Leon Askin

Acting

Born Sep 18, 1907

From Vienna, Austria

Died Jun 03, 2005

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.

Leon Askin

Known For

The Robe

Airplane II: The Sequel

One, Two, Three

What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

Guns for San Sebastian

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace

Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls

Frightmare

Going Ape!

Filmography — Acting

The Robe

Airplane II: The Sequel

One, Two, Three

What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

Guns for San Sebastian

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace

Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls

Frightmare

Going Ape!

The Perils of Pauline

Valley of the Kings

Do Not Disturb

Genesis II

The World's Greatest Athlete

Double Trouble

Road to Bali

Lulu

Mistress of the World - Part I

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse

China Venture

Odd Jobs

A Fine Pair

Assignment: Paris

Mistress of the World - Part II

South Sea Woman

The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz

Savage Island

Secret of the Incas

The Caper of the Golden Bulls

Knock on Wood

Hammersmith Is Out

Rebel Flight to Cuba

Death Knocks Twice

OcchioPinocchio

The Last Blitzkrieg

Blind Justice

The Maltese Bippy

Spy Chasers

The Veils of Bagdad

Three Lives

Der Schinderhannes

Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…

Carolina Cannonball

Die Bräute

Desert Legion

Perahim - die zweite Chance

Lucrezia

Die gelbe Nachtigall

Always Trouble with the Bed

Towarisch

Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu Tode

God's Police Patrol

First Strike

Kubanisch rauchen

The Peter Tchaikovsky Story

Parapsycho: Spectrum of Fear

Ene mene muh – und tot bist du

Deadly Love

Weit ist der Weg

Der Traum des Mr. Borton

Leon Askin - (Über)Leben und Schauspiel. Private Anmerkungen

Fear of Heights

Pension Schöller

Hitler Stole My Ideas

Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte

Verurteilt 1910