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.
Known for
Acting104
movieKubanisch rauchen
1999
Waranovsky
movieDie Bräute
1998
Rutte
tvMedicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt
1998
Francesco Del la Ribiola
movieOcchioPinocchio
1994
Lo psichiatra
tvInspector Rex
1994
Nachbar
movieFear of Heights
1994
Vater Gusenleitner
movieOdd Jobs
1986
Don Carlucci
movieFrightmare
1983
Wolfgang
movieAirplane II: The Sequel
1982
Moscow Anchorman
movieGoing Ape!
1981
Zebrewski
tvKarl May
1977
Klotz-Sello
tvSwitch
1975
Prince Dimitri Marenka
Verurteilt 1910
1974
Regierungsrat Stukart
movieGenesis II
1973
Overseer
movieThe World's Greatest Athlete
1973
Dr. Gottlieb
movieHammersmith Is Out
1972
Dr. Krodt
tvDer schwarze Graf
1970
Amschel Talmeier
movieDeath Knocks Twice
1969
Peppe Mangano
movieThe Maltese Bippy
1969
Axel Kronstadt
movieA Fine Pair
1968
Chief Wellman
movieLucrezia
1968
Alessandro VI
movieThe Perils of Pauline
1967
Commissar
movieGuns for San Sebastian
1967
Vicar General
movieDouble Trouble
1967
Inspector de Groote
tvThe Monkees
1966
Nicolai
movieWhat Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
1966
Colonel Kastorp
movieDo Not Disturb
1965
Langsdorf
tvThe F.B.I.
1965
Arnold Bebenek
tvHogan's Heroes
1965
Burkhalter
tvHoney West
1965
The Count
tvDaniel Boone
1964
Roquelin
tvThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
Marvin Elom / David X. Machina
tvThe Outer Limits
1963
Shop Superintendent
movieLulu
1962
Medizinalrat Dr. Goll
movieOne, Two, Three
1961
Peripetchikoff
movieBlind Justice
1961
Dr. Leupold
movieAlways Trouble with the Bed
1961
Luigi Papagallo
Towarisch
1961
Dimitri Gorotschenko
movieBis dass das Geld euch scheidet…
1960
Anwalt Dr. Plauert
moviePension Schöller
1960
Fritz Bernhardi
Entscheidung
1959
Lajos Morva
movieRebel Flight to Cuba
1959
General Cordobas
movieThe Peter Tchaikovsky Story
1959
Anton Rubinstein
movieThe Last Blitzkrieg
1959
Sergeant Steiner
tvMatinee Theater
1955
General Rabat
movieSpy Chasers
1955
Alex Baxis
movieValley of the Kings
1954
Valentine Arko, Antique Dealer
movieSecret of the Incas
1954
Anton Marcu
movieKnock on Wood
1954
Laslo Gromeck
movieThe Veils of Bagdad
1953
Pasha Hammam
Three Lives
1953
Dr. Stein
movieThe Robe
1953
Abidor
movieChina Venture
1953
Wu King
movieSouth Sea Woman
1953
Pierre Marchand
movieDesert Legion
1953
Major Vasil
movieRoad to Bali
1952
King Ramayana
tvBiff Baker U.S.A.
1952
Reicher
tvAdventures of Superman
1952
Prime Minister Frederick Vallen
movieAssignment: Paris
1952
Franz (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Gustave / Felix Bassenak / Mike Czerny
Writing1
movieImmediate Call
1939
Writer