Leslie Harrington

Leslie Harrington was a fictional character in the novel and movie Peyton Place as well as its TV Series of the same name. In the movie, Leslie was played by actor Leon Ames.

Leslie was the richest man in the community of Peyton Place, New Hampshire. He was the owner of the Cumberland Mills (in the movie, it was called the Harrington Woolen Mills), the community's textile plant and main employer in town. He was a widower, his wife, Elizabeth Fuller Harrington, had died; and had a son named Rodney Harrington.

He had courted Elizabeth, even though she had been engaged to Seth Buswell, who later became the editor of the town's newspaper. Elizabeth died while giving birth to Rodney. He and his son had a fine relationship, and he raised him as a single father. When Rodney was accused by amoral Betty Anderson of getting her pregnant, he tried to buy her off with a sum of $250. He was also assessed a sum of $2,500 when Kathy Ellsworth lost her left arm while she fell over into the mechanics of a fun house at a carnival he owned.

Leslie was known for having a compulsive need to win at absolutely everything. He allowed Rodney to run wild, which did not meet with Peyton Place's approval. Everyone else thought that Rodney was always getting away with too much; but mostly they didn't question him. Mainly because, Leslie was the chairman of the board of trustees of the Citizens National Bank, the main bank in Peyton Place, and could and would yank mortgages from people who displeased him. He was also the head of the Peyton Place School Board; and he was the one who brought Michael Rossi into town to become the headmaster.

Everyone tolerated Leslie, although the town hoped dearly that he would receive his comeuppance. He did, in more ways than one, when Rodney died in a car crash. That tragedy knocked the fire out of Peyton Place's leading citizen.

He later on realized that Betty had given birth to his grandson, Roddy. He grew to love Roddy and he spoiled him as unabashedly as he had spoiled his father. Although he had lost a lot of his power; he was still unquestionably, the wealthiest and most powerful citizen of Peyton Place.