Leon Askin
Leon Askin was a renowned Austrian character actor known for his roles in stage and film productions.
Director | Fiction Writer | Movie Actor
September 18, 1907
June 03, 2005
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Austrian actor Leon Askin, best known for portraying General Burkhalter in the TV series Hogan’s Heroes, also appeared in notable films such as The Third Man and Judgment at Nuremberg. A prolific theater performer, Askin’s credits include the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. Besides acting, he was a director and poet.
Askin was blacklisted by Hollywood during the McCarthy era due to alleged communist sympathies but continued working in Europe before returning to Hollywood in the 1960s. Fluent in English, German, French, and Russian, Askin’s most famous works include his role in Hogan’s Heroes and appearances in films like The Third Man and Judgment at Nuremberg. He also had a successful theater career, including his involvement in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. An interesting fact about Askin is that, at the age of nine, he recited a 17-stanza eulogy for Emperor Franz Josef in front of Vienna’s 9th District city hall.
