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Leon Askin
Actor, Director, Writer
Born September 18, 1907Died June 3, 2005 (97 years)
Leon Askin (Born: September 18, 1907, Vienna, Austria-Hungary (now Austria), Height 6ft [1.83m]) was an Austrian-American actor who enjoyed a successful career in both theater and television. He is best known for his portrayal of General Albert Burkhalter in the hit sitcom "Hogan's Heroes," a role he played for six seasons from 1965 to 1971. Born Leo Aschkenasy in Vienna, Austria, in 1907, Askin developed an interest in acting at a young age. He studied at the Max Reinhardt Seminar, a prestigious acting school in Vienna, and began his career on the stage in the early 1930s. With the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany, Askin, a Jew, was forced to flee Austria in 1938. He emigrated to the United States, where he continued to work in theater. He also began appearing in films and television shows, often playing villainous roles due to his imposing stature and commanding presence. Askin's most famous role came in 1965 when he was cast as General Burkhalter in "Hogan's Heroes." The show, which chronicled the exploits of a group of American prisoners of war running a secret operation from a German POW camp, was a huge success, and Askin became a household name. After "Hogan's Heroes" ended in 1971, Askin continued to work steadily in television and film. He appeared in numerous guest roles on popular shows such as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Rockford Files," and "Murder, She Wrote." He also had recurring roles on the soap operas "General Hospital" and "Santa Barbara."
Askin's film credits include such movies as "The Dirty Dozen," "The Night of the Generals," and "The Boys from Brazil." He also continued to work in theater throughout his career, appearing in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions. Askin remained active in acting well into his later years. He published an autobiography, "Quietude and Quest: Protagonists and Antagonists in the Theatre, on and Off Stage as Seen Through the Eyes of Leon Askin," in 1997. He also received numerous awards for his work, including the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art in 1988 and the Silver Cross of Honor in 1994.
Askin died in Vienna in 2005 at the age of 97. He is remembered as one of the most versatile and talented actors of his generation.
Askin's film credits include such movies as "The Dirty Dozen," "The Night of the Generals," and "The Boys from Brazil." He also continued to work in theater throughout his career, appearing in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions. Askin remained active in acting well into his later years. He published an autobiography, "Quietude and Quest: Protagonists and Antagonists in the Theatre, on and Off Stage as Seen Through the Eyes of Leon Askin," in 1997. He also received numerous awards for his work, including the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art in 1988 and the Silver Cross of Honor in 1994.
Askin died in Vienna in 2005 at the age of 97. He is remembered as one of the most versatile and talented actors of his generation.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 1999 | Smoking Cuban Style · as Waranovsky |
| 1998 | Medicopter 117 (TV Series) · as Francesco Del La Ribiola |
| 1994 | OcchioPinocchio · as Lo Psichiatra |
| 1994 | Inspector Rex (TV Series) · as Nachbar |
| 1994 | Fear of Heights · as Vater Gusenleitner |
| 1986 | Odd Jobs · as Don Carlucci |
| 1985 | Savage Island · as Luker |
| 1984 | |
| 1983 | Frightmare · as Wolfgang |
| 1982 | Airplane II: The Sequel · as Moscow Anchorman |
| 1981 | Going Ape! · as Zebrewski |
| 1979 | Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (TV Series) · as Additional Voices |
| 1978 | Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) · as Doshenko |
| 1977 | The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV Series) · as Haufman Berger |
| 1977 | Meeting of Minds (TV Series) |
| 1976 | Three's Company (TV Series) |
| 1976 | Visions (1976) (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1976 | Kottan ermittelt (TV Series) · as Rudolf Wasservogel |
| 1975 | |
| 1975 | Switch (TV Series) · as Prince Dimitri Marenka |
| 1974 | Young Frankenstein · as Herr Waldman |
| 1974 | Karl May · as Klotz-Sello |
| 1974 | Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (TV Series) |
| 1974 | Happy Days (TV Series) |
| 1973 | Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls · as Thor |
| 1973 | Genesis II · as Overseer |
| 1973 | The World's Greatest Athlete · as Dr. Gottlieb |
| 1972 | Hammersmith Is Out · as Dr. Krodt |
| 1971 | McMillan and Wife (TV Series) · as Ingo |
| 1970 | Der schwarze Graf (TV Series) · as Amschel Talmeier |
| 1969 | The Blonde Connection · as Peppe Mangano |
| 1969 | The Maltese Bippy · as Axel Kronstadt |
| 1968 | The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz · as Oscar |
| 1968 | A Fine Pair · as Chief Wellman |
| 1968 | Lucrezia · as Alessandro Vi |
| 1968 | Guns for San Sebastian · as Vicar General |
| 1968 | It Takes a Thief (TV Series) · as Boris Bolshoi |
| 1967 | The Perils of Pauline · as Commissar |
| 1967 | The Caper of the Golden Bulls · as Morchek |
| 1967 | Double Trouble · as Inspector De Groote |
| 1967 | Mr. Terrific (TV Series) · as Russian Agent |
| 1966 | What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? · as Colonel Kastorp |
| 1966 | Mission: Impossible (TV Series) · as Riva |
| 1966 | The Felony Squad (TV Series) |
| 1966 | It's About Time (TV Series) |
| 1965 | The Monkees (TV Series) |
| 1965 | Do Not Disturb · as Langsdorf |
| 1965 | Hogan's Heroes (TV Series) · as General Burkhalter |
| 1965 | Honey West (TV Series) · as The Count |
| 1965 | The F.B.I. (TV Series) · as Arnold Bebenek |
| 1965 | I Spy (TV Series) · as Boris |
| 1965 | John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! · as Samir |
| 1964 | Profiles in Courage (TV Series) · as Allbright |
| 1964 | Daniel Boone (TV Series) · as Roquelin |
| 1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series) · as David X. Machina |
| 1964 | The Rogues (TV Series) · as Willie |
| 1963 | My Favorite Martian (TV Series) · as Peter Minuit |
| 1963 | Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) |
| 1963 | The Outer Limits (TV Series) · as Shop Superintendent |
| 1963 | Vacation Playhouse (TV Series) · as Herr Futterman |
| 1962 | Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace · as Charles |
| 1962 | Saints and Sinners (TV Series) · as Baron |
| 1962 | The Terror of Doctor Mabuse · as Flocke |
| 1962 | Lulu · as Medizinalrat Dr. Goll |
| 1961 | One, Two, Three · as Peripetchikoff |
| 1961 | Blind Justice · as Dr. Leupold |
| 1961 | The Dick Powell Show (TV Series) · as Dr. Hoffman |
| 1961 | Immer Ärger mit dem Bett · as Luigi Papagallo |
| 1960 | Weit ist der Weg · as Luiz |
| 1960 | Mistress of the World · as Fernando |
| 1960 | Insight (TV Series) · as Nicolai |
| 1960 | Until Money Departs You · as Anwalt Dr. Plauert |
| 1960 | Pension Schöller · as Fritz Bernhardi |
| 1959 | Rebel Flight to Cuba · as General Cordobas |
| 1959 | The Last Blitzkrieg · as Sergeant Steiner |
| 1958 | |
| 1957 | Captain David Grief (TV Series) · as Hayes |
| 1957 | The Restless Gun (TV Series) · as Ollie Rowan |
| 1956 | Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers (TV Series) |
| 1956 | The Adventures of Hiram Holliday (TV Series) · as Drago |
| 1956 | The Charles Farrell Show (TV Series) · as Pierre |
| 1956 | Telephone Time (TV Series) |
| 1955 | Matinee Theater (TV Series) · as General Rabat |
| 1955 | The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV Series) |
| 1955 | Spy Chasers · as Alex Baxis |
| 1955 | Son of Sinbad · as Khalif |
| 1955 | Carolina Cannonball · as Otto |
| 1955 | TV Reader's Digest (TV Series) · as Portichenko |
| 1955 | Soldiers of Fortune (TV Series) · as Aga Dhur |
| 1954 | Superman in Exile · as Joseph Ferdinand |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Anton Rubinstein |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1954 | The Lineup (TV Series) · as Adolph Berger |
| 1954 | Studio 57 (TV Series) |
| 1954 | Valley of the Kings · as Valentine Arko, Antique Dealer |
| 1954 | Secret of the Incas · as Anton Marcu |
| 1954 | Knock on Wood · as Laslo Gromeck |
| 1953 | The Robe · as Abidor |
| 1953 | The Man Behind the Badge (TV Series) |
| 1953 | The Veils of Bagdad · as Pasha Hammam |
| 1953 | China Venture · as Wu King |
| 1953 | South Sea Woman · as Pierre Marchand |
| 1953 | Desert Legion · as Major Vasil |
| 1953 | Private Secretary (TV Series) · as Hungarian Chef |
| 1952 | Road to Bali · as King Ramayana |
| 1952 | Biff Baker USA (TV Series) · as Reicher |
| 1952 | Adventures of Superman (TV Series) · as Prime Minister Frederick Vallen |
| 1952 | Assignment: Paris · as Franz (uncredited) |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Drobash |
| 1951 | The Red Skelton Show (TV Series) · as Bartender |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Mike Czerny |
| 1950 | Rocky King, Detective (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1949 | Suspense (TV Series) · as Ramon |
| 1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Marcus |
| 1946 | Lights Out (TV Series) · as Cast |