Sheldon Leonard

Sheldon Leonard

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1907-02-22
Deathday: 1997-01-10 (89 years old)

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Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Sheldon Leonard Bershad (February 22, 1907 – January 11, 1997) was an American film and television actor, producer, director, and writer. Sheldon Leonard Bershad was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of middle class Jewish parents Anna Levit and Frank Bershad. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1929.


As an actor, Leonard specialized in playing supporting characters, especially gangsters or "heavies", in films such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946; as bartender Nick), To Have and Have Not (1944), Guys and Dolls (1955), and Open Secret (1948). His trademark was his especially thick New York accent, usually delivered from the side of his mouth. In Decoy (1946), Leonard uses his "heavy" persona to create the hard-boiled police detective Joe Portugal.


On radio from 1945 to 1955, Leonard played an eccentric racetrack tout on The Jack Benny Program and later in the TV series of the same name. His role was to salute Benny out of the blue in railroad stations, on street corners, or in department stores ("Hey Bud. C'mere a minute."), ask Benny what he was about to do, and then proceed to try to argue him out of his course of action by resorting to inane and irrelevant racing logic. As "The Tout," he never gave out information on horse racing, unless Jack demanded it. One excuse the tout gave was, "Who knows about horses?"


Leonard was part of the cast of voice actors on the Damon Runyon Theatre radio show (1948-1949). He was part of the ensemble cast of the Martin and Lewis radio show. He also appeared frequently on The Adventures of the Saint, often playing gangsters and heavies, but also sometimes in more positive roles. Leonard was also a regular on the radio comedy series The Adventures of Maisie in the 1940s. During the 1950s, Leonard provided the voice of lazy fat cat Dodsworth in two Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoons directed by Robert McKimson. In the adventure movie The Iroquois Trail (1950), Leonard played against type in the significant role of Chief Ogane, a Native American warrior, who pursues and fights the frontiersman Nat "Hawkeye" Cutler (George Montgomery) in a climactic duel to the death with knives.


Later in the 1950s and 1960s, he established a reputation as a producer of successful television series, including The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room For Daddy) (1953–64), The Andy Griffith Show (1960–68), Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. (1964–69), The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–66), and I Spy (1965–68). He also directed several TV series episodes, including four of the first eight episodes of the TV series Lassie (Season 1, 1954). Leonard also provided the voice of Linus the Lionhearted in a series of Post Crispy Critters cereal TV commercials in 1963-64, which led to a Linus cartoon series that aired on Saturday (and later, Sunday) mornings on CBS (1964–66) and ABC (1967–69). He also was briefly the star of his own television show Big Eddie (1975), where he played the owner of a large sports arena. The show lasted for only ten episodes.

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Filmography

all 124

Movies 80

TV Shows 44

self 13

Producer 9

Director 9

Writer 2

Voice 1

Actor
Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life

Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life (2011)

Movie
Self
Color Adjustment

Color Adjustment (1992)

Movie
Self
The Making of 'It's a Wonderful Life'

The Making of 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1990)

Movie
Dream On

Dream On (1990)

TV
6
Self (archive footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1988)

Movie
Casino Tipster
Matlock

Matlock (1986)

TV
6
Sgt. Bulldog Kowalski
Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote (1984)

TV
7
The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show (1984)

TV
6.2
Cheers

Cheers (1982)

TV
6.12
The Facts of Life

The Facts of Life (1979)

TV
10
Sam Marco
The Duke

The Duke (1979)

TV
J. Edgar Hoover
The Brink's Job

The Brink's Job (1978)

Movie
Paul Lazaro
The Islander

The Islander (1978)

Movie
Carl Vitale
Top Secret

Top Secret (1978)

Movie
Eddie Smith
Big Eddie

Big Eddie (1975)

TV
Self
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973)

TV
Producer
Shirley's World

Shirley's World (1972)

TV
Sanford and Son

Sanford and Son (1972)

TV
10
Producer
The Don Rickles Show

The Don Rickles Show (1972)

TV
Director
Make Room for Granddaddy

Make Room for Granddaddy (1970)

TV
Creator / Producer
From a Bird's Eye View

From a Bird's Eye View (1970)

TV
Executive Producer / Director
My World and Welcome to It

My World and Welcome to It (1969)

TV
Producer
My Friend Tony

My Friend Tony (1969)

TV
Producer / Director
Accidental Family

Accidental Family (1967)

TV
Director
The Danny Thomas Hour

The Danny Thomas Hour (1967)

TV
Self
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)

TV
5
Creator / Producer
Good Morning, World

Good Morning, World (1967)

TV
Disc Jockey / Sheldon Leonard / Sorge
I Spy

I Spy (1965)

TV
6.5
King Linus
Linus the Lionhearted

Linus the Lionhearted (1964)

TV
Director
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964)

TV
Director
My Favorite Martian

My Favorite Martian (1963)

TV
5.58
Producer / Director
The Bill Dana Show

The Bill Dana Show (1963)

TV
Ronald 'Touchy' Touchstone / 'Chicasaw Pete' Wickowski
Burke's Law

Burke's Law (1963)

TV
6
Sheldon Leonard
The Lucy Show

The Lucy Show (1962)

TV
Self
The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show (1962)

TV
Steve Darcey
Pocketful of Miracles

Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Movie
Self
The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

TV
Producer / Big Max Calvada / Director
The Dick Van Dyke Show

The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)

TV
5.8
Writer
The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show (1960)

TV
6
Self
The David Susskind Show

The David Susskind Show (1959)

TV
Director
The Real McCoys

The Real McCoys (1957)

TV
Self
Tonight Starring Jack Paar

Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957)

TV
Harry the Horse
Guys and Dolls

Guys and Dolls (1955)

Movie
George
Screen Director's Playhouse

Screen Director's Playhouse (1955)

TV
Director
Lassie

Lassie (1954)

TV
8
Sam Marco
The Duke

The Duke (1954)

TV
Jumbo Schneider
Money from Home

Money from Home (1953)

Movie
Mogul
The Diamond Queen

The Diamond Queen (1953)

Movie
Gus / Director
The Danny Thomas Show

The Danny Thomas Show (1953)

TV
2
Dodsworth (voice)
A Peck O' Trouble

A Peck O' Trouble (1953)

Movie
6
Director
General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater (1953)

TV
Director
General Electric Theater: Wedding Day

General Electric Theater: Wedding Day (1953)

Movie
Lefty
Stop, You're Killing Me

Stop, You're Killing Me (1952)

Movie
Hardwick Harris / Ritz
Your Jeweler's Showcase

Your Jeweler's Showcase (1952)

TV
Nick Sampson
Breakdown

Breakdown (1952)

Movie
Kid Banty
Sock a Doodle Do

Sock a Doodle Do (1952)

Movie
Rodwell 'Brick' Davis
Young Man with Ideas

Young Man with Ideas (1952)

Movie
Dodsworth
Kiddin' the Kitten

Kiddin' the Kitten (1952)

Movie
5.33
Duke
Here Come the Nelsons

Here Come the Nelsons (1952)

Movie
Lennie Garr
Come Fill the Cup

Come Fill the Cup (1951)

Movie
Harry Martin (uncredited)
I Love Lucy

I Love Lucy (1951)

TV
7.33
Shortwave Bert
Behave Yourself!

Behave Yourself! (1951)

Movie
Boots Morgan
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951)

Movie
4
Racetrack Tout / Elevator Tout
The Jack Benny Program

The Jack Benny Program (1950)

TV
Self
The Colgate Comedy Hour

The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950)

TV
Chief Ogane
The Iroquois Trail

The Iroquois Trail (1950)

Movie
Self
The Bob Hope Show

The Bob Hope Show (1950)

TV
Detective Pacciano
Take One False Step

Take One False Step (1949)

Movie
Grimes
My Dream Is Yours

My Dream Is Yours (1949)

Movie
Dalton Kraik
Daughter of the Jungle

Daughter of the Jungle (1949)

Movie
'Swifty' Lewis
Shep Comes Home

Shep Comes Home (1948)

Movie
Hermon
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All (1948)

Movie
Lippy Harris
Jinx Money

Jinx Money (1948)

Movie
Nick Julian
Madonna of the Desert

Madonna of the Desert (1948)

Movie
Detective Sgt. Mike Frontelli
Open Secret

Open Secret (1948)

Movie
Steve Garland
If You Knew Susie

If You Knew Susie (1948)

Movie
Harry Bealer
Alias a Gentleman

Alias a Gentleman (1948)

Movie
Cornell
The Gangster

The Gangster (1947)

Movie
Louie
The Fabulous Joe

The Fabulous Joe (1947)

Movie
Fred Stalk
Violence

Violence (1947)

Movie
Auctioneer
Sinbad the Sailor

Sinbad the Sailor (1947)

Movie
6
Nick
It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Movie
5.45
Sergeant Joe Portugal
Decoy

Decoy (1946)

Movie
Ed 'Wires' MacGuire
The Last Crooked Mile

The Last Crooked Mile (1946)

Movie
Ace Deuce Baker
Bowery Bombshell

Bowery Bombshell (1946)

Movie
Sam
Somewhere in the Night

Somewhere in the Night (1946)

Movie
Felix Bender
Her Kind of Man

Her Kind of Man (1946)

Movie
Kirby Haynes
Rainbow Over Texas

Rainbow Over Texas (1946)

Movie
Trigger Stazzi
The Gentleman Misbehaves

The Gentleman Misbehaves (1946)

Movie
'Blackie' Shoulders
Frontier Gal

Frontier Gal (1945)

Movie
Cyprian Boyle
Captain Kidd

Captain Kidd (1945)

Movie
Chris Williams
Why Girls Leave Home

Why Girls Leave Home (1945)

Movie
Writer
Shadow Of Terror

Shadow Of Terror (1945)

Movie
Peg Leg
River Gang

River Gang (1945)

Movie
Lucky Maddox
Radio Stars on Parade

Radio Stars on Parade (1945)

Movie
Ace Miller
Zombies on Broadway

Zombies on Broadway (1945)

Movie
Capt. Ferrone
Crime, Inc.

Crime, Inc. (1945)

Movie
Lt. Coyo
To Have and Have Not

To Have and Have Not (1945)

Movie
2.67
Louie Buchanan
The Falcon in Hollywood

The Falcon in Hollywood (1944)

Movie
3.5
Chappie Wilson
Gambler's Choice

Gambler's Choice (1944)

Movie
Mickey Jones
Trocadero

Trocadero (1944)

Movie
Henri Duval
Uncertain Glory

Uncertain Glory (1944)

Movie
Smacksie Golden
Timber Queen

Timber Queen (1944)

Movie
'Sometime' Smith
Klondike Kate

Klondike Kate (1943)

Movie
Chuck
Harvest Melody

Harvest Melody (1943)

Movie
Johnny Booth
Passport to Suez

Passport to Suez (1943)

Movie
Harry 'Silky' Fellowsby
Hit the Ice

Hit the Ice (1943)

Movie
Louis Glorio
Taxi, Mister

Taxi, Mister (1943)

Movie
Monk LaRue
City Without Men

City Without Men (1943)

Movie
Slip Moran
Lucky Jordan

Lucky Jordan (1942)

Movie
Joe Marruci
Street of Chance

Street of Chance (1942)

Movie
Clairou
Pierre of the Plains

Pierre of the Plains (1942)

Movie
Tito Ralph
Tortilla Flat

Tortilla Flat (1942)

Movie
Pete Detroit
Born to Sing

Born to Sing (1942)

Movie
Menace
Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine (1941)

Movie
Boris
Week-End in Havana

Week-End in Havana (1941)

Movie
Johnny Brannigan
Married Bachelor

Married Bachelor (1941)

Movie
Chink Moran
Buy Me That Town

Buy Me That Town (1941)

Movie
John Winton
Private Nurse

Private Nurse (1941)

Movie
Pretty Willie Williams
Tall, Dark and Handsome

Tall, Dark and Handsome (1941)

Movie
6.75
Phil Church
Another Thin Man

Another Thin Man (1939)

Movie
5.6
LeStrange - Overseer
Ouanga

Ouanga (1935)

Movie
Pasha
The Gem of the Ocean

The Gem of the Ocean (1934)

Movie
Abdullah
My Mummy's Arms

My Mummy's Arms (1934)

Movie

Ratings

Average 5.88
Based on 867 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1934
1945
1951
1946
2011
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Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Male

Birthday
1907-02-22

Deathday
1997-01-10 (89 years old)

Birth Name
Sheldon Leonard Bershad

Birth Place
Manhattan, United States of America

Citizenships
United States of America

Also Known As
S.L. Bershad, S. L. Bershad, Sheldon Leonard Bershad

Awards
Eagle Scout, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, Primetime Emmy Award


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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