Matinee Classics - Lynne Roberts Biography & Filmography

Lynne Roberts ACTOR

PHOTOS

LYNNE ROBERTS BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Lynne Roberts was born on November 22nd, 1922 in El Paso, Texas with the birth name Theda Mae Roberts. She had one older brother and her mother was a former stage actress, therefore, from a young age she developed an interest in performing.

By the age of four, Roberts was taking dancing and singing lessons and still as a child, along with her bother, they began performing in vaudeville. After gaining some more stage experience, Roberts soon began to pursue film work with Republic Pictures appearing in her teen years on such films as, "Come On, Rangers" (1938) starring alongside Roy Rogers, Lee Powell, Lane Chandler, Raymond Hatton and J. Farrell MacDonald, "Shine On, Harvest Moon" (1938) co-starring Roy Rogers, Stanley Andrews and William Farnum and "Rough Riders' Round-Up" (1939) starring with Roy Rogers, Raymond Hatton and Eddie Acuff.

She then chose to sign with 20th Century Fox and continued to add more film roles such as, "The Bride Wore Crutches" (1940) co-starring Ted North, Robert Armstrong, Lionel Stander, Richard Lane and Edgar Kennedy, "Street of Memories" (1940) starring with Guy Kibbee, John McGuire, Sterling Holloway and Ed Gargan, "Stardust" (1940) starring John Payne, Linda Darnell, Charlotte Greenwood, William Gargan and Roland Young, "Moon Over Miami" (1941) starring Betty Grable, Don Ameche, Robert Cummings, Charlotte Greenwood, Jack Haley and Carole Landis and "Sun Valley Serenade" (1941).

At this point in her career, she was disappointed at the types of roles being offered to her so Roberts chose to return to Republic Pictures and again tried making a name for herself in the industry with roles in the films, "Port of 40 Thieves" (1944) starring with Stephanie Bachelor and Tom Keene, "My Buddy" (1944) starring alongside Don 'Red' Barry, Ruth Terry and John Litel, "The Ghost That Walks Alone" (1944), "The Big Bonanza" (1944), "That's My Gal" (1947) starring with Don 'Red' Barry and Pinky Lee, "Sons of Adventure" (1948) co-starring Russell Hayden, Gordon Jones, Grant Withers, John Newland and Roy Barcroft and "The Great Plane Robbery" (1950) and D.O.A. (1950) starring Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton and Beverly Garland.

In addition to film work she began to focus on taking on television roles hoping that might help her increase her fan base. She appeared on the series, "The Gene Autry Show", "Stars Over Hollywood", "Dangerous Assignment", "Racket Squad", "Fireside Theatre", "The Cases of Eddie Drake", "I'm the Law" starring George Raft and "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" starring Hugh O'Brian.

In 1958 she took her last film role in, "The Violent Playground" which was un-credited and from this point on, Roberts chose to retire completely from the industry. Her professional life had been filled with as much turmoil as her personal life.

Over the course of her lifetime Lynne Roberts had four unsuccessful marriages. Her first husband was William Englebert, Jr. whom she was married to from 1941 through 1944. She then wed Louis John Gardella in 1944 however by 1952, this marriage also came to an end. Her third husband was Hyman B. Samuels from 1953 through 1961. Her fourth and final husband was Don Sebastian whom she married in 1971. The couple separated but never finalized their divorce when she passed away on April 1st, 1978 in Sherman Oaks, California after suffering from a brain hemorrhage.

Filmography