Leon Askin
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Sep 18, 1907
- Died
- Jun 3, 2005 (aged 97)
- Place of birth
- Vienna, Austria
- Credits
- 104
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
Filmography
Ene mene muh – und tot bist du
2001Movie
Kubanisch rauchen
1999Movie
Waranovsky
Die Bräute
1998Movie
Rutte
Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu Tode
1998Movie
Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt
1998TV
Francesco Del la Ribiola
Leon Askin - (Über)Leben und Schauspiel. Private Anmerkungen
1997Movie
Himself
Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
1996TV
alter Adler
Glück auf Raten
1996Movie
Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
1995Movie
alter Adler
Deadly Love
1995Movie
OcchioPinocchio
1994Movie
Lo psichiatra
Inspector Rex
1994TV
Nachbar
Fear of Heights
1994Movie
Vater Gusenleitner
Hitler Stole My Ideas
1994Movie
Odd Jobs
1986Movie
Don Carlucci
Savage Island
1985Movie
Luker
First Strike
1985Movie
Frightmare
1983Movie
Wolfgang
Airplane II: The Sequel
1982Movie
Moscow Anchorman
Going Ape!
1981Movie
Zebrewski
Three's Company
1977TV
Meeting of Minds
1977TV
Switch
1975TV
Prince Dimitri Marenka
Parapsycho: Spectrum of Fear
1975Movie
Die gelbe Nachtigall
1975Movie
Jason
Karl May
1974TV
Klotz-Sello
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
1974TV
Verurteilt 1910
1974Movie
Regierungsrat Stukart
Perahim - die zweite Chance
1974Movie
Happy Days
1974TV
Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls
1973Movie
Thor
Genesis II
1973Movie
Overseer
The World's Greatest Athlete
1973Movie
Dr. Gottlieb
Hammersmith Is Out
1972Movie
Dr. Krodt
Der schwarze Graf
1970TV
Amschel Talmeier
Death Knocks Twice
1969Movie
Peppe Mangano
The Maltese Bippy
1969Movie
Axel Kronstadt
A Fine Pair
1968Movie
Chief Wellman
God's Police Patrol
1968Movie
Felix
Lucrezia
1968Movie
Alessandro VI
The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz
1968Movie
Oscar
The Perils of Pauline
1967Movie
Commissar
The Caper of the Golden Bulls
1967Movie
Morchek
Guns for San Sebastian
1967Movie
Vicar General
Double Trouble
1967Movie
Inspector de Groote
Mission: Impossible
1966TV
Riva
The Monkees
1966TV
Nicolai
Felony Squad
1966TV
It's About Time
1966TV
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
1966Movie
Colonel Kastorp
Do Not Disturb
1965Movie
Langsdorf
The F.B.I.
1965TV
Arnold Bebenek
Hogan's Heroes
1965TV
General Burkhalter
Honey West
1965TV
The Count
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
1965Movie
Samir
Daniel Boone
1964TV
Roquelin
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964TV
Marvin Elom, David X. Machina
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963TV
The Outer Limits
1963TV
Shop Superintendent
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
1962Movie
Charles
General Electric True
1962TV
Saints and Sinners
1962TV
Baron
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
1962Movie
Flocke
Lulu
1962Movie
Medizinalrat Dr. Goll
One, Two, Three
1961Movie
Peripetchikoff
Blind Justice
1961Movie
Dr. Leupold
Always Trouble with the Bed
1961Movie
Luigi Papagallo
Towarisch
1961Movie
Dimitri Gorotschenko
Weit ist der Weg
1960Movie
Luiz
Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…
1960Movie
Anwalt Dr. Plauert
Pension Schöller
1960Movie
Fritz Bernhardi
Der Traum des Mr. Borton
1960Movie
Martin Borton
Mistress of the World - Part II
1960Movie
Fernando
Mistress of the World - Part I
1960Movie
Fernando
Die Irre von Chaillot
1959Movie
Präsident
Entscheidung
1959Movie
Lajos Morva
Rebel Flight to Cuba
1959Movie
General Cordobas
Der Mann im Manne
1959Movie
Ed Keller
The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
1959Movie
Anton Rubinstein
The Last Blitzkrieg
1959Movie
Sergeant Steiner
Der Schinderhannes
1958Movie
Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
1956TV
Telephone Time
1956TV
Matinee Theater
1955TV
General Rabat
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955TV
Spy Chasers
1955Movie
Alex Baxis
Carolina Cannonball
1955Movie
Otto
Studio 57
1954TV
Valley of the Kings
1954Movie
Valentine Arko, Antique Dealer
Secret of the Incas
1954Movie
Anton Marcu
Knock on Wood
1954Movie
Laslo Gromeck
The Man Behind the Badge
1953TV
Leon
The Veils of Bagdad
1953Movie
Pasha Hammam
Three Lives
1953Movie
Dr. Stein
The Robe
1953Movie
Abidor
China Venture
1953Movie
Wu King
South Sea Woman
1953Movie
Pierre Marchand
Desert Legion
1953Movie
Major Vasil
Road to Bali
1952Movie
King Ramayana
Biff Baker U.S.A.
1952TV
Reicher
Adventures of Superman
1952TV
Prime Minister Frederick Vallen
Assignment: Paris
1952Movie
Franz (uncredited)
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951TV
Drobash
Lux Video Theatre
1950TV
Gustave, Felix Bassenak, Mike Czerny