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Leon Askin
Actor

Leon Askin

18 Sep 1907Born
3 Jun 2005Died
97Age at death
103Credits

Biography

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.

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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.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 103 credits.

  1. 2001Ene mene muh – und tot bist duFilm
  2. 1999Kubanisch rauchenFilm: Waranovsky
  3. 1998Die BräuteFilm: Rutte
  4. 1998Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu TodeFilm
  5. 1998Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zähltSeries: Francesco Del la Ribiola (1 episode)
  6. 1996Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische FernsehgeschichteSeries: alter Adler (2 episodes)
  7. 1996Glück auf RatenFilm
  8. 1995Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische FernsehgeschichteFilm: alter Adler
  9. 1995Deadly LoveFilm
  10. 1994OcchioPinocchioFilm: Lo psichiatra
  11. 1994Inspector RexSeries: Nachbar (1 episode)
  12. 1994Fear of HeightsFilm: Vater Gusenleitner
  13. 1994Hitler Stole My IdeasFilm
  14. 1986Odd JobsFilm: Don Carlucci
  15. 1985Savage IslandFilm: Luker
  16. 1985First StrikeFilm
  17. 1983FrightmareFilm: Wolfgang
  18. 1982Airplane II: The SequelFilm: Moscow Anchorman
  19. 1981Going Ape!Film: Zebrewski
  20. 1977Three's CompanySeries (1 episode)
  21. 1977Meeting of MindsSeries (4 episodes)
  22. 1975SwitchSeries: Prince Dimitri Marenka (1 episode)
  23. 1975Parapsycho: Spectrum of FearFilm
  24. 1975Die gelbe NachtigallFilm: Jason
  25. 1974Karl MaySeries: Klotz-Sello (2 episodes)
  26. 1974Paul Sand in Friends and LoversSeries (1 episode)
  27. 1974Verurteilt 1910Film: Regierungsrat Stukart
  28. 1974Perahim - die zweite ChanceFilm
  29. 1974Happy DaysSeries (1 episode)
  30. 1973Doctor Death: Seeker of SoulsFilm: Thor
  31. 1973Genesis IIFilm: Overseer
  32. 1973The World's Greatest AthleteFilm: Dr. Gottlieb
  33. 1972Hammersmith Is OutFilm: Dr. Krodt
  34. 1970Der schwarze GrafSeries: Amschel Talmeier (24 episodes)
  35. 1969Death Knocks TwiceFilm: Peppe Mangano
  36. 1969The Maltese BippyFilm: Axel Kronstadt
  37. 1968A Fine PairFilm: Chief Wellman
  38. 1968God's Police PatrolFilm: Felix
  39. 1968LucreziaFilm: Alessandro VI
  40. 1968The Wicked Dreams of Paula SchultzFilm: Oscar
  41. 1967The Perils of PaulineFilm: Commissar
  42. 1967The Caper of the Golden BullsFilm: Morchek
  43. 1967Guns for San SebastianFilm: Vicar General
  44. 1967Double TroubleFilm: Inspector de Groote
  45. 1966Mission: ImpossibleSeries: Riva (1 episode)
  46. 1966The MonkeesSeries: Nicolai (1 episode)
  47. 1966Felony SquadSeries (1 episode)
  48. 1966It's About TimeSeries (1 episode)
  49. 1966What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?Film: Colonel Kastorp
  50. 1965Do Not DisturbFilm: Langsdorf
  51. 1965The F.B.I.Series: Arnold Bebenek (1 episode)
  52. 1965Hogan's HeroesSeries: General Burkhalter (64 episodes)
  53. 1965Honey WestSeries: The Count (1 episode)
  54. 1965John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!Film: Samir
  55. 1964Daniel BooneSeries: Roquelin (1 episode)
  56. 1964The Man from U.N.C.L.E.Series: Marvin Elom, David X. Machina (1 episode)
  57. 1963The Outer LimitsSeries: Shop Superintendent (1 episode)
  58. 1962Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly NecklaceFilm: Charles
  59. 1962General Electric TrueSeries (1 episode)
  60. 1962Saints and SinnersSeries: Baron (1 episode)
  61. 1962The Testament of Dr. MabuseFilm: Flocke
  62. 1962LuluFilm: Medizinalrat Dr. Goll
  63. 1961One, Two, ThreeFilm: Peripetchikoff
  64. 1961Blind JusticeFilm: Dr. Leupold
  65. 1961Always Trouble with the BedFilm: Luigi Papagallo
  66. 1961TowarischFilm: Dimitri Gorotschenko
  67. 1960Weit ist der WegFilm: Luiz
  68. 1960Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…Film: Anwalt Dr. Plauert
  69. 1960Pension SchöllerFilm: Fritz Bernhardi
  70. 1960Der Traum des Mr. BortonFilm: Martin Borton
  71. 1960Mistress of the World - Part IIFilm: Fernando
  72. 1960Mistress of the World - Part IFilm: Fernando
  73. 1959Die Irre von ChaillotFilm: Präsident
  74. 1959EntscheidungFilm: Lajos Morva
  75. 1959Rebel Flight to CubaFilm: General Cordobas
  76. 1959Der Mann im ManneFilm: Ed Keller
  77. 1959The Peter Tchaikovsky StoryFilm: Anton Rubinstein
  78. 1959The Last BlitzkriegFilm: Sergeant Steiner
  79. 1958Der SchinderhannesFilm
  80. 1956Tales of the 77th Bengal LancersSeries (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.