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Leon Askin Biography (1907-)

Born Leon Aschkenazy, September 18, 1907, in Vienna, Austria; emigrated to the United States, 1940, naturalized citizen, 1943; son of Samuel and Malvine (maiden name, Susman) Aschkenazy; married Annelies Ehrlich (a painter), April12, 1955; children: Dr. Irene Hartzell (step-daughter).

Askin told CTFT that he founded the Actors' Equity Community Theatre in 1948, was chairman of several committees for Equity Library Theatre between 1947-52, and is an honorary life director of that organization. Askin also organized and presented the National Artist Award to Fred Astaire, Henry Fonda, Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart and Roger Stevens and initiated the ANTA West/Hearst Discovery Theatre.

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

Austrian

Gender

Male

Occupation

Actor, director, producer, writer, accent coach

Birth Details

September 18, 1907

Vienna, Austria

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Stage Appearances
• Shylock, The Merchant of Venice, Broadway production, 1952
• Title role, Othello, Hamburg and Berlin, West Germany, 1957
• Idiots Delights, 1971
• Also appeared in Faust, Broadway production; Twentieth Century, Broadway production.
• Stage Director
• First Legion, Linz, Austria, 1935
• Troilus and Cressida, 1941
• The Apple Cart, Goethe Festival, 1948-49
• The American Way, Goethe Festival, 1948-49
• Faust, Goethe Festival, 1948-49
• The Merchant of Venice, 1952
• St. Joan, 1954
• Julius Caesar, 1960
• The Egg, 1975
• Fever in the Brain, 1980
• Film Appearances
• Ramayana, The Road to Bali, Paramount, 1952
• Franz, thug, Assignment: Paris (also known as European Edition), 1952
• Major Vasil, Desert Legion, 1953
• Abidor, The Robe, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1953
• Marchand, South Sea Woman (also known as Pearl of the South Pacific), 1953
• Pasha Hammam, The Veils of Bagdad, 1953
• Wu King, China Venture, 1953
• Gromeck, Knock on Wood, Goldwyn, 1954
• Valentine Arko, Valley of the Kings, 1954
• Ferdinand, Superman in Exile, 1954
• Anton Marcu, The Secret of the Incas, 1954
• Otto, Carolina Cannonball, 1955
• Khalif, Son of Sinbad (also known as Nights in a Harem), RKO Radio, 1955
• Colonel Alex Baxis, Spy Chasers, 1955
• Ludwig Teller, My Gun Is Quick, United Artists, 1958
• Rochus Eppelsheimer, Der Schinderhannes (also known as Duel inthe Forest), 1958
• Sergeant Steiner, The Last Blitzkrieg, 1958
• Abschied von den Wolken (also known as Angst im Nacken andRebel Flight to Cuba), 1959
• Fernando, Herrin der Welt-Teil I (also known as Die Formel desTodes-Teil I, Il Mistero dei tre continenti, Mistress of the World, and Les Mysteres d'Angkor), 1960
• Fernando, Herrin der Welt--Teil II (also known as Die Formel des Todes-Teil II), 1960
• Dr. Plaubert, Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet, 1960
• Weit ist der Weg, 1960
• Pension Schoeller, 1960
• Immer Aerger mit dem Bett (also known as Meine Frau, das Callgirl), 1961
• Dr. Leupold, Unter Asschluss der Oeffentlichkeit, 1961
• Peripetchikoff, One, Two, Three, United Artists, 1961
• Dr. Goll, Lulu, 1962
• Flocke, Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse (also known as The Last Will of Dr. Mabuse, The Terror of Doctor Mabuse, Terror of the Mad Doctor, and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse), 1962
• Charles, Sherlock Holmes und das Halsband des Todes (also known asSherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace, Sherlock Holmes et le collier de la mort, Sherlock Holmes la Valle del terrore, and Valley of Fear), 1962
• Samir, John Goldfarb, Please Come Home, 1965
• Langsdorf, Do Not Disturb, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1965
• Colonel Kastorp, What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?, 1966
• Morchek, The Caper of the Golden Bulls (also known as Carnivalof Thieves), 1966
• Inspector De Groote, Double Trouble, 1967
• Commisar, The Perils of Pauline, 1967
• Vicar General, Guns for San Sebastian (also known as La Bataille de San Sebastian, I Cannoni di San Sebastian, Los Canones deSan Sebastian, and Guns for San Sebastian), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968
• Oscar, The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz, 1968
• Lucrezia Borgia, 1968
• Chief Wellman, Ruba al prossimo tuo (also known as A Fine Pair), 1969
• Axel Kronstadt, The Maltese Bippy, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1969
• Pepe, Blonde Koeder fuer den Moerder (also known as Death Knocks Twice and La Morte bussa due volte), 1969
• Dr. Krodt, Hammersmith Is Out, Cinerama, 1972
• Dr. Gottlieb, The World's Greatest Athlete, 1973
• Thor, Dr. Death: Seeker of Souls, 1973
• Peraheim--die zweite Chance, 1974
• Klotz-Sello, Karl May, 1974
• Parapyscho-Spektrum der Angst, 1975
• Zebrewski, Going Ape!, Paramount, 1981
• Horror Star, 1982
• Moscow Anchorman, Airplane II: The Sequel (also known as FlyingHigh II), Paramount, 1982
• Wolfgang, Frightmare, 1982
• Don Carlucci, Odd Jobs, 1984
• Luker (US version), Savage Island, 1985
• Deshima, 1987
• The psychiatrist, OcchioPinocchio (also known as Occhio Pinocchio), 1994
• Vater Gusenleitner, Hoehenangst (also known as Fear of Heights), 1994
• Toedliche Liebe (also known as Deadly Love), 1995
• Waranovsky, Kubanisch rauchen (also known as Smoking Cuban Style), Einhorn-Film, 1999
• Film Work
• Accent coach, The Hotel New Hampshire, 1984
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Pierre, The Charlie Farrell Show, CBS and NBC, 1956-1960
• General Albert Burkhalter, Hogan's Heroes (also known as Hogan's Heroes on Prime), CBS, 1966-1971
• Scooby and Scrappy-Doo, 1979
• Movies
• Die Irre von Chaillot, 1960
• Overseer, Genesis II, 1973
• Glueck auf Raten (also known as Bliss by Installments), 1995
• Alter Adler, Die Fernsehsaga-Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte (also known as Die Fernsehsage and A Styrian Television Story), 1995
• Rutte, Die Braeute, 1997
• Episodic
• Joseph Ferdinand, "Superman in Exile," Adventures of Superman, 1953
• Prime Minister Vallen, "King for a Day," Adventures of Superman, 1954
• "The Shooting of Jett King," The Restless Gun, 1957
• "Plavonia, Hail and Farewell," The Rogues, 1964
• The Count, "The Abominable Snowman," Honey West, 1965
• Nicolai, "The Card Carrying Red Shoes," The Monkees, 1967
• "A Matter of Grey Matter: Parts 1 & 2," It Takes a Thief, 1969
• Riva, "Death Squad," Mission: Impossible, 1970
• "Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula: Parts 1 & 2," The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, 1977
• Professor Himmel, "Fearless Malph," Happy Days, 1978
• Mr. Hoffmeier, "The Bake-Off," Three's Company, 1979
• WRITINGS
• Cabarets
• Wrote cabaret performed in Paris, France, 1933-35.
• Other
• Quietude and Quest, 1989
• Contributor to periodicals, including the Los Angeles Times, Der Morgan, Die Furche, and University of Hamburg Arbeitstelle fur Exilliteratur.

Recent Updates

June 3, 2005: Askin died on June 3, 2005, in Vienna, Austria, of undisclosed causes. He was 97. Source: Entertainment Weekly, June 17, 2005, p. 22.