Sorrell Booke - Career

Career

Booke came to Hollywood via a theatre degree from Yale University and a decade on the New York Stage. One prominent early role was that of Southern Senator Billboard T. Rawkins in the 1960 revival of Finian's Rainbow, a role foreshadowing his most famous character, that of Boss Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard . During his early Hollywood acting career, Booke gained acclaim for notable supporting parts in noteworthy 1960s films such as Black Like Me, A Fine Madness, and Fail-Safe. In 1962, he was in Fiorello! and starred as the namesake's character. In 1965 he co-starred as Sgt. Herschel Aronson in episode 19 "Faith, Hope, and Sergeant Aronson" of 12 O-Clock High. However, he began focusing primarily on television roles in the 1970s and 1980s, and voice acting roles in the 1980s and early 1990s. Booke also once conducted the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Booke earned an Emmy nomination for his appearance in the TV series Dr. Kildare in the episode "What's God to Julius?". He can also be seen in an episode of Mission: Impossible from the first season in 1966. Booke appeared in two early episodes of M*A*S*H, as General Barker in "Requiem For A Lightweight" and "Chief Surgeon Who?", the latter marked the debut of the character Corporal Klinger, with whom Booke's character had previously dealt. Additionally, Booke had a recurring role in Norman Lear's groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family as Mr. Sanders, personnel manager at Archie Bunker's workplace, Prendergast Tool and Die Company. Booke was also featured on an episode of the '70s sitcom Good Times, and had a recurring role as the Jewish mob boss Lefkowitz on Soap.