
Leon Askin
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 | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 0.125 |
Birthday | 1907-09-18 |
Place of Birth | Vienna, Austria |
Also Known As | Leo Aschkenasy, |

1961

One, Two, Three
7.517/375
C.R. MacNamara is a managing director for Coca Cola in West Berlin during the Cold War, just before the Wall is put up. When Scarlett, the rebellious...
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One, Two, Three

1975

Parapsycho: Spectrum of Fear
4.5/4
Split into three episodes, this film examines extrasensory perception, reincarnation and telepathy.
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Parapsycho: Spectrum of Fear

1953

Road to Bali
6.3/74
Having to leave Melbourne in a hurry to avoid various marriage proposals, two song-and-dance men sign on for work as divers. This takes them to an idy...
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Road to Bali

1954

Secret of the Incas
5.8/50
Harry Steele (Charlton Heston) is a tourist guide determined to make his fortune by finding the Sunburst, an Inca treasure.
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Secret of the Incas

1966

What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
6/42
A by-the-book Captain is ordered to capture a strategic village in Italy. The Italian soldiers are willing to surrender, if they can have a festival f...
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What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

1953

The Robe
6.7/244
Drunk and disillusioned Roman, Marcellus Gallio, wins Jesus' robe in a dice game after the crucifixion. Marcellus has never been a man of faith like h...
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The Robe

1965

Do Not Disturb
5.6/26
American Mike Harper, sent to do business in England, moves there with his wife, Janet. But she soon becomes convinced that Mike is carrying on with h...
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Do Not Disturb

1959

Entscheidung
0/0
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Entscheidung

1968

Guns for San Sebastian
7/87
Leon Alastray is an outlaw who has been given sanctuary by Father John, whom he then escorts to the village of San Sebastian. The village is deserted,...
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Guns for San Sebastian

1973

Genesis II
5.7/24
A scientist who has been preserved in suspended animation wakes up to find himself in a primitive society in the future.
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Genesis II

1973

Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls
5.5/15
John Considine plays the flamboyant Dr. Death, a thousand-year-old magician who has mastered he art of transferring souls from one body to another and...
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Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls

1954

Knock on Wood
6.6/30
Ventriloquist Jerry Morgan has failed with another love affair. The reason: when the relationship reaches the point when it is time to discuss marriag...
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Knock on Wood

1981

Frightmare
4.511/44
Drama students decide to pay tribute to their favorite horror star by stealing his body from his crypt for a farewell party. They fail to realize thei...
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Frightmare

1969

Death Knocks Twice
4.3/9
When private detective Bob Martin looking for a stolen diamond necklace, he also has a clever serial killer on the trail ...
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Death Knocks Twice

1953

South Sea Woman
5.4/8
Marine Sergeant James O'Hearn is being tried at the San Diego Marine base for desertion, theft, scandalous conduct and destruction of property in time...
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South Sea Woman

1985

Savage Island
3.6/28
Women who have been captured and sold as slave labor to a South American emerald mine hatch a plan for revolution and revenge.
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Savage Island

1955

Carolina Cannonball
0/0
Judy and her grandpa run a trolley between a train depot and a ghost town in Nevada, near the California border. Three spies intent of tracking down a...
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Carolina Cannonball

1954

Valley of the Kings
4.8/17
Hard-boiled archeologist Mark Brandon is searching for ancient tombs in Egypt when he is approached by beautiful Ann Mercedes, who convinces him to he...
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Valley of the Kings

1994

OcchioPinocchio
4.3/12
A man with cognitive problems lives and works in a hospice. One day an American banker discovers that the man is his son.
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OcchioPinocchio

1955

Spy Chasers
7/2
Slip and the gang (Bowery Boys) foil foes of the exiled, incognito king of Truania (Sig Ruman).
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Spy Chasers

1960

Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…
6/1
Germany at the time of the economic miracle: the boorish and equally rude Jupp Grapsch has made a small fortune through his bustling activities. His w...
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Bis dass das Geld euch scheidet…

1953

Desert Legion
6/6
A commander in the Foreign Legion romances a mysterious and exotic princess.
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Desert Legion

1967

The Caper of the Golden Bulls
5.6/5
Peter Churchman stopped robbing banks a long time ago and is now living as a wealthy and respected citizen in Pamplona, Spain. But then his former com...
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The Caper of the Golden Bulls

1959

Rebel Flight to Cuba
10/1
A group of criminals hijacks a plane, intending to fly it to Cuba.
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Rebel Flight to Cuba

1960

Mistress of the World - Part I
6.2/4
Professor Johansson has made a huge scientific breakthrough; a device that will create a huge magnetic pulse that knocks out all electricity over a co...
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Mistress of the World - Part I

1960

Pension Schöller
7.3/3
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Pension Schöller

1960

Weit ist der Weg
5/2
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Weit ist der Weg

1962

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
5.488/40
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson embark on a search for Cleopatra's ancient necklace, which has been stolen.
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Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace

1962

The Terror of Doctor Mabuse
5.7/22
Dr. Mabuse has been locked away for years in an insane asylum. Suddenly crimes start occurring and no one knows the culprit. A detective goes to visit...
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The Terror of Doctor Mabuse

1995

Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte
0/0
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Die Fernsehsaga – Eine steirische Fernsehgeschichte

1994

Fear of Heights
4/2
An unusual love story between a farmer from a small village and a 25-year-old recently released prisoner from Vienna. First he wins the acceptance and...
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Fear of Heights

1974

Perahim - die zweite Chance
0/0
After eleven years of solitary confinement, Perahim, convicted of murdering a police officer, is released early from prison after exceptionally good b...
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Perahim - die zweite Chance

1961

Blind Justice
5.2/4
A man is accused of murdering his wife. The state prosecutor assumes he did the deed to spend more time with his lover. But the woman in question says...
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Blind Justice

1960

Der Traum des Mr. Borton
0/0
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Der Traum des Mr. Borton

1961

Always Trouble with the Bed
5.5/2
A German police man thinks his wife is a call girl.
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Always Trouble with the Bed

1968

The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz
4/4
A beautiful East German Olympic hopeful pole-vaults over the Berlin Wall to freedom.
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The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz

1960

Mistress of the World - Part II
5/1
Karin is now continuing her father's research and is also caught in the cross hairs of the mysterious opponents. Johanson himself retreats to a Cambod...
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Mistress of the World - Part II

1995

Deadly Love
2/1
Following the failure of the marriage of the influential publisher Helmreich and his wife, Helmreich wins the suit for the custody of their 6-year old...
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Deadly Love

1959

The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
7/1
The story of young Tchaikovsky through the premiere of his "Sleeping Beauty" ballet.
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The Peter Tchaikovsky Story

1999

Kubanisch rauchen
4/1
Paul and Bernd take over a small upscale antique store together. On one nightly excursion, Bernd introduces Paul and Lisa with each other. What was in...
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Kubanisch rauchen

1974

Verurteilt 1910
0/0
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Verurteilt 1910

1985

First Strike
5/1
A U.S. Navy submarine captain tries to prevent the Soviets from trying to launch World War III.
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First Strike

1982

Airplane II: The Sequel
6.1/1126
A faulty computer causes a passenger space shuttle to head straight for the sun, and man-with-a-past Ted Striker must save the day and get the shuttle...
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Airplane II: The Sequel

1998

Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu Tode
6.8/2
An unhappy young photographer is about to make his debut as a journalist. He is to write an obituary about the weapons-crazy mayor of a Lower Austrian...
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Black Flamingos - Sie lieben euch zu Tode

1959

The Last Blitzkrieg
5.2/4
The fanatical son of a Nazi General leads a squad of German commandos, disguised as American Troops, behind the lines in order to sabotage the Allied...
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The Last Blitzkrieg

1962

Lulu
6.8/4
A 14-year-old girl is caught while trying to pick a doctor's pocket. The doctor ends up taking her in and turning her into a sophisticated lady, whom...
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Lulu

1953

The Veils of Bagdad
6/3
Antar is sent by Suleiman, head of the Ottoman Empire, to Bagdad to prevent Hammam, Pasha of Bagdad, from purchasing the services of local leader Must...
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The Veils of Bagdad

1973

The World's Greatest Athlete
5.3/28
Stuck with a feeble sports department, college coach Sam Archer (John Amos) faces the ax unless he can reverse the school's athletic fortunes. An Afri...
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The World's Greatest Athlete

1972

Hammersmith Is Out
6.2/6
The Faust legend retold (loosely) and applied to a mentally disturbed patient in a hospital run by a doctor of dubious sanity himself. The patient off...
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Hammersmith Is Out

1969

The Maltese Bippy
5.2/4
A man buys a house and comes to believe that not only is the house haunted by werewolves, but a family of vampires lives next door.
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The Maltese Bippy

1967

Double Trouble
5/34
When singer Guy Lambert goes on tour in Europe, he is pursued by two beautiful women, bumbling jewel thieves, and a mysterious killer.
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Double Trouble

1968

Lucrezia
2/1
Fabrizio finds refuge from thugs in a convent, and passion in the arms of Lucrezia Borgia.
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Lucrezia

1975

Die gelbe Nachtigall
0/0
Fanny Hobichler, a young promising actress, moves to Vienna in the 1920s in order to pursue her big break. She draws inspiration and seeks help from t...
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Die gelbe Nachtigall

1998

Die Bräute
5/1
Adele and Sibylle, the two brides of narrow-gauge crooks Heinz and Hermann , are fed up with being just appendages . Together with fellow sufferers ,...
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Die Bräute

2001

Ene mene muh – und tot bist du
2/2
A small retirement home on the edge of Vienna where the city's oldest residents live. Patients over the age of 100 begin to die under mysterious circu...
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Ene mene muh – und tot bist du

1959

Die Irre von Chaillot
0/0
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Die Irre von Chaillot

1968

God's Police Patrol
2/1
The Confiscation of Confession and 10 million Marks bring the young accident priest Wolf into an adventurous situation: A deadly injured gobber has en...
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God's Police Patrol

1961

Towarisch
0/0
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Towarisch

1996

Glück auf Raten
0/0
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Glück auf Raten

1965

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
3.4/8
During the Cold War, John Goldfarb crashes his spy plane in the Middle East and is taken prisoner by the local government. His captor, King Fawz, soon...
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John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!

1959

Der Mann im Manne
0/0
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Der Mann im Manne

1994

Hitler Stole My Ideas
0/0
Using archive film material never seen before, Hollywood veteran Leon Askin portrays Adolf Lanz (1874-1954), the man who gave Hitler his ideas.
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Hitler Stole My Ideas

1958

Der Schinderhannes
6.833/9
1802: The adventurous life story of Hans Bückler, known as “Schinderhannes”, who fights against the French occupying forces and large landowners who e...
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Der Schinderhannes

1968

A Fine Pair
3.2/4
A detective gets involved with the beautiful daughter of an old friend. The daughter turns out to be a jewel thief, who in turn gets the detective inv...
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A Fine Pair

1986

Odd Jobs
4.2/6
Five college buddies start their own moving business only to find themselves tangling with sleazy competitors and the mob.
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Odd Jobs

1952

Assignment: Paris
5.5/17
Paris-based New York Herald Tribune reporter Jimmy Race (Andrews) is sent by his boss (Sanders) behind the Iron Curtain in Budapest to investigate a m...
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Assignment: Paris

1981

Going Ape!
4.4/16
When his father - who owned a circus - dies, Oscar inherits 5 million dollars - and 3 orangutans. However there's a condition connected to the money:...
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Going Ape!

1997

Leon Askin - (Über)Leben und Schauspiel. Private Anmerkungen
0/0
"The art of the stage actor and even of a stage director is evanescent. Nothing remains of it but a 'still' photograph or two (...) Not everyone can b...
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Leon Askin - (Über)Leben und Schauspiel. Private Anmerkungen

1953

China Venture
7.5/2
American soldiers undertake a mission to capture a Japanese admiral who has survived an air crash in China during WWII.
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China Venture

1967

The Perils of Pauline
4.3/3
Pauline becomes involved in a series of adventures around the world and is aided by her ever present friend, George.
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The Perils of Pauline

1953

Three Lives
0/0
A short film made for the United Jewish Appeal, reuniting the main players behind The Sniper, writers Edna and Edward Anhalt, director Edward Dmytryk,...
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