Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sheldon Leonard Bershad (February 22, 1907 – January 11, 1997) was an American film and television actor, producer, director, and writer. Sheldon Leonard Bershad was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of middle class Jewish parents Anna Levit and Frank Bershad. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1929. As an actor, Leonard specialized in playing supporting characters, especially gangsters or "heavies", in films such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946; as bartender Nick), To Have and Have Not (1944), Guys and Dolls (1955), and Open Secret (1948). His trademark was his especially thick New York accent, usually delivered from the side of his mouth. In Decoy (1946), Leonard uses his "heavy" persona to create the hard-boiled police detective Joe Portugal. On radio from 1945 to 1955, Leonard played an eccentric racetrack tout on The Jack Benny Program and later in the TV series of the same name. His role was to salute Benny out of the blue in railroad stations, on street corners, or in department stores ("Hey Bud. C'mere a minute."), ask Benny what he was about to do, and then proceed to try to argue him out of his course of action by res…
Movies & TV Shows
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It's a Wonderful Life (1946) — Nick
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Cheers (1982) — Sid Nelson
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To Have and Have Not (1945) — Lt. Coyo
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The Cosby Show (1984) — Dr. Wexler
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Murder, She Wrote (1984) — Sgt. Bulldog Kowalski
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Guys and Dolls (1955) — Harry the Horse
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I Love Lucy (1951) — Harry Martin (uncredited)
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Pocketful of Miracles (1961) — Steve Darcey
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Another Thin Man (1939) — Phil Church
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Matlock (1986) — Casino Tipster
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Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) — Boots Morgan
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The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) — Big Max Calvada
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The Facts of Life (1979)
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Sanford and Son (1972)
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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) — Self
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Somewhere in the Night (1946) — Sam
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The Brink's Job (1978) — J. Edgar Hoover
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The Lucy Show (1962) — Sheldon Leonard
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Sinbad the Sailor (1947) — Auctioneer
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Dream On (1990) — Don Monteleoni
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Captain Kidd (1945) — Cyprian Boyle
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Decoy (1946) — Sergeant Joe Portugal
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Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) — Self (uncredited)
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Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964) — Norman Miles
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Money from Home (1953) — Jumbo Schneider
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I Spy (1965) — Disc Jockey
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Hit the Ice (1943) — Harry 'Silky' Fellowsby
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Tortilla Flat (1942) — Tito Ralph
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Zombies on Broadway (1945) — Ace Miller
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Uncertain Glory (1944) — Henri Duval
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American Masters (1986) — Self - Interviewee (archive footage)
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My Dream Is Yours (1949) — Grimes
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Street of Chance (1942) — Joe Marruci
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The Danny Thomas Show (1953) — Gus
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The Gangster (1947) — Cornell
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The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950) — Johnny Velvet
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Take One False Step (1949) — Detective Pacciano
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Violence (1947) — Fred Stalk
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Behave Yourself! (1951) — Shortwave Bert
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The Jack Benny Program (1950) — Elevator Tout
Directed
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The Andy Griffith Show (1960) — Director
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The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) — Director
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Lassie (1954) — Director
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My Favorite Martian (1963) — Director
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Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964) — Director
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I Spy (1965) — Director
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The Danny Thomas Show (1953) — Director
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The Real McCoys (1957) — Director
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General Electric Theater (1953) — Director
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Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) — Director
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The Bill Dana Show (1963) — Director
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My World and Welcome to It (1969) — Director
- Make Room for Granddaddy (1970) — Director
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Accidental Family (1967) — Director
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The Danny Thomas Hour (1967) — Director