Leila Ernst (July 28, 1920 â€" May 26, 1970) was an American Broadway
actress. Her Broadway debut was in the 1939 production Too Many Girls.
She also had a role in the film Life with Henry.Ernst was born on July
28, 1920, in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. She had two younger brothers. She
attended school in Europe and according to her, "I'd probably been
better off in a school right here at home." Her family did not approve
of her becoming an actress, enrolling in a drama school, and joining
the Mercury Theater Group. Ernst did multiple jobs including nailing
scenery and delivering posters by driving the company's Ford Model
T.Her first role was in the 1939 Broadway production Too Many Girls,
directed by George Abbott. Ernst said that she tried to have an
audition for Abbott for months, but that Abbott had trouble arranging
it. Actor Eddie Bracken said that he would tell Abbott about her after
hearing her sing and he later sent a note to Ernst which stated that
Abbott did not want to see her, but for her to come anyway. With the
help of a stage carpenter who played the piano for her and
encouragement from Bracken to run out there, Ernst barged into a dance
audition that Abbott was holding to sing and dance for him. Abbott
gave Ernst the role and she signed a contract for $40 a week for Too
Many Girls.Two months after her role in Too Many Girls, Paramount
Pictures asked her to travel to Hollywood for a screen test for a role
in a then untitled film in the Henry Aldrich film series. The screen
test cost $1,200 and had a film crew of 24. It had no audio. Ernst and
Jackie Cooper were told by the director Theodore Reed to ad lib as if
there were no film crew surrounding them. She starred in the 1941 film
Life with Henry directed by Reed which was the second film in the
Henry Aldrich film series.
actress. Her Broadway debut was in the 1939 production Too Many Girls.
She also had a role in the film Life with Henry.Ernst was born on July
28, 1920, in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. She had two younger brothers. She
attended school in Europe and according to her, "I'd probably been
better off in a school right here at home." Her family did not approve
of her becoming an actress, enrolling in a drama school, and joining
the Mercury Theater Group. Ernst did multiple jobs including nailing
scenery and delivering posters by driving the company's Ford Model
T.Her first role was in the 1939 Broadway production Too Many Girls,
directed by George Abbott. Ernst said that she tried to have an
audition for Abbott for months, but that Abbott had trouble arranging
it. Actor Eddie Bracken said that he would tell Abbott about her after
hearing her sing and he later sent a note to Ernst which stated that
Abbott did not want to see her, but for her to come anyway. With the
help of a stage carpenter who played the piano for her and
encouragement from Bracken to run out there, Ernst barged into a dance
audition that Abbott was holding to sing and dance for him. Abbott
gave Ernst the role and she signed a contract for $40 a week for Too
Many Girls.Two months after her role in Too Many Girls, Paramount
Pictures asked her to travel to Hollywood for a screen test for a role
in a then untitled film in the Henry Aldrich film series. The screen
test cost $1,200 and had a film crew of 24. It had no audio. Ernst and
Jackie Cooper were told by the director Theodore Reed to ad lib as if
there were no film crew surrounding them. She starred in the 1941 film
Life with Henry directed by Reed which was the second film in the
Henry Aldrich film series.
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