Leon Askin
Acting • Born 1907-09-18 – Died 2005-06-03
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.
Filmography
107 credits
One, Two, Three
Movie • 1961
Peripetchikoff
Parapsycho: Spectrum of Fear
Movie • 1975
Road to Bali
Movie • 1952
King Ramayana
Secret of the Incas
Movie • 1954
Anton Marcu
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
Movie • 1966
Colonel Kastorp
The Robe
Movie • 1953
Abidor
Do Not Disturb
Movie • 1965
Langsdorf
Entscheidung
Movie • 1959
Lajos Morva
Guns for San Sebastian
Movie • 1967
Vicar General
Genesis II
Movie • 1973
Overseer
Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls
Movie • 1973
Thor
Knock on Wood
Movie • 1954
Laslo Gromeck
Frightmare
Movie • 1981
Wolfgang
Death Knocks Twice
Movie • 1969
Peppe Mangano
South Sea Woman
Movie • 1953
Pierre Marchand
Savage Island
Movie • 1985
Luker
Carolina Cannonball
Movie • 1955
Otto
Valley of the Kings
Movie • 1954
Valentine Arko, Antique Dealer
OcchioPinocchio
Movie • 1994
Lo psichiatra
Spy Chasers
Movie • 1955
Alex Baxis
Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…
Movie • 1960
Anwalt Dr. Plauert
Desert Legion
Movie • 1953
Major Vasil
The Caper of the Golden Bulls
Movie • 1967
Morchek
Mistress of the World - Part I
Movie • 1960
Fernando
Pension Schöller
Movie • 1960
Fritz Bernhardi
Weit ist der Weg
Movie • 1960
Luiz
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Movie • 1962
Flocke
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
Movie • 1962
Charles
Rebel Flight to Cuba
Movie • 1959
General Cordobas
Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
Movie • 1995
alter Adler
Fear of Heights
Movie • 1994
Vater Gusenleitner
Perahim - die zweite Chance
Movie • 1974
Blind Justice
Movie • 1961
Dr. Leupold
Der Traum des Mr. Borton
Movie • 1960
Martin Borton
Always Trouble with the Bed
Movie • 1961
Luigi Papagallo
The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz
Movie • 1968
Oscar
Mistress of the World - Part II
Movie • 1960
Fernando
Deadly Love
Movie • 1995
The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
Movie • 1959
Anton Rubinstein
Kubanisch rauchen
Movie • 1999
Waranovsky
Verurteilt 1910
Movie • 1974
Regierungsrat Stukart
First Strike
Movie • 1985
Airplane II: The Sequel
Movie • 1982
Moscow Anchorman
Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu Tode
Movie • 1998
The Last Blitzkrieg
Movie • 1959
Sergeant Steiner
Lulu
Movie • 1962
Medizinalrat Dr. Goll
The Veils of Bagdad
Movie • 1953
Pasha Hammam
The World's Greatest Athlete
Movie • 1973
Dr. Gottlieb
Hammersmith Is Out
Movie • 1972
Dr. Krodt
The Maltese Bippy
Movie • 1969
Axel Kronstadt
Double Trouble
Movie • 1967
Inspector de Groote
Lucrezia
Movie • 1968
Alessandro VI
Die gelbe Nachtigall
Movie • 1975
Jason
Die Bräute
Movie • 1998
Rutte
Ene mene muh – und tot bist du
Movie • 2001
Die Irre von Chaillot
Movie • 1959
Präsident
God's Police Patrol
Movie • 1968
Felix
Towarisch
Movie • 1961
Dimitri Gorotschenko
Glück auf Raten
Movie • 1996
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
Movie • 1965
Samir
Der Mann im Manne
Movie • 1959
Ed Keller
Hitler Stole My Ideas
Movie • 1994
Der Schinderhannes
Movie • 1958
A Fine Pair
Movie • 1968
Chief Wellman
Odd Jobs
Movie • 1986
Don Carlucci
Assignment: Paris
Movie • 1952
Franz (uncredited)
Going Ape!
Movie • 1981
Zebrewski
Leon Askin - (Über)Leben und Schauspiel. Private Anmerkungen
Movie • 1997
Himself
China Venture
Movie • 1953
Wu King
The Perils of Pauline
Movie • 1967
Commissar
Three Lives
Movie • 1953
Dr. Stein
Inspector Rex
TV • 1994
Nachbar
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Arnold Bebenek
It's About Time
TV • 1966
Happy Days
TV • 1974
Three's Company
TV • 1977
Hogan's Heroes
TV • 1965
Burkhalter
Mission: Impossible
TV • 1966
Riva
Saints and Sinners
TV • 1962
Baron
The Monkees
TV • 1966
Nicolai
Felony Squad
TV • 1966
Daniel Boone
TV • 1964
Roquelin
Switch
TV • 1975
Prince Dimitri Marenka
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Gustave
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Drobash
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV • 1963
Meeting of Minds
TV • 1977
Adventures of Superman
TV • 1952
Prime Minister Frederick Vallen
The 20th Century Fox Hour
TV • 1955
Matinee Theater
TV • 1955
General Rabat
Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
TV • 1956
Honey West
TV • 1965
The Count
General Electric True
TV • 1962
Telephone Time
TV • 1956
The Man Behind the Badge
TV • 1953
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
TV • 1974
Studio 57
TV • 1954
Biff Baker U.S.A.
TV • 1952
Reicher
Der schwarze Graf
TV • 1970
Amschel Talmeier
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Felix Bassenak
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Mike Czerny
The Outer Limits
TV • 1963
Shop Superintendent
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt
TV • 1998
Francesco Del la Ribiola
Karl May
TV • 1977
Klotz-Sello
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1964
Marvin Elom
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1964
David X. Machina