Sheldon Leonard
Biography
Sheldon Leonard was an American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter who began his career as a character actor known for playing gangsters and heavies. Born in Manhattan and a 1929 Syracuse University graduate, he had his breakthrough in Another Thin Man (1939) as a soft-spoken murder suspect. He was often cast as smooth gangsters or streetwise characters in films such as To Have and Have Not (1944) and Guys and Dolls (1955), as well as Pocketful of Miracles (1961). From 1945 to 1955 he was a racetrack tout on The Jack Benny Program. By the mid-1950s he moved behind the camera, producing hits like The Danny Thomas Show and The Andy Griffith Show, along with Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and I Spy. He also directed episodes of Lassie and provided the voice of Linus the Lionhearted. He starred in Big Eddie and was informally credited with developing the backdoor pilot. He died in 1997.
89years old at death
- Born Manhattan
- Died Beverly Hills
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- Sheldon Leonard Bershad (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 18
- Career span
- 39 years1939 to 1978
First and latest
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Beyond film
In Post Crispy Critters cereal TV commercials from 1963 to 1964, Sheldon Leonard gave Linus the Lionhearted his voice. A Linus cartoon series followed, airing on weekend mornings on CBS and ABC.
A first
Along with author Mickey Spillane, Leonard was among the first two spokesmen for Miller Lite. He used his trademark accent in the commercials.
Sheldon Leonard movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Joseph L. Mankiewicz directed two of these films, Charles Lamont two. Joseph Crehan appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Joseph Crehan's page
John Qualen's page
Jerome Cowan's page
Peter Falk's page
Bobby Barber's page
Lou Costello's page
All films by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Charles LamontDirector, 2 films, 1943 to 1951
All films by Charles Lamont
Also two films together7 more actors
- Bud AbbottAbbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) and Hit the Ice (1943)
- Clancy CooperGambler's Choice (1944) and Street of Chance (1942)
- Patric KnowlesHit the Ice (1943) and Another Thin Man (1939)
- Philip Van ZandtDecoy (1946) and Somewhere in the Night (1946)
- Tom DuganGambler's Choice (1944) and City Without Men (1943)
- Abner BibermanCaptain Kidd (1945) and Another Thin Man (1939)
- Nancy GuildAbbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) and Somewhere in the Night (1946)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Sheldon Leonard's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$19.2 million
5 of the 18 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 18 films: 5 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 12 figure not found.
- 5Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 12Figure not found
Highest grossing
The five biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$6.9M35.7% of the total
- 2$5.0M26.0% of the total
- 3$3.6M19.0% of the total
- 4$2.2M11.5% of the total
- 5$1.5M7.8% of the total
Awards
Two awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1961 | Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | The Danny Thomas Show | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| Eagle Scout | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.