Philip Leacock

Director, Producer

8 October 1917 — 14 July 1990 (72 years)
Philip David Charles Leacock (8 October 1917 – 14 July 1990) was an English television and film director and producer. His brother was documentary filmmaker Richard Leacock.

Born in London, England, Leacock spent his childhood in the Canary Islands. He began his career directing documentaries and later turned to fiction films.

He was known for his films about children, particularly The Kidnappers (US: The Little Kidnappers, 1953), which gained Honorary Juvenile Acting Oscars for two of its performers, and The Spanish Gardener (1956) starring Dirk Bogarde. He also directed Innocent Sinners (1958) with Flora Robson, The Rabbit Trap (1959) with Ernest Borgnine, and The War Lover (1962) with Steve McQueen, based on John Hersey's novel about a World War II pilot.

He began to work mainly in Hollywood, where he made Take a Giant Step (1959) about a black youth's encounter with racism and Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960) about an aspiring young pianist whose mother is a drug addict. Around this time, he began to work in television, directing episodes of Gunsmoke, Route 66, The Waltons, The Defenders, and The New Land. He also directed many segments of the American series Eight Is Enough (1977–1981).

He retired in 1987 after directing a three-part television drama about the Salem witch hunts titled Three Sovereigns for Sister Sarah, which starred Vanessa Redgrave.

Leacock died while on vacation with his family in London on 14 July 1990.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Bonanza
    Bonanza2 seasons
  • Falcon Crest
    Falcon Crest9 seasons
  • Route 66
    Route 664 seasons
  • The F.B.I.
    The F.B.I.7 seasons
  • Danger Man
    Danger Man3 seasons
  • When Michael Calls
    When Michael Calls1972
  • Baffled!
    Baffled!1972
  • The Curse of King Tut's Tomb
    The Curse of King Tut's Tomb1980

Known For

  • Hawaii Five-O
    Hawaii Five-O12 seasons
  • The Waltons
    The Waltons9 seasons
  • Firecreek
    Firecreek1968
  • Gunsmoke
    Gunsmoke20 seasons
  • The War Lover
    The War Lover1962
  • The Wild Wild West
    The Wild Wild West4 seasons
  • Dynasty
    Dynasty9 seasons
  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
    Buck Rogers in the 25th Century2 seasons
  • Murder, She Wrote
    Murder, She Wrote12 seasons
  • The Spanish Gardener
    The Spanish Gardener1956
  • When Michael Calls
    When Michael Calls1972
  • 13 West Street
    13 West Street1962
  • Appointment in London
    Appointment in London1953
  • Eight Is Enough
    Eight Is Enough5 seasons
  • Fantasy Island
    Fantasy Island7 seasons
  • Family
    Family5 seasons
  • Let No Man Write My Epitaph
    Let No Man Write My Epitaph1960
  • The Mod Squad
    The Mod Squad5 seasons
  • Falcon Crest
    Falcon Crest9 seasons
  • The Paper Chase
    The Paper Chase4 seasons

Filmography

1972
BaffledOn Plex
1968
1968
1967
Cimarron Strip · as Executive Producer
1965
1955

1973
Grierson · as Self

1938
Behind the Spanish Lines · as Associate Editor