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Lynne Roberts

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Lynne Roberts
Born
Theda Mae Roberts

(1922-11-22)November 22, 1922
DiedApril 1, 1978(1978-04-01) (aged 55)
Other namesMary Hart
Lynn Roberts
OccupationActress
Years active1936–1958
Spouse(s)William Engelbert, Jr. (1941–1944)
Louis John Gardella (1944–1952)
Hyman B. Samuels (1953–1961)
Don Sebastian (1971–1978)

Lynne Roberts, also credited as Mary Hart,[1] was born Theda May Roberts (November 22, 1922[2] – April 1, 1978). She was an American film actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood who appeared exclusively in what were referred to as B-movies.[3]

Early years

Born in El Paso, Texas, Roberts was the daughter of Hobart M. Roberts, a bookkeeper, and May Holland.[4] The family moved to Los Angeles in the 1920s.

Career

Roberts began working as an actress in the 1930s, under contract to Republic Pictures. At the age of 14, in 1936, she played a role in Bulldog Edition. In 1938, at age 16, she starred in the cliffhangers: The Lone Ranger and Dick Tracy Returns, and played a role in The Higgins Family. She was officially listed in studio records as having been born in 1919.[3]

In 1941 she starred with Sonja Henie and John Payne in Sun Valley Serenade, while under contract to 20th Century-Fox. She returned to Republic Pictures in 1944, and stayed under contract there until 1948. She starred with Gene Autry in Sioux City Sue in 1946, and appeared in two more films with Autry: Robin Hood of Texas and Saddle Pals, as well as three films with Roy Rogers, and one with Monte Hale.[3]

After leaving Republic Pictures for the second time, Roberts worked with Autry in outdoor adventures for Columbia Pictures. She also worked with Kirby Grant in Monogram Pictures' mounted-police adventures, and with Tim Holt at RKO Radio Pictures.

All told, Roberts appeared in 64 films. Of those, 21 were westerns, and two are serials.[3]

Personal life

Lynne Roberts (left), Sally Naiditch, Anne T. Hill (3rd from left), Dr. Leon W. Naiditch, Hyman B. Samuels (front right), Dr. Harry Lehrer (extreme right behind Samuels)

Roberts married four times. Her first marriage was to William Engelbert, Jr., with whom she had one son, Bill. The marriage ended in divorce in 1944.

Her second marriage was to Louis John Gardella, which also ended in divorce. In court, Gardella's attorney argued that the couple's Arizona wedding was invalid because Roberts was not legally divorced from Engelbert, although Roberts claimed she had a Mexican divorce decree.[5]

In 1953, Roberts married brassiere manufacturer Hyman B. Samuels, with whom she had a daughter, Peri Margaret.[6]

Following the divorce from her third husband in 1961, Roberts retired from acting and later married pro wrestler Don Sebastian in 1971.[3]

Family

Lynne Roberts was the sister of actor John S. Roberts.[7]

Death

On December 16, 1977, Roberts fell in the bathroom of her home, striking her head. She lapsed into a coma, and died on April 1, 1978.[3]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ Hart, Mary. "Shine On, Harvest Moon". The Old Corral. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  2. ^ "B-Western Heroines, Lynne Roberts". Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  3. ^ a b c d e f IMDb - Lynne Roberts
  4. ^ Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics, birth certificate of Theda May Roberts
  5. ^ Daytona Beach Morning Journal - May 25, 1951
  6. ^ Lynne Roberts Spurns Return to Husband. Los Angeles Times - Aug 4, 1958 p5
  7. ^ John S. Roberts on the Internet Movie Database