1. Leon Askin was born into a Jewish family in Vienna, the son of Malvine and Samuel Aschkenasy.
10 Facts About Leon Askin
1. 2.
Leon Askin fled Austria to the United States in 1940, after having been beaten and abused by the Nazi SA and SS.
3.
Leon Askin's parents were murdered in the Treblinka death camp.
4.
Leon Askin then served in World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the US Army Air Forces.
5.
Leon Askin appeared as the Russian composer Anton Rubinstein in a Disneyland anthology episode of the life of Peter Tchaikovsky.
6.
Leon Askin appeared in 20th Century Fox's biblical epic The Robe in 1953 as a Syrian guide named Abidor.
7.
Leon Askin gained wide recognition and popularity for his recurring role as the stern General Albert Burkhalter in the sitcom Hogan's Heroes, appearing in 67 episodes of the show's run from 1965 to 1971, including the pilot episode.
8.
Leon Askin made guest appearances on The Restless Gun 1957 episode "The Shooting of Jett King", My Favorite Martian and the 1965 episode "Martin Of The Movies" as Von Reinbein.
9.
Leon Askin had a role in the classic Mel Brooks comedy Young Frankenstein, but his scenes were cut from the film.
10.
Leon Askin died from natural causes in Vienna on June 3,2005, at the age of 97 and is interred at Vienna Central Cemetery.