Leon Askin
Acting
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.
TV Shows(33)
Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt
Francesco Del la Ribiola
1998
Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
alter Adler
1996
Inspector Rex
Nachbar
1994
Three's Company
1977
Meeting of Minds
1977
Karl May
Klotz-Sello
1977
Switch
Prince Dimitri Marenka
1975
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
1974
Happy Days
1974
Der schwarze Graf
Amschel Talmeier
1970
Mission: Impossible
Riva
1966
The Monkees
Nicolai
1966
Felony Squad
1966
It's About Time
1966
The F.B.I.
Arnold Bebenek
1965
Hogan's Heroes
Burkhalter
1965
Honey West
The Count
1965
Daniel Boone
Roquelin
1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Marvin Elom
1964
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
The Outer Limits
Shop Superintendent
1963
General Electric True
1962
Saints and Sinners
Baron
1962
Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
1956
Telephone Time
1956
Matinee Theater
General Rabat
1955
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
Studio 57
1954
The Man Behind the Badge
1953
Biff Baker U.S.A.
Reicher
1952
Adventures of Superman
Prime Minister Frederick Vallen
1952
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Drobash
1951
Lux Video Theatre
Gustave
1950
Movies(71)
Ene mene muh – und tot bist du
2001
Kubanisch rauchen
Waranovsky
1999
Die Bräute
Rutte
1998
Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu Tode
1998
Leon Askin - (Über)Leben und Schauspiel. Private Anmerkungen
Himself
1997
Glück auf Raten
1996
Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
alter Adler
1995
Deadly Love
1995
OcchioPinocchio
Lo psichiatra
1994
Fear of Heights
Vater Gusenleitner
1994
Hitler Stole My Ideas
1994
Odd Jobs
Don Carlucci
1986
Savage Island
Luker
1985
First Strike
1985
Airplane II: The Sequel
Moscow Anchorman
1982
Frightmare
Wolfgang
1981
Going Ape!
Zebrewski
1981
Parapsycho: Spectrum of Fear
1975
Die gelbe Nachtigall
Jason
1975
Verurteilt 1910
Regierungsrat Stukart
1974
Perahim - die zweite Chance
1974
Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls
Thor
1973
Genesis II
Overseer
1973
The World's Greatest Athlete
Dr. Gottlieb
1973
Hammersmith Is Out
Dr. Krodt
1972
Death Knocks Twice
Peppe Mangano
1969
The Maltese Bippy
Axel Kronstadt
1969
A Fine Pair
Chief Wellman
1968
God's Police Patrol
Felix
1968
Lucrezia
Alessandro VI
1968
The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz
Oscar
1968
The Perils of Pauline
Commissar
1967
The Caper of the Golden Bulls
Morchek
1967
Guns for San Sebastian
Vicar General
1967
Double Trouble
Inspector de Groote
1967
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
Colonel Kastorp
1966
Do Not Disturb
Langsdorf
1965
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
Samir
1965
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
Charles
1962
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Flocke
1962
Lulu
Medizinalrat Dr. Goll
1962
One, Two, Three
Peripetchikoff
1961
Blind Justice
Dr. Leupold
1961
Always Trouble with the Bed
Luigi Papagallo
1961
Towarisch
Dimitri Gorotschenko
1961
Weit ist der Weg
Luiz
1960
Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…
Anwalt Dr. Plauert
1960
Pension Schöller
Fritz Bernhardi
1960
Der Traum des Mr. Borton
Martin Borton
1960
Mistress of the World - Part II
Fernando
1960
Mistress of the World - Part I
Fernando
1960
Die Irre von Chaillot
Präsident
1959
Entscheidung
Lajos Morva
1959
Rebel Flight to Cuba
General Cordobas
1959
Der Mann im Manne
Ed Keller
1959
The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
Anton Rubinstein
1959
The Last Blitzkrieg
Sergeant Steiner
1959
Der Schinderhannes
1958
Spy Chasers
Alex Baxis
1955
Carolina Cannonball
Otto
1955
Valley of the Kings
Valentine Arko, Antique Dealer
1954
Secret of the Incas
Anton Marcu
1954
Knock on Wood
Laslo Gromeck
1954
The Veils of Bagdad
Pasha Hammam
1953
Three Lives
Dr. Stein
1953
The Robe
Abidor
1953
China Venture
Wu King
1953
South Sea Woman
Pierre Marchand
1953
Desert Legion
Major Vasil
1953
Road to Bali
King Ramayana
1952
Assignment: Paris
Franz (uncredited)
1952