Life and Career
Askin was born Leon Aschkenasy into a Jewish family in Vienna, the son of Malvine (Susman) and Samuel Aschkenazy.
Askin emigrated to the United States in 1940 and, after the war, went to Hollywood, 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 Adventures of Superman recall his portrayals of an eastern European diamond smuggler in a black-and-white episode, and as a South American prime minister in a color episode. He appeared in 20th Century Fox's biblical epic The Robe 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's film One, Two, Three, co-starring with James Cagney. He gained wide recognition and popularity by appearing as the stern General Albert Burkhalter in the sitcom Hogan's Heroes in the late 1960s.
Askin made a guest appearance on Daniel Boone in its 1969 episode "Benvenuto... Who?" as Roquelin. Between 1977 and 1979, he appeared in Steve Allen's PBS series, Meeting of Minds, portraying Martin Luther and Karl Marx. In 1979 he portrayed the character Mr. Hoffmire of Hoffmire’s Bakery, judging a pie contest in an episode in the third season of Three’s Company titled, “The Bake-off”. In 1982 he had a brief appearance as a Moscow Anchorman in the film Airplane II: The Sequel.
Askin died in Vienna on June 3, 2005, at the age of 97.
Read more about this topic: Leon Askin
Famous quotes containing the words life and/or career:
“If we live in the Nineteenth Century, why should we not enjoy the advantages which the Nineteenth Century offers? Why should our life be in any respect provincial?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“They want to play at being mothers. So let them. Expressing tenderness in their own way will not prevent girls from enjoying a successful career in the future; indeed, the ability to nurture is as valuable a skill in the workplace as the ability to lead.”
—Anne Roiphe (20th century)