Acting
Leon Askin
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. 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.
Movies with Leon Askin
Airplane II: The Sequel
1982
The Robe
1953
One, Two, Three
1961
Double Trouble
1967
First Strike
1985
Guns for San Sebastian
1967
Savage Island
1985
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
1966
South Sea Woman
1953
Do Not Disturb
1965
Road to Bali
1952
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
1965
Secret of the Incas
1954
Odd Jobs
1986
Hammersmith Is Out
1972
Assignment: Paris
1952
Desert Legion
1953
Genesis II
1973
Going Ape!
1981
The Veils of Bagdad
1953
Death Knocks Twice
1969
Towarisch
1961
Fear of Heights
1994
Valley of the Kings
1954
The Maltese Bippy
1969
China Venture
1953
The World's Greatest Athlete
1973
The Perils of Pauline
1967
Mistress of the World - Part II
1960
Knock on Wood
1954
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
1962
Three Lives
1953
Die Bräute
1998
A Fine Pair
1968
Lulu
1962
Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
1995
Lucrezia
1968
Frightmare
1983
Kubanisch rauchen
1999
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
1962
Parapsycho: Spectrum of Fear
1975
Der Schinderhannes
1958
The Caper of the Golden Bulls
1967
The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz
1968
Verurteilt 1910
1974
The Last Blitzkrieg
1959
The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
1959
OcchioPinocchio
1994
Pension Schöller
1960
Ene mene muh – und tot bist du
2001
Spy Chasers
1955
Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls
1973
Mistress of the World - Part I
1960
Deadly Love
1995
God's Police Patrol
1968
Hitler Stole My Ideas
1994
Blind Justice
1961
Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…
1960
Der Traum des Mr. Borton
1960
Perahim - die zweite Chance
1974
Glück auf Raten
1996
Always Trouble with the Bed
1961
Die gelbe Nachtigall
1975
Rebel Flight to Cuba
1959
Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu Tode
1998
Weit ist der Weg
1960
Der Mann im Manne
1959
Die Irre von Chaillot
1959
Carolina Cannonball
1955
Entscheidung
1959
Leon Askin - (Über)Leben und Schauspiel. Private Anmerkungen
1997
TV Shows with Leon Askin
Mission: Impossible
1966
Hogan's Heroes
1965
Happy Days
1974
Daniel Boone
1964
Inspector Rex
1994
Matinee Theater
1955
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
The F.B.I.
1965
Three's Company
1977
The Monkees
1966
Telephone Time
1956
Switch
1975
The Outer Limits
1963
Honey West
1965
Felony Squad
1966
Studio 57
1954
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
Adventures of Superman
1952
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
The Man Behind the Badge
1953
Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt
1998
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Saints and Sinners
1962
General Electric True
1962
It's About Time
1966
Biff Baker U.S.A.
1952
Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
1956
Karl May
1977
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
1974
Meeting of Minds
1977
Der schwarze Graf
1970
Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
1996