Leon "Lee" Ames Jr. of Rancho Mirage, CA died peacefully at home of cancer on Thursday, October 1, 2015. A native of Southern California, he was born on May 12, 1943 in Hollywood to parents Leon and Christine. His father, Leon Ames, was not only a well-respected stage and movie actor, but one of the founding fathers of the Screen Actors Guild and the owner of several Los Angeles car dealerships.
Lee was raised in the San Fernando Valley where he attended Carpenter Elementary School and Harvard Military School. A popular classman among his peers, Lee was elected president of his senior class. He cherished childhood days and early years with his close friends and family - who lovingly called him Snooker. After graduating from the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, he served four years in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam conflict. Lee then married and traveled to New York City where he appeared on Broadway in the hit play "Forty Carats" with Zsa Zsa Gabor and Tom Poston.
Still employed by producer David Merrick, he assisted stage manager, James Burrows and understudied Tommy Lee Jones in the Abe Burrow's comedy "Four on a Garden" starring Carol Channing and Sid Caesar. Lee toured the dinner theatre circuit with "Forty Carats" throughout Texas and Florida. A popular personality on television and radio, Lee was known for his energetic automobile commercials around the country. He ultimately purchased a Ford dealership in Texas. After 30 years in the retail automobile business, Lee returned to California to semi-retire in Indian Wells and La Quinta where he continued to act, write, emcee charity events, appear in commercials and practice real estate with Keller Williams.
His local involvement included the male lead in the popular play Love Letters benefiting non-profits; co-host of a public affairs television show Time Warner Cares; and several appearances as an announcer and emcee for organizations such as Angel View, ACT for MS, American Cancer Society, Gilda's Club, Loving All Animals, Parkinson's Resource Organization, Coachella Valley Symphony and many more. Lee is survived by his son Christian Ames and his wife Heidi, daughter Amber Ames and her life partner Dani Doyle, step-daughter Tanya Martin and step-grandson Jake Trefry, and his loving wife DeAnn Lubell-Ames.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice . Memorial services will be held at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church located at 47-535 Highway 74 in Palm Desert, CA on Saturday, November 7, 2015 starting at 11:30 a.m.
Lee was raised in the San Fernando Valley where he attended Carpenter Elementary School and Harvard Military School. A popular classman among his peers, Lee was elected president of his senior class. He cherished childhood days and early years with his close friends and family - who lovingly called him Snooker. After graduating from the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, he served four years in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam conflict. Lee then married and traveled to New York City where he appeared on Broadway in the hit play "Forty Carats" with Zsa Zsa Gabor and Tom Poston.
Still employed by producer David Merrick, he assisted stage manager, James Burrows and understudied Tommy Lee Jones in the Abe Burrow's comedy "Four on a Garden" starring Carol Channing and Sid Caesar. Lee toured the dinner theatre circuit with "Forty Carats" throughout Texas and Florida. A popular personality on television and radio, Lee was known for his energetic automobile commercials around the country. He ultimately purchased a Ford dealership in Texas. After 30 years in the retail automobile business, Lee returned to California to semi-retire in Indian Wells and La Quinta where he continued to act, write, emcee charity events, appear in commercials and practice real estate with Keller Williams.
His local involvement included the male lead in the popular play Love Letters benefiting non-profits; co-host of a public affairs television show Time Warner Cares; and several appearances as an announcer and emcee for organizations such as Angel View, ACT for MS, American Cancer Society, Gilda's Club, Loving All Animals, Parkinson's Resource Organization, Coachella Valley Symphony and many more. Lee is survived by his son Christian Ames and his wife Heidi, daughter Amber Ames and her life partner Dani Doyle, step-daughter Tanya Martin and step-grandson Jake Trefry, and his loving wife DeAnn Lubell-Ames.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice . Memorial services will be held at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church located at 47-535 Highway 74 in Palm Desert, CA on Saturday, November 7, 2015 starting at 11:30 a.m.
Leon "Lee" Ames Jr. of Rancho Mirage, CA died peacefully at home of cancer on Thursday, October 1, 2015. A native of Southern California, he was born on May 12, 1943 in Hollywood to parents Leon and Christine. His father, Leon Ames, was not only a well-respected stage and movie actor, but one of the founding fathers of the Screen Actors Guild and the owner of several Los Angeles car dealerships.
Lee was raised in the San Fernando Valley where he attended Carpenter Elementary School and Harvard Military School. A popular classman among his peers, Lee was elected president of his senior class. He cherished childhood days and early years with his close friends and family - who lovingly called him Snooker. After graduating from the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, he served four years in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam conflict. Lee then married and traveled to New York City where he appeared on Broadway in the hit play "Forty Carats" with Zsa Zsa Gabor and Tom Poston.
Still employed by producer David Merrick, he assisted stage manager, James Burrows and understudied Tommy Lee Jones in the Abe Burrow's comedy "Four on a Garden" starring Carol Channing and Sid Caesar. Lee toured the dinner theatre circuit with "Forty Carats" throughout Texas and Florida. A popular personality on television and radio, Lee was known for his energetic automobile commercials around the country. He ultimately purchased a Ford dealership in Texas. After 30 years in the retail automobile business, Lee returned to California to semi-retire in Indian Wells and La Quinta where he continued to act, write, emcee charity events, appear in commercials and practice real estate with Keller Williams.
His local involvement included the male lead in the popular play Love Letters benefiting non-profits; co-host of a public affairs television show Time Warner Cares; and several appearances as an announcer and emcee for organizations such as Angel View, ACT for MS, American Cancer Society, Gilda's Club, Loving All Animals, Parkinson's Resource Organization, Coachella Valley Symphony and many more. Lee is survived by his son Christian Ames and his wife Heidi, daughter Amber Ames and her life partner Dani Doyle, step-daughter Tanya Martin and step-grandson Jake Trefry, and his loving wife DeAnn Lubell-Ames.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice . Memorial services will be held at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church located at 47-535 Highway 74 in Palm Desert, CA on Saturday, November 7, 2015 starting at 11:30 a.m.
Lee was raised in the San Fernando Valley where he attended Carpenter Elementary School and Harvard Military School. A popular classman among his peers, Lee was elected president of his senior class. He cherished childhood days and early years with his close friends and family - who lovingly called him Snooker. After graduating from the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, he served four years in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam conflict. Lee then married and traveled to New York City where he appeared on Broadway in the hit play "Forty Carats" with Zsa Zsa Gabor and Tom Poston.
Still employed by producer David Merrick, he assisted stage manager, James Burrows and understudied Tommy Lee Jones in the Abe Burrow's comedy "Four on a Garden" starring Carol Channing and Sid Caesar. Lee toured the dinner theatre circuit with "Forty Carats" throughout Texas and Florida. A popular personality on television and radio, Lee was known for his energetic automobile commercials around the country. He ultimately purchased a Ford dealership in Texas. After 30 years in the retail automobile business, Lee returned to California to semi-retire in Indian Wells and La Quinta where he continued to act, write, emcee charity events, appear in commercials and practice real estate with Keller Williams.
His local involvement included the male lead in the popular play Love Letters benefiting non-profits; co-host of a public affairs television show Time Warner Cares; and several appearances as an announcer and emcee for organizations such as Angel View, ACT for MS, American Cancer Society, Gilda's Club, Loving All Animals, Parkinson's Resource Organization, Coachella Valley Symphony and many more. Lee is survived by his son Christian Ames and his wife Heidi, daughter Amber Ames and her life partner Dani Doyle, step-daughter Tanya Martin and step-grandson Jake Trefry, and his loving wife DeAnn Lubell-Ames.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice . Memorial services will be held at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church located at 47-535 Highway 74 in Palm Desert, CA on Saturday, November 7, 2015 starting at 11:30 a.m.
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