etymology The term "public opinion" was derived from the French ', which was first use ...

'' (1935) - Mrs. Buttons * ''

The Nut Farm ''The Nut Farm'' is a 1935 American film directed by Melville W. Brown, adapted from the John Charles Brownell Broadway play of the same name, which ran for 40 performances from 14 Oct.-Nov. 1929 at the Biltmore Theater (now the Samuel J. Fried ...

'' (1935) - Ma Barton - Willie's Mother * ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...

'' (1935) - Toussaint * ''

Every Night at Eight ''Every Night at Eight'' is a 1935 American comedy musical film starring George Raft and Alice Faye and made by Walter Wanger Productions Inc. and Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Raoul Walsh and produced by Walter Wanger from a screenplay ...

'' (1935) - Mrs. Murgatroyd (uncredited) * '' Accent on Youth'' (1935) - Mrs. Benham (uncredited) * ''

Harmony Lane ''Harmony Lane'' is a 1935 low-budget American film directed by Joseph Santley, based upon the life of Stephen Foster, released by Mascot Pictures. This was the first sound film based on the life of the famous composer. Two others would follow, ...

'' (1935) - Mrs. Foster * ''

Your Uncle Dudley ''Your Uncle Dudley'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Eugene Forde and written by Allen Birkin, Joseph Hoffman and Dore Schary. The film stars Edward Everett Horton, Lois Wilson, John McGuire, Rosina Lawrence, Alan Dinehart and ...

'' (1935) - Janet Dixon * '' The Country Doctor'' (1936) - Grandmother (uncredited) * ''

Every Saturday Night ''Every Saturday Night'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by James Tinling and starring June Lang, Thomas Beck and Jed Prouty.Drew p.180 This is the first of 17 low-budget films about the Jones Family (named Evers initially). Cast * June ...

'' (1936) - Granny Evers * '' Nobody's Fool'' (1936) - Mary Jones * ''

Back to Nature Back to nature or return to nature is a philosophy or style of living which emphasises closeness to nature, rather than artifice and civilisation. In this, the rustic customs and pastoralism of country life are preferred to urban fashion and so ...

'' (1936) - Granny Jones * '' Off to the Races'' (1937) - Granny Jones * '' Nobody's Baby'' (1937) - Mrs. Mason - Landlady * ''

The Jones Family in Big Business ''Big Business'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane and Spring Byington. It was part of Twentieth Century Fox's Jones Family series of films.Drew p.180 The film's art direction was b ...

'' (1937) - Granny Jones * ''

The Life of Emile Zola ''The Life of Emile Zola'' is a 1937 American biographical film about the 19th-century French author Émile Zola starring Paul Muni and directed by William Dieterle. It premiered at the Los Angeles Carthay Circle Theatre to great critical and f ...

'' (1937) - Madame Zola * ''

The Prisoner of Zenda ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in order ...

'' (1937) - Duenna (scenes deleted) * ''

Hot Water Water heating is a heat transfer process that uses an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature. Typical domestic uses of hot water include cooking, cleaning, bathing, and space heating. In industry, hot water and water heated t ...

'' (1937) - Granny Jones * ''

Borrowing Trouble ''Borrowing Trouble'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane and Spring Byington.Drew p.180 It is part of the Jones Family series of films and is also known by the alternative title of ' ...

'' (1937) - Granny Jones * ''

Love on a Budget ''Love on a Budget'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Herbert I. Leeds and starring Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane and Spring Byington. It was part of Twentieth Century Fox's Jones Family series of films. The Jones' eldest daughter Bonnie a ...

'' (1938) - Granny Ida Jones * ''

A Trip to Paris ''A Trip to Paris'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair and starring Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane and Spring Byington.Drew p.180 It was part of the Jones Family series of films. In the film, the family take a vacation to Pa ...

'' (1938) - Granny Jones * ''

Safety in Numbers Safety in numbers is the hypothesis that, by being part of a large physical group or mass, an individual is less likely to be the victim of a mishap, accident, attack, or other bad event. Some related theories also argue (and can show statistica ...

'' (1938) - Granny Jones * ''

Personal Secretary ''Personal Secretary'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Otis Garrett and written by Betty Laidlaw, Robert Lively and Charles Grayson. The film stars William Gargan, Joy Hodges, Andy Devine, Ruth Donnelly, Samuel S. Hinds and Fran ...

'' (1938) - Mrs. J. J. Farrell * '' Down on the Farm'' (1938) - Granny Jones * '' The Storm'' (1938) - Mrs. Roberts * ''

Everybody's Baby ''Everybody's Baby'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair and starring Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane and Spring Byington. It was part of Twentieth Century Fox's Jones Family series of films.Drew p.180 The film's art direction ...

'' (1939) - Granny Jones * ''

The Jones Family in Hollywood ''The Jones Family in Hollywood'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair and written by Harold Tarshis. The film stars Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, Kenneth Howell, George Ernest, June Carlson and Florence Roberts. It was ...

'' (1939) - Granny Jones * '' Quick Millions'' (1939) - Granny Jones * ''

Too Busy to Work Too Busy to Work may refer to: * ''Too Busy to Work'' (1932 film), an American drama film * ''Too Busy to Work'' (1939 film), an American comedy film {{disambiguation ...

'' (1939) - Granny Jones * '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' (1940) - Mrs. Bowling Green * '' Young as You Feel'' (1940) - Granny Jones * '' Double Alibi'' (1940) - Landlady (uncredited) * ''

On Their Own ''On Their Own'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Otto Brower and written by Harold Buchman and Val Burton. This last of 17 Jones Family films stars Spring Byington, Kenneth Howell, George Ernest, June Carlson, Florence Roberts, and ...

'' (1940) - Granny Jones (final film role)

References

External links

* * *
Brief article with color photo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Florence 1860s births 1940 deaths Actresses from Maryland 19th-century American actresses American stage actresses 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American silent film actresses Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) People from Frederick, Maryland