Sheldon Leonard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sheldon Leonard
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Leonard in the trailer for Another Thin Man (1939)
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| Born |
Sheldon Leonard Bershad
February 22, 1907 Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
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| Died | January 11, 1997 (aged 89) |
| Education | Syracuse University |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1934–1997 |
| Spouse(s) |
Frances Bober
(m. 1931) |
| Children | 2 |
Sheldon Leonard Bershad (born February 22, 1907 – died January 11, 1997) was a talented American who worked in movies and TV. He was an actor, producer, director, and writer.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sheldon Leonard Bershad was born in Manhattan, New York City. His parents were Frank Bershad and Anna Levit. He went to Syracuse University and finished his studies in 1929.
Sheldon Leonard's Acting Career
As an actor, Sheldon Leonard often played supporting characters. He was especially known for playing gangsters or tough guys. His unique voice was a big part of his acting. He had a very strong New York accent. He would often say "t" instead of "th".
His big break came in the movie Another Thin Man (1939). In this film, he played a quiet but dangerous person. After that, he often played smooth gangsters or street-smart characters. You might have seen him in famous movies like It's a Wonderful Life (1946). He played Nick, the bartender, in that classic film. He also appeared in To Have and Have Not (1944) and Guys and Dolls (1955).
Sheldon Leonard was a favorite actor of director Frank Capra. Capra asked him to play a mob boss in his 1961 movie Pocketful of Miracles. Because he was so good at playing tough guys, he sometimes played different roles. He acted as a police officer in movies like Street of Chance (1942). He even played a pirate in Captain Kidd (1945). In The Iroquois Trail (1950), he played a Native American warrior named Chief Ogane.
Radio and Voice Acting
From 1945 to 1955, Sheldon Leonard was popular on radio. He played a funny racetrack expert on The Jack Benny Program. He would often try to talk Jack Benny out of his plans. He also lent his voice to cartoons. He was the voice of a lazy cat named Dodsworth in two Warner Bros. cartoons. Later, he voiced Linus the Lionhearted for cereal commercials. This led to a Linus cartoon series on TV.
Sheldon Leonard: Producer and Director
By the mid-1950s, Sheldon Leonard started working more behind the camera. He became a very successful TV producer and director. He often worked with actor Danny Thomas.
Leonard produced many hit TV shows. These include The Danny Thomas Show (1953–64). He even had a role on that show as Danny's agent, Phil Brokaw. He also produced The Andy Griffith Show (1960–68) and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964–69). Another big success was I Spy (1965–68).
Sheldon Leonard was very good at finding good TV show ideas. He saw a pilot episode for a show called Head of the Family. He thought the main actor, Carl Reiner, wasn't quite right for the part. Leonard suggested that the show be filmed again with a new actor, Dick Van Dyke. This led to the hugely popular The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–66).
He also directed many TV show episodes. He directed four of the first eight episodes of the TV series Lassie in 1954. In 1975, he starred in his own TV show called Big Eddie. He played the owner of a large sports arena, but the show only lasted for ten episodes.
Leonard helped create a way to start new TV shows. He would introduce a new character in an existing show. If the character was popular, they would get their own spin-off show. This is how The Andy Griffith Show started. The character of Andy Taylor first appeared in an episode of The Danny Thomas Show.
Legacy and Influence
Sheldon Leonard had a lasting impact on Hollywood. Bill Cosby, who Leonard cast in I Spy, called him "my last father." Bill Cosby even did an impression of Sheldon Leonard on his comedy album Wonderfulness.
His name also inspired characters in a very popular TV show. The characters Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory were named after him. The writers of the show were big fans of his work.
Selected Filmography (Actor)
Sheldon Leonard appeared in many films throughout his career, often playing memorable roles. Some of his notable films include:
- Another Thin Man (1939) as Phil Church
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946) as Nick, the bartender
- To Have and Have Not (1944) as Lt. Coyo
- Captain Kidd (1945) as Cyprian Boyle
- The Iroquois Trail (1950) as Chief Ogane
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) as Morgan
- Guys and Dolls (1955) as Harry the Horse
- Pocketful of Miracles (1961) as Steve Darcey
Producer Credits
Sheldon Leonard produced many successful television series:
- The Danny Thomas Show (1953–1964)
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966)
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964–1969)
- I Spy (1965–1968)
Director Credits
Sheldon Leonard also directed episodes for several TV shows:
- The Andy Griffith Show
- The Danny Thomas Show
- The Dick Van Dyke Show
- Lassie (4 episodes, Season 1: 1954)
- I Spy
Sheldon Leonard passed away on January 11, 1997, at the age of 89. He is buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.
