
Leon Askin
Born
September 18, 1907
Died
June 3, 2005 (97 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Vienna, Austria
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.
Known For

Ene mene muh – und tot bist du
2001

Kubanisch rauchen
Waranovsky
1999

Die Bräute
Rutte
1998

Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu Tode
1998

Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt
Francesco Del la Ribiola · (1 episode)
1998
Leon Askin - (Über)Leben und Schauspiel. Private Anmerkungen
Himself
1997
Glück auf Raten
1996
Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
alter Adler
1995
Deadly Love
1995

OcchioPinocchio
Lo psichiatra
1994

Inspector Rex
Nachbar · (1 episode)
1994

Fear of Heights
Vater Gusenleitner
1994

Hitler Stole My Ideas
1994

Odd Jobs
Don Carlucci
1986

Savage Island
Luker
1985

First Strike
1985

Airplane II: The Sequel
Moscow Anchorman
1982

Frightmare
Wolfgang
1981

Going Ape!
Zebrewski
1981

The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula (Parts 1 & 2)
Haufman Berger
1977

Three's Company
(1 episode)
1977

Meeting of Minds
(4 episodes)
1977

Karl May
Klotz-Sello · (2 episodes)
1977

Switch
Prince Dimitri Marenka · (1 episode)
1975

Parapsycho: Spectrum of Fear
1975
Die gelbe Nachtigall
Jason
1975
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
(1 episode)
1974
Verurteilt 1910
Regierungsrat Stukart
1974
Perahim - die zweite Chance
1974

Happy Days
(1 episode)
1974

Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls
Thor
1973

Genesis II
Overseer
1973

The World's Greatest Athlete
Dr. Gottlieb
1973

Hammersmith Is Out
Dr. Krodt
1972

Der schwarze Graf
Amschel Talmeier · (24 episodes)
1970

Death Knocks Twice
Peppe Mangano
1969

The Maltese Bippy
Axel Kronstadt
1969

A Fine Pair
Chief Wellman
1968

God's Police Patrol
Felix
1968

Lucrezia
Alessandro VI
1968

Guns for San Sebastian
Vicar General
1968

The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz
Oscar
1968

The Perils of Pauline
Commissar
1967

The Caper of the Golden Bulls
Morchek
1967

Double Trouble
Inspector de Groote
1967

Mission: Impossible
Riva · (1 episode)
1966

The Monkees
(1 episode)
1966

Felony Squad
(1 episode)
1966

It's About Time
(1 episode)
1966

What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
Colonel Kastorp
1966

Do Not Disturb
Langsdorf
1965

The F.B.I.
Arnold Bebenek · (1 episode)
1965

Hogan's Heroes
General Burkhalter · (64 episodes)
1965

Honey West
The Count · (1 episode)
1965

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
Samir
1965

Daniel Boone
Roquelin · (1 episode)
1964
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
(1 episode)
1963

The Outer Limits
Shop Superintendent · (1 episode)
1963

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
Charles
1962
General Electric True
(1 episode)
1962

Saints and Sinners
Baron · (1 episode)
1962

The Terror of Doctor Mabuse
Flocke
1962

Lulu
Medizinalrat Dr. Goll
1962

One, Two, Three
Peripetchikoff
1961

Blind Justice
Dr. Leupold
1961

Always Trouble with the Bed
Luigi Papagallo
1961
Towarisch
Dimitri Gorotschenko
1961

Weit ist der Weg
Luiz
1960

Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…
Anwalt Dr. Plauert
1960

Pension Schöller
Fritz Bernhardi
1960
Der Traum des Mr. Borton
Martin Borton
1960

Mistress of the World - Part II
Fernando
1960

Mistress of the World - Part I
Fernando
1960
Die Irre von Chaillot
Präsident
1959
Entscheidung
Lajos Morva
1959

Rebel Flight to Cuba
General Cordobas
1959
Der Mann im Manne
Ed Keller
1959

The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
Anton Rubinstein
1959

The Last Blitzkrieg
Sergeant Steiner
1959

Der Schinderhannes
1958

Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
(1 episode)
1956

Telephone Time
(2 episodes)
1956

Matinee Theater
General Rabat · (1 episode)
1955

The 20th Century Fox Hour
(1 episode)
1955

Spy Chasers
Alex Baxis
1955

Carolina Cannonball
Otto
1955

Studio 57
(1 episode)
1954

Valley of the Kings
Valentine Arko, Antique Dealer
1954

Secret of the Incas
Anton Marcu
1954

Knock on Wood
Laslo Gromeck
1954

The Man Behind the Badge
(1 episode)
1953

The Veils of Bagdad
Pasha Hammam
1953

Three Lives
Dr. Stein
1953

The Robe
Abidor
1953

China Venture
Wu King
1953

South Sea Woman
Pierre Marchand
1953

Desert Legion
Major Vasil
1953

Road to Bali
King Ramayana
1953

Biff Baker U.S.A.
Reicher · (1 episode)
1952

Adventures of Superman
Prime Minister Frederick Vallen · (2 episodes)
1952

Assignment: Paris
Franz (uncredited)
1952

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Drobash · (1 episode)
1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
(1 episode)
1951
Lux Video Theatre
Gustave · (1 episode)
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Mike Czerny · (1 episode)
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Felix Bassenak · (1 episode)
1950
The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula
Haufman Berger · (1 episode)