Leon Askin
Age: N/A | From: Vienna, Austria
Person Details
Birthday:
Aliases: Leo Aschkenasy
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Vienna, Austria
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 37
TV Involvements: 15
Most Famous Work
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.
Most Famous Work
Matinee Theater
(1955) General Rabat
The Outer Limits
(1963) Shop Superintendent
Lux Video Theatre
(1950) Felix Bassenak
Inspector Rex
(1994) Nachbar
Daniel Boone
(1964) Roquelin
The Robe
(1953) Abidor
Switch
(1975) Prince Dimitri Marenka
Honey West
(1965) The CountActing
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | N/A | |
| 1999 | Waranovsky | |
| 1998 | Rutte | |
| N/A | ||
| Francesco Del la Ribiola | ||
| 1997 | Himself | |
| 1996 | N/A | |
| 1995 | alter Adler | |
| N/A | ||
| 1994 | Nachbar | |
| Vater Gusenleitner | ||
| N/A | ||
| 1993 | Lo psichiatra | |
| 1986 | Don Carlucci | |
| 1985 | Luker | |
| N/A | ||
| 1981 | Wolfgang | |
| Zebrewski | ||
| 1977 | N/A | |
| N/A | ||
| Klotz-Sello | ||
| 1975 | Prince Dimitri Marenka | |
| N/A | ||
| Jason | ||
| 1974 | N/A | |
| N/A | ||
| Regierungsrat Stukart | ||
| N/A | ||
| N/A | ||
| 1973 | Thor | |
| Overseer | ||
| 1972 | Dr. Krodt | |
| 1970 | Amschel Talmeier | |
| 1969 | Peppe Mangano | |
| Axel Kronstadt | ||
| 1968 | Chief Wellman | |
| Felix | ||
| Alessandro VI | ||
| Vicar General | ||
| Oscar | ||
| 1967 | Commissar | |
| Morchek | ||
| Inspector de Groote | ||
| 1966 | N/A | |
| N/A | ||
| N/A | ||
| N/A | ||
| Colonel Kastorp | ||
| 1965 | Langsdorf | |
| Arnold Bebenek | ||
| General Burkhalter | ||
| The Count | ||
| Samir | ||
| 1964 | Roquelin | |
| 1963 | N/A | |
| Shop Superintendent | ||
| 1962 | Charles | |
| N/A | ||
| Baron | ||
| Flocke | ||
| Medizinalrat Dr. Goll | ||
| 1961 | Peripetchikoff | |
| Dr. Leupold | ||
| Luigi Papagallo | ||
| Dimitri Gorotschenko | ||
| 1960 | Luiz | |
| Anwalt Dr. Plauert | ||
| Fritz Bernhardi | ||
| Martin Borton | ||
| Fernando | ||
| Fernando | ||
| 1959 | Präsident | |
| Lajos Morva | ||
| Ed Keller | ||
| Anton Rubinstein | ||
| Sergeant Steiner | ||
| General Cordobas | ||
| 1958 | N/A | |
| 1956 | N/A | |
| N/A | ||
| 1955 | General Rabat | |
| N/A | ||
| Alex Baxis | ||
| Otto | ||
| 1954 | N/A | |
| Valentine Arko, Antique Dealer | ||
| Anton Marcu | ||
| Laslo Gromeck | ||
| 1953 | N/A | |
| Pasha Hammam | ||
| Abidor | ||
| Wu King | ||
| Pierre Marchand | ||
| Major Vasil | ||
| King Ramayana | ||
| Dr. Stein | ||
| 1952 | Reicher | |
| N/A | ||
| Franz (uncredited) | ||
| 1951 | Drobash | |
| N/A | ||
| 1950 | Gustave | |
| Mike Czerny | ||
| Felix Bassenak | ||
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
Writing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Writer | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
