Cast & creator
Leon Askin
Best known for Mission: Impossible, Matinee Theater, Happy Days
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.
Also known as: Leo Aschkenasy
72
film credits
37
television credits
108
1939–2001 · acting roles
6.4
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (109)
Showing 109 of 109 credits
Mission: Impossible
Riva
1966
Matinee Theater
General Rabat
1955
Happy Days
1974Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
Hogan's Heroes
General Burkhalter
1965
The F.B.I.
Arnold Bebenek
1965
Daniel Boone
Roquelin
1964
Three's Company
1977
Inspector Rex
Nachbar
1994
The Outer Limits
Shop Superintendent
1963
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
The Monkees
Nicolai
1966
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Marvin Elom
1964The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
David X. Machina
1964
Switch
Prince Dimitri Marenka
1975
Studio 57
1954
Felony Squad
1966
Adventures of Superman
Prime Minister Frederick Vallen
1952
Telephone Time
1956
Honey West
The Count
1965Lux Video Theatre
Gustave
1950Lux Video Theatre
Mike Czerny
1950Lux Video Theatre
Felix Bassenak
1950
Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt
Francesco Del la Ribiola
1998
The Man Behind the Badge
Leon
1953
General Electric True
1962
Airplane II: The Sequel
Moscow Anchorman
1982
Biff Baker U.S.A.
Reicher
1952
Saints and Sinners
Baron
1962
It's About Time
1966
Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
1956Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
1974
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Drobash
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Meeting of Minds
1977
The Robe
Abidor
1953
Secret of the Incas
Anton Marcu
1954
One, Two, Three
Peripetchikoff
1961
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
Colonel Kastorp
1966
Double Trouble
Inspector de Groote
1967
Genesis II
Overseer
1973
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Flocke
1962
Guns for San Sebastian
Vicar General
1967
Do Not Disturb
Langsdorf
1965
Valley of the Kings
Valentine Arko, Antique Dealer
1954Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
alter Adler
1996
Fear of Heights
Vater Gusenleitner
1994
Der schwarze Graf
Amschel Talmeier
1970
Road to Bali
King Ramayana
1952
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
Samir
1965
The World's Greatest Athlete
Dr. Gottlieb
1973
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
Charles
1962
A Fine Pair
Chief Wellman
1968
Going Ape!
Zebrewski
1981
Assignment: Paris
Franz (uncredited)
1952
Death Knocks Twice
Peppe Mangano
1969
Karl May
Klotz-Sello
1974
The Perils of Pauline
Commissar
1967
The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz
Oscar
1968
Frightmare
Wolfgang
1983
The Caper of the Golden Bulls
Morchek
1967
South Sea Woman
Pierre Marchand
1953
The Veils of Bagdad
Pasha Hammam
1953
Knock on Wood
Laslo Gromeck
1954
Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls
Thor
1973
Ene mene muh – und tot bist du
2001
Die Bräute
Rutte
1998
Always Trouble with the Bed
Luigi Papagallo
1961
Savage Island
Luker
1985
Kubanisch rauchen
Waranovsky
1999Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
alter Adler
1995
First Strike
1985
Hammersmith Is Out
Dr. Krodt
1972
Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…
Anwalt Dr. Plauert
1960
Desert Legion
Major Vasil
1953
Mistress of the World - Part II
Fernando
1960
Blind Justice
Dr. Leupold
1961
Parapsycho: Spectrum of Fear
1975
Rebel Flight to Cuba
General Cordobas
1959
The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
Anton Rubinstein
1959
Mistress of the World - Part I
Fernando
1960
The Maltese Bippy
Axel Kronstadt
1969Three Lives
Dr. Stein
1953
China Venture
Wu King
1953
Odd Jobs
Don Carlucci
1986Perahim - die zweite Chance
1974Towarisch
Dimitri Gorotschenko
1961
Lulu
Medizinalrat Dr. Goll
1962Verurteilt 1910
Regierungsrat Stukart
1974
Weit ist der Weg
Luiz
1960
Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu Tode
1998
Lucrezia
Alessandro VI
1968Der Traum des Mr. Borton
Martin Borton
1960
The Last Blitzkrieg
Sergeant Steiner
1959
Hitler Stole My Ideas
1994
Spy Chasers
Alex Baxis
1955Der Mann im Manne
Ed Keller
1959Die Irre von Chaillot
Präsident
1959
OcchioPinocchio
Lo psichiatra
1994
Pension Schöller
Fritz Bernhardi
1960Leon Askin - (Über)Leben und Schauspiel. Private Anmerkungen
Himself
1997Die gelbe Nachtigall
Jason
1975
Carolina Cannonball
Otto
1955
God's Police Patrol
Felix
1968
Der Schinderhannes
1958
Immediate Call
Writer
1939Glück auf Raten
1996Entscheidung
Lajos Morva
1959