Leon Askin (; born Leo Aschkenasy, 18 September 1907 – 3 June 2005) was an Austrian actor best known in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

for portraying the character General Burkhalter on the TV

situation comedy A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...

Hogan's Heroes ''Hogan's Heroes'' is an American television sitcom created by Bernard Fein and Albert S. Ruddy which is set in a Prisoner-of-war camp, prisoner-of-war (POW) camp in Nazi Germany during World War II, and centers around a group of Allied prisoner ...

''.

Life and career

Askin was born into a

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

ish family in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

, the son of Malvine (Susman) and Samuel Aschkenasy. According to his autobiography his first experience of show business occurred during World War I when he recited a poem before Emperor

Franz Joseph Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I ( ; ; 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the ruler of the Grand title of the emperor of Austria, other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 1848 until his death ...

. In the 1920s, he studied acting with Louise Dumont and

Max Reinhardt Max Reinhardt (; born Maximilian Goldmann; 9 September 1873 – 30 October 1943) was an Austrian-born Theatre director, theatre and film director, theater manager, intendant, and theatrical producer. With his radically innovative and avant-gard ...

. While working at Vienna's "ABC" cabaret theater in the 1930s, he frequently directed the works of dissident political writer Jura Soyfer. Alma crop

Askin fled Austria to the United States in 1940, after having been beaten and abused by the Nazi SA and SS. His parents were murdered in the

Treblinka Treblinka () was the second-deadliest extermination camp to be built and operated by Nazi Germany in Occupation of Poland (1939–1945), occupied Poland during World War II. It was in a forest north-east of Warsaw, south of the Treblinka, ...

death camp. He then served in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Forces. After the war, he went to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

to begin a career in films, invariably portraying foreign characters who speak English with a strong accent. Askin appeared as the Russian composer Anton Rubinstein in a Disneyland anthology episode of the life of Peter Tchaikovsky. Fans of the

television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...

'' Adventures of Superman'' recall his portrayals of an eastern European diamond smuggler (Joseph Ferdinand) in the 1953 black-and-white episode "Superman in Exile", and as a South American prime minister in a color episode. He appeared in

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

's biblical epic '' The Robe'' in 1953 as a Syrian guide named Abidor. In 1960, he appeared in the film '' Pension Schöller'', and the following year was prominently featured in

Billy Wilder Billy Wilder (; ; born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an American filmmaker and screenwriter. His career in Hollywood (film industry), Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and ver ...

's film ''

One, Two, Three ''One, Two, Three'' is a 1961 American political comedy film directed by Billy Wilder, and written by Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond. It is based on the 1929 Hungarian one-act play ''Egy, kettő, három'' by Ferenc Molnár, with a "plot borrowe ...

'', co-starring with

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor and dancer. On stage and in film, he was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He won acclaim and maj ...

. Askin gained wide recognition and popularity for his recurring role as the stern General Albert Burkhalter in the sitcom ''

,'' appearing in 67 episodes of the show’s run from 1965 to 1971, including the pilot episode. Burkhalter was the gruff and portly commanding officer of Colonel Klink, the bungling commandant of a German World War II prisoner-of-war camp, manipulated by American Colonel Hogan so that the prisoners would get away with clandestine activities. Askin made guest appearances on ''

The Restless Gun ''The Restless Gun'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne (actor), John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Ci ...

'' 1957 episode "The Shooting of Jett King", ''

My Favorite Martian ''My Favorite Martian'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963, to May 1, 1966, for 107 episodes. The show stars Ray Walston as "Uncle Martin" (the Martian) and Bill Bixby as Tim O'Hara. ''My Favorite Martian'' was th ...

'' and the 1965 episode "Martin Of The Movies" as Von Reinbein. ''

The Monkees The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees (TV series), Th ...

'' 1967 episode "The Card Carrying Red Shoes", as Nicolai, on ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (, 1734September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyo ...

'' in its 1969 episode "Benvenuto... Who?" as Roquelinm and in the "Fiddler in the House" episode of the 1974 situation comedy '' Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers'' as a violin virtuoso. Between 1977 and 1979, he appeared in

Steve Allen Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television and radio personality, comedian, musician, composer, writer, and actor. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-creator and ...

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...

series, '' Meeting of Minds'', portraying

Martin Luther Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...

and

Karl Marx Karl Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, political theorist, economist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. He is best-known for the 1848 pamphlet '' The Communist Manifesto'' (written with Friedrich Engels) ...

. In 1978 he portrayed a psychology professor in season six episode eight of ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marsha ...

''. In 1979 he portrayed the character Mr. Hoffmeier of Hoffmeier’s Bakery, judging a pie contest in the third season episode 19 of '' Three’s Company'' titled "The Bake-Off". His other film credits include roles in: *''

Road to Bali ''Road to Bali'' is a 1952 American comedy film directed by Hal Walker and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. Released by Paramount Pictures on November 19, 1952, the film is the sixth of the seven ''Road to ...'' movies. It wa ...

'' (1952) *'' Desert Legion'' (1953) *'' The Veils of Bagdad'' (1953) *'' Knock on Wood'' (1954) *'' Secret of the Incas'' (1954) *''

Valley of the Kings The Valley of the Kings, also known as the Valley of the Gates of the Kings, is an area in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the Eighteenth Dynasty to the Twentieth Dynasty, rock-cut tombs were excavated for pharaohs and power ...

'' (1954) *'' Son of Sinbad'' (1955) *'' The Last Blitzkrieg'' (1959) *''

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'' (1962) *''

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace ''Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace'' () is a 1962 mystery film directed by Terence Fisher and written by Curt Siodmak, based on the characters Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson created by Arthur Conan Doyle. It stars Christopher Lee as Holm ...

'' (1962) *'' Do Not Disturb'' (1965) *'' What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?'' (1966) *'' Double Trouble'' (1967) *'' The Caper of the Golden Bulls'' (1967) *'' The Perils of Pauline'' (1967) *'' The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz'' (1968) *'' A Fine Pair'' (1968) *'' Guns for San Sebastian'' (1968) *'' The Maltese Bippy'' (1969) *'' Death Knocks Twice'' (1969) *'' Hammersmith Is Out'' (1972) *'' The World's Greatest Athlete'' (1973) *'' Going Ape!'' (1981) *'' Frightmare'' (1983). In 1982, he had a brief appearance as a Moscow Anchorman in the film '' Airplane II: The Sequel''. Askin had a role in the classic

Mel Brooks Melvin James Brooks (né Kaminsky; born June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and songwriter. With a career spanning over seven decades, he is known as a writer and director of a variety of successful broad farces and parodie ...

comedy '' Young Frankenstein'' (1974), but his scenes were cut from the film.

Death

Grab von Leon Askin auf dem Wiener Zentralfriedhof

Askin died from natural causes in

on June 3, 2005, at the age of 97 and is interred at

Vienna Central Cemetery The Vienna Central Cemetery () is one of the largest Cemetery, cemeteries in the world by number of interred, and is the most well-known among Vienna's nearly 50 cemeteries. The cemetery's name is descriptive of its significance as Vienna's big ...

Filmography

Film

Television

Decorations and awards

* 1988: Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art * 1994: Silver Medal for Service to the City of Vienna * 1996: Award of the title "professor" * 2001:

Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class The Austrian Decoration for Science and Art () is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria and forms part of the Austrian national honours system. History The "Austrian Decoration for Science and Art" was established by the National C ...

* 2002: Gold Medal of Honour for Services to the city of Vienna * 2003: ''Goldener Rathausmann'' of Vienna to mark the 75th anniversary * 2007: Naming of Leon-Askin-Platz in Vienna-Penzing * 2007: A bust of Leon Askin in Türkenschanzpark (Vienna) * 2007: Plaque unveiled at Hütteldorferstrasse 349 in Vienna-Penzing, to mark 100th anniversary of Askin's birth * 2009: At Sechsschimmelgasse 19 in Vienna-Alsergrund a public housing block was named after him * 27 May 2010: Leon-Askin-Park at Grundsteingasse in Ottakring (Vienna's 16th District) named after Askin

References

Notes

External links

* * *
Literature on Leon Askin

Leon Askin
(in German) from the archive of the Österreichische Mediathek {{DEFAULTSORT:Askin, Leon 1907 births 2005 deaths 20th-century Austrian male actors 21st-century Austrian male actors Austrian expatriate male actors in the United States Austrian male film actors Austrian male television actors Burials at the Vienna Central Cemetery Jewish Austrian male actors Male actors from Vienna Recipients of the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II