Allene Roberts (born September 1, 1928) is a retired American actress.Born in Fairfield Highlands, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, she starred in twelve movies between 1947 and 1954 and appeared on TV in Four Star Playhouse, The Adventures of Superman and Dragnet.Her first big picture was The Red House starring Rory Calhoun, Julie London and Edward G. Robinson. That movie was considered by the critics to be the 'sleeper hit' of the year. She starred in Knock on Any Door starring John Derek and Humphrey Bogart, and in Union Station with William Holden. As well other films, such as the serial Bomba on Panther Island (Monogram Pictures, 1949).She now resides in Huntsville, Alabama, the widow of Ralph Cochran; the couple had four children, John, Leslie, Julie and Laurie.
[on Scotty Beckett] Scotty was all right, I liked him. I thought he had beautiful eyes and I told him, 'Scotty, you have very pretty eyes,' and he laughed, 'Well, thank you. Nobody else ever said that to me before.' I said, 'Well, you do.'
2
I would say it was a very fortunate career for me. It was very fulfilling, I got to work with some wonderful people and I got to know good directors and I really enjoyed what I was doing.
3
I wanted a Christian man who dearly loved me and I wanted to have children and a lovely home...I wouldn't trade that for anything in this world.
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Fact
1
According to an in-depth article by Laura Wagner for the 2009 Fall Issue of Films of the Golden Age, Allene's aunt sent a photo to the New York Daily Mirror to compete for "America's Most Charming Child" and, out of some 85,000 entries, she won. Allene earned $1,000 dollars and a trip to New York to screen test with Warner Bros. studio.
2
The only daughter of four children born to Frank, an electrician, and Velma, a housewife, Allene expressed an early interest in acting. Her brothers were Frank, Arthur and Billy.
3
Attended an acting school on Sunset Boulevard for two years where she was discovered by a casting director. The connection eventually led to interviews and a strong role in The Red House (1947).
4
Sweet, shy, wholesome-looking, ash-blonde American lead and second lead actress who retired from films (1947-1955) within a decade for marriage.
5
Her mother, Velma, became a reliable seamstress at Fox Studios during Allene's Hollywood tenure.
Was once considered strongly for the role of Laurey in the film version of Oklahoma! (1955). Shirley Jones wound up with the role and early stardom.
8
Abandoned her career after marrying Ralph Cochran, who worked for a pharmaceutical company. They eventually returned to Alabama where they raised their four children: John, Leslie, Julie and Laurie.
9
Lived a very spiritual life during her Hollywood years and would turn down film roles that challenged her moral standards, which included the role of the unmarried pregnant woman in Ida Lupino's Not Wanted (1949). She also is said to have donated 10% of her earnings to her Baptist church.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Christophers
1957
TV Series
Emily
Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal
1957
TV Series
Nurse Betty
Dragnet
1952-1955
TV Series
Patricia Denvers / Elsie Bergstrum / Judy Scott / ...
Schlitz Playhouse
1953-1955
TV Series
Patricia Marsh / Joan
Four Star Playhouse
1954
TV Series
Lisa Collins
The Lone Wolf
1954
TV Series
Ellen Hallam
Public Defender
1954
TV Series
Janet Frazier / Nora
Your Favorite Story
1954
TV Series
Adventures of Superman
1952-1954
TV Series
Nancy Quinn / Maria Moleska / Alice Horne
Omnibus
1954
TV Series
Shark Wicks' daughter
City Detective
1954
TV Series
Betty
Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson
1954
TV Series
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
1953
TV Series
The Blazing Forest
1952
Milly (uncredited)
Thunderbirds
1952
Margie Hanford
Kid Monk Baroni
1952
Emily Brooks
The Hoodlum
1951
Rosa
Santa Fe
1951
Ella Sue Canfield
The Bigelow Theatre
1951
TV Series
Union Station
1950
Lorna Murchison
A Wonderful Life
1950
Short
Mary Wood
The Silver Theatre
1950
TV Series
Bomba on Panther Island
1949
Judy Maitland
Knock on Any Door
1949
Emma
Your Show Time
1949
TV Series
Michael O'Halloran
1948
Lily Nelson
The Sign of the Ram
1948
Jane St. Aubyn
The Red House
1947
Meg
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
$13 Million
