Allene Roberts

Allene Roberts
Roberts in The Red House (1947)
Born
Emma Allene Roberts

(1928-09-01)September 1, 1928
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
DiedMay 9, 2019(2019-05-09) (aged 90)
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S
OccupationActress
Years active1947–1957
Spouse
Ralph Cochran
​
​
(m. 1955; died 1989)​
Children4

Emma Allene Roberts (September 1, 1928 – May 9, 2019) was an American actress.

Early years

Roberts was born in Birmingham, Alabama, the daughter of Frank W. Roberts and Velma Swain Roberts. She had three older brothers. Her father died when she was 9 years old. Her activities included playing piano, singing, and tap dancing. She graduated from Hollywood High School.

In 1941, she won the "America's Most Charming Child" contest sponsored by the New York Daily Mirror, receiving $1,000 in cash and a $1,000 contract with Warner Bros. studio. The contest initially had more than 60,000 entrants; she won after that group had been reduced to 50 semi-finalists and 12 finalists.

Career

Roberts appeared in twelve movies from 1947 to 1954, and on TV in Four Star Playhouse, Adventures of Superman and Dragnet.[citation needed] Her first big picture was The Red House (1947) starring Rory Calhoun, Julie London and Edward G. Robinson. That movie was considered by the critics[which?] to be the "sleeper hit" of the year.[citation needed]

Roberts' other films included Knock on Any Door (1949), Union Station (1950), and Bomba on Panther Island (1949).

Death

On May 9, 2019, Roberts died in Huntsville, Alabama, at age 90.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1947 The Red House Meg
1948 The Sign of the Ram Jane St. Aubyn
Michael O'Halloran Lily Nelson
1949 Knock on Any Door Emma
Bomba on Panther Island Judy Maitland
1950 Union Station Lorna Murchison
1951 A Wonderful Life Mary Wood Short
Santa Fe Ella Sue Canfield
The Hoodlum Rosa
1952 Kid Monk Baroni Emily Brooks
Thunderbirds Margie Hanford
The Blazing Forest Milly Uncredited

References

  1. 1 2 Fernandez, Charles (May 13, 1941). "Tampa Girl, 12, Wins $2000 First Prize As Most Charming Child". The Tampa Times. Florida, Tampa. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Allene Roberts Cochran Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information". www.laughlinservice.com. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Allene Roberts, Actress in Humphrey Bogart's 'Knock on Any Door,' Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. May 11, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Tampa Girl Designated 'America's Most Charming Child'". The Miami Herald. May 20, 1941. p. 9 A. Retrieved April 13, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Scott, John L. (October 1, 1950). "Starlet Allene Roberts Playing Blind Role Opens Filmland Eyes". Los Angeles Times. p. Part IV, page 3. Retrieved April 13, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Stalnaker, Leo Jr. (June 15, 1949). "Allene Roberts Invites Her Friends Here to Write Her in Hollywood". The Tampa Times. Florida, Tampa. p. 3. Retrieved June 3, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ ""Adventures of Superman" Actress Allene Roberts Passes Away".
  8. ↑ Silver, Alain and Elizabeth Ward, ed., Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style, The Overlook Press, Woodstock, NY, Third Edition, 1992 pp. 161–162
  9. ↑ Silver, p. 303.