Leonard Bremen (November 13, 1915 – March 21, 1986) was an American actor. He was active in military-sponsored theatrical and radio productions during World War II and later appeared in numerous film and television roles throughout the mid-20th century.

Early life and military service

Bremen was born on November 13, 1915, in Brooklyn, New York. During World War II, he served as a private in the 381st Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron of the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

. While stationed at Reno Army Air Base, he became involved in military entertainment programs produced by the Army’s Public Relations Office.

Stage and radio work

In 1943, Bremen played the lead role of "Joe" in ''Dear Ed'', a serialized military musical-comedy stage and radio production. The show was broadcast weekly on KOH radio and performed at the base theater. The production followed the humorous misadventures of military personnel and was part of the Army’s morale-building efforts. Bremen also performed in ''Army Night'', a variety show sponsored by the American Red Cross and held on November 19, 1943, in Reno. The event aimed to raise funds for the Reno Army Air Base Band and featured Bremen as a billed comedian. Press coverage described him as a "talented comedian."

Film and television career

Following the war, Bremen began appearing in film and television. He was often cast in minor or

character roles A character actor is an actor known for playing unusual, eccentric, or interesting characters in supporting roles, rather than leading ones.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, ...

, frequently portraying working-class men such as bartenders, cab drivers, and service workers. His screen work spanned from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Death

Bremen died on March 21, 1986, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 70. He is interred at

Riverside National Cemetery Riverside National Cemetery (RNC) is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers . It has been the most active cemetery in the system since 2000, based on the n ...

in Riverside, California.Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Selected filmography

Film

* ''

Within These Walls ''Within These Walls'' is a British television drama programme made by London Weekend Television for ITV and shown between 1974 and 1978. It portrayed life in HMP Stone Park, a fictional women's prison. Unlike later women-in-prison TV series ...

'' (1945) – Convict in Motor Pool * ''

Pride of the Marines ''Pride of the Marines'' is a 1945 American biographical war film starring John Garfield and Eleanor Parker. It tells the story of U.S. Marine Al Schmid in World War II, his heroic stand against a Japanese attack during the Battle of Guad ...

'' (1945) – Lenny * '' Dark Passage'' (1947) – Bus Ticket Clerk (uncredited) * ''

The Man with the Golden Arm ''The Man with the Golden Arm'' is a 1955 American independent drama film noir directed by Otto Preminger, based on the novel of the same name by Nelson Algren. Starring Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Arnold Stang and Darren Mc ...

'' (1955) – Taxi Driver in Lock-up (uncredited) * '' Attack!'' (1956) – Mess Sergeant * ''

The Front Page ''The Front Page'' is a Broadway theatre, Broadway comedy about newspaper reporters on the police beat. Written by former Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, it was first produced in 1928 and has been adapted for the cinema severa ...

'' (1974) – Butch * '' Hollywood Harry'' (1985) – Bartender

Television

* ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'' (1963) – Van Man * ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the Spy fiction, secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Bu ...

'' (1966–1969) – Bartender / Newsdealer / Truck Driver * ''Batman'' (1966) – Benny * ''

The Addams Family The Addams Family is a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. They originally appeared in a series of 150 standalone single-panel comics, about half of which were originally published in ''The New Yorker'' between 193 ...

'' (1964) – Cab Driver * ''

The Brady Bunch ''The Brady Bunch'' is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz that aired five seasons from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974, on ABC. The series revolves around a large blended family of six children, with three boys and three gir ...

'' (1971–1974) – Truck Driver / Exterminator * ''

Diff'rent Strokes ''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which originally aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and ...

'' (1980–1984) – Mr. Newhouse / Man * '' Trapper John, M.D.'' (1980–1982) – Martinez / Man

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bremen, Leonardo 1915 births 1986 deaths United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II Male actors from New York (state) American male stage actors American male film actors American male television actors 20th-century American male actors Actors from Brooklyn Burials at Riverside National Cemetery