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