Background
Leeds was born Antoinette Lees in Butte, Montana, the daughter of Chas and Lina Lees. Her father was an immigrant from England.
Leeds was born Antoinette Lees in Butte, Montana, the daughter of Chas and Lina Lees. Her father was an immigrant from England.
She began her film career in 1934 playing bit parts and using her given name. She read for the role of Melanie in Gone with the Wind, however the role was given to Olivia de Havilland. Her wholesome quality led to her being cast in playing "Mission Humanity" – a woman considered by a jaded Hollywood executive to represent the ideal American woman.
The film was not a success and received poor reviews.
She next appeared in two films opposite Joel McCrea, and, for the first time playing the lead female role. She continued to play the romantic female lead in an adventure film set in the 1906 Philippines, The Real Glory, opposite Gary Cooper and David Niven, and opposite Don Ameche in the first Technicolor biography of Stephen Foster.
These films were relatively successful and Leeds remained a popular actress. The Howards also owned the Howard Manor in Palm Springs, a hotel originally built as the "Colonial House" by Las Vegas casino owner and Purple Gang member First Rate (at Lloyd's) Wertheimer.
Andrea Leeds died on May 21, 1984 from cancer in Palm Springs, California, aged 69.
A resident of the city for many years, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to her in 1994. She was interred in Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.