LEO GORDON
Information from IMDb
Date of birth
2 December 1922
New York, New York, USA
Date of death
26 December 2000
Los Angeles, California, USA. (after a brief illness)
Sometimes Credited As:
Leo V. Gordon
Birth name
Leo Vincent Gordon
Height
6' 2" (1.88 m)
Spouse
Lynn Cartwright (1950 - 26 December 2000) (his death)
Trivia
He has one daughter.
Salary
-Maverick (1994) $1,000/day
Mini Biography
Big, burly, character actor, one of the toughest of screen heavies, Leo Gordon's powerful physique, combined with his deep, menacing voice, was guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of even the bravest screen hero. Director Don Siegel, who used Gordon in his prison film Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954), once said that "Leo Gordon was the scariest man I have ever met" - this coming from a man who had directed John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Bette Midler! Siegel wasn't talking about just Gordon's screen presence. Before becoming an actor (he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Gordon served a stretch in San Quentin prison for armed robbery. "Riot in Cell Block 11" was filmed at San Quentin, and many of the guards remembered Gordon from his time there, when he was regarded as a troublemaker. Prison officials would not let Gordon enter and leave the institution with the other cast and crew members; he was only allowed to enter and exit by himself, and was thoroughly searched each time. Contrary to his image, though, Gordon was not just a one-note villain. He did play sympathetic parts on occasion, notably in the western Black Patch (1957) and in Roger Corman's civil rights drama The Intruder (1962), and turned in first-rate performances, especially in the latter film. Gordon was also a screenwriter, turning out several screenplays for Corman. He wasn't just limited to writing low-budget sci-fi films, either; he penned the screenplay for the WW2 epic Tobruk (1967), writing in a good part for himself as Kruger, a tough sergeant in a platoon of German Jews masquerading as Nazi soldiers to help blow up a German oil storage facility.
IMDb mini-biography by frankfob2
Filmography
Actor
1. Young Indiana Jones and the Hollywood Follies (1994) (TV) .... Wyatt Earp
2. Maverick (1994) (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Poker Player
3. "SeaQuest DSV"
... aka SeaQuest 2032 (USA: new title)
- Whale Song (1994) TV Episode .... Smith
4. Mob Boss (1990) (V) .... Don O'Reily
5. "Wiseguy"
- Brrump-Bump (1990) TV Episode (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Charlie Boden
- Sanctuary (1990) TV Episode (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Charlie
6. Alienator (1989) .... Cpl. Coburn
7. "War and Remembrance" (1988) (mini) TV Series (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Gen. Omar Bradley
8. Saturday the 14th Strikes Back (1988) .... The Evil One
9. Big Top Pee-wee (1988) (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Joe the Blacksmith
10. "St. Elsewhere"
- Split Decision (1988) TV Episode (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Bjorn Johnston
- Ewe Can't Go Home Again (1987) TV Episode (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Bjorn Johnston
11. "Moonlighting"
- Cool Hand Dave: Part 2 (1987) TV Episode (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Warden Cosgrove
12. The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987) .... Guard #1
13. "Magnum, P.I."
- The People vs. Orville Wright (1987) TV Episode (as Leo V. Gordon)
14. Savage Dawn (1985) .... Sheriff
15. "Fame"
- Bronco Bob Rides Again (1985) TV Episode .... Myron Leach
16. All American Cowboy (1985) (TV)
17. Fire and Ice (1983) .... Jarol
18. Bog (1983) .... Dr. John Warren
19. M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (1983) (TV) .... Officer Horvath
20. "The Winds of War" (1983) (mini) TV Series (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Gen. 'Train' Anderson
21. "Enos" (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Sgt. Theodore Kirk
- Forever Blowing Bubbles (1981) TV Episode (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Sgt. Theodore Kirk
22. "Fantasy Island"
- The Searcher/The Way We Weren't (1981) TV Episode .... Chief Guard
23. Rage! (1980) (TV) .... Cal's Father
24. "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe"
- Robin Tucker's Roseland Roof and Ballroom Murders (1980) TV Episode
25. "Little House on the Prairie"
... aka Little House: A New Beginning (USA: last season title)
- The King Is Dead (1979) TV Episode .... Milo Stavroupolis
26. "The Rockford Files"
... aka Jim Rockford, Private Investigator (USA: syndication title)
- Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs: Part 2 (1979) TV Episode .... Charlie Martell
- Black Mirror: Part 1 (1978) TV Episode .... Charles Martell
- Black Mirror: Part 2 (1978) TV Episode .... Charles Martell
- Heartaches of a Fool (1978) TV Episode .... Clark Streeter
27. "The Dukes of Hazzard"
- The Meeting (1979) TV Episode .... Devere
- Deputy Dukes (1979) TV Episode .... Rocky Marlowe
28. Son of Hitler (1978) .... Tuennes
... aka Hitler's Son (USA)
... aka Hitlers Sohn (West Germany)
29. The Lucifer Complex (1978)
30. The Shootist (1976) (uncredited) .... Books' victim in flashback
31. Nashville Girl (1976) .... Burt
... aka Country Music Daughter
... aka New Girl in Town
32. "Cannon"
- A Touch of Venom (1975) TV Episode .... Jack Danvers
33. "Far Out Space Nuts"
- It's All in Your Mind (1975) TV Episode .... Head of the Droneks
34. Barbary Coast (1975) (TV) .... Chief Macdonald Keogh
35. "Adam-12"
- Grand Theft Auto (1975) TV Episode .... Ken Quinnlan
- Trouble in the Bank (1974) TV Episode .... Cleve
- Hot Spell (1972) TV Episode .... Carl Carney
- Million Dollar Buff (1971) TV Episode .... Jennings Thornton
- Log 165: Once a Cop (1971) TV Episode .... Jack Donohoe
36. "The F.B.I."
- Diamond Run (1974) TV Episode .... Drunk Driver
37. "Gunsmoke"
... aka Gun Law (UK)
... aka Marshal Dillon (USA: rerun title)
- The Town Tamers (1974) TV Episode .... Badger
- A Quiet Day in Dodge (1973) TV Episode .... Job Snelling
- No Tomorrow (1972) TV Episode .... Hargis
- No Chip (1960) TV Episode .... Hutch Dolan
- Hack Prine (1956) TV Episode .... Hack Prine
38. Mio nome è Nessuno, Il (1973) .... Red
... aka My Name Is Nobody (Philippines: English title) (USA)
... aka Lonesome Gun (USA)
... aka Mein Name ist Nobody (West Germany)
... aka Mon nom est personne (France)
39. Bonnie's Kids (1973) .... Charley
40. "The Streets of San Francisco"
- The Thirty-Year Pin (1972) TV Episode .... Eddie Suslow
41. "The Mod Squad"
- Kill Gently, Sweet Jessie (1972) TV Episode
42. The Trackers (1971) (TV) .... Higgins
... aka No Trumpets, No Drums
43. "O'Hara, U.S. Treasury"
- Operation: Hijack (1971) TV Episode .... Harry Wilson
44. "Alias Smith and Jones"
- Smiler with a Gun (1971) TV Episode .... Ebenezer
45. "The Bold Ones: The Lawyers"
... aka The Lawyers
- The Search for Leslie Grey (1971) TV Episode .... Adolph Zinner
46. "The Virginian"
... aka The Men from Shiloh (USA: new title)
- Hannah (1970) TV Episode .... Bartender
- The Hour of the Tiger (1964) TV Episode .... Big Jim Lafferty
- West (1962) TV Episode .... Jack Scratch
47. "McCloud"
- Manhattan Manhunt: Part 1: Horse Stealing on Fifth Avenue (1970) TV Episode .... Officer Shannen
48. You Can't Win 'Em All (1970) .... Bolek
... aka Soldiers of Fortune (USA: video title)
... aka The Dubious Patriots
49. "The Outcasts"
- The Town That Wouldn't (1969) TV Episode .... Mark Fenner
50. Buckskin (1968) .... Travis
... aka The Frontiersman
51. "Bonanza"
... aka Ponderosa (USA: rerun title)
- Blood Tie (1968) TV Episode .... Fargo Taylor
- The Deadly Ones (1962) TV Episode .... Forsythe
- Death on Sun Mountain (1959) TV Episode .... Early Thorne
52. "The High Chaparral"
- Gold Is Where You Leave It (1968) TV Episode .... Lije Driskill
53. "Lassie"
... aka Jeff's Collie (USA)
... aka Timmy and Lassie (USA: syndication title)
- Showdown (1967) TV Episode .... Bob Stokes
54. Hostile Guns (1967) .... Hank Pleasant
55. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967) .... Heitler
56. Devil's Angels (1967) .... Sheriff Henderson
57. "Tarzan"
- The Circus (1967) TV Episode .... Bull
58. Tobruk (1967) .... Sgt. Krug
59. "Rango"
- The Daring Holdup of the Deadwood Stage (1967) TV Episode
60. "Pistols 'n' Petticoats"
- Cards Anyone (1966) TV Episode .... Cyrus Breech
61. "Laredo"
- The Land Slickers (1966) TV Episode .... Wayne Emerson
- Lazyfoot, Where Are You? (1965) TV Episode .... Moose
62. Beau Geste (1966) .... Krauss
63. The Night of the Grizzly (1966) .... Cass Dowdy
64. "Daniel Boone"
- A Rope for Mingo (1965) TV Episode .... Silas Morgan
65. "Get Smart"
- School Days (1965) TV Episode .... Grillak
66. "Twelve O'Clock High"
- The Loneliest Place in the World (1965) TV Episode .... M/Sgt. Caber McVaigh
67. Arme à gauche, L' (1965) .... Morrison
... aka Armas para el Caribe (Spain)
... aka Corpo a corpo (Italy)
... aka Guns for the Dictator
... aka The Dictator's Guns (USA)
68. The Girls on the Beach (1965) (uncredited) .... Second Waiter
... aka Summer of '64 (USA: reissue title)
69. "Death Valley Days"
... aka Call of the West (USA: syndication title)
... aka The Pioneers (USA: syndication title)
... aka Trails West (USA: syndication title)
... aka Western Star Theater (USA: syndication title)
- No Gun Behind His Badge (1965) TV Episode .... Bender
- The Debt (1963) TV Episode
70. Kitten with a Whip (1964) .... Sgt. Enders
71. "Rawhide"
- The Lost Herd (1964) TV Episode .... Chris Jensen
- Incident of the Valley in Shadow (1959) TV Episode .... Daggert
72. "Arrest and Trial"
- Those Which Love Has Made (1964) TV Episode .... Fred Kordiak
73. "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre"
... aka The Chrysler Theater
... aka Universal Star Time (syndication title)
- The Square Peg (1964) TV Episode .... Jolly Boy
- The House Next Door (1963) TV Episode .... Biggie
74. "The Great Adventure"
- Wild Bill Hickok - the Legend and the Man (1964) TV Episode .... McCanles
75. Kings of the Sun (1963) .... Hunac Kell
76. "Temple Houston"
- Toll the Bell Slowly (1963) TV Episode .... Charles Grimm
77. The Haunted Palace (1963) .... Edgar Weeden/Ezra Weeden
... aka Edgar Allan Poe's The Haunted Palace (USA: promotional title)
... aka The Haunted Village
78. "The Rifleman"
- Which Way'd They Go? (1963) TV Episode .... Stack Wade
- The Angry Gun (1958) TV Episode .... Abe Jordan
79. McLintock! (1963) .... Jones
80. "The Andy Griffith Show"
... aka Andy of Mayberry (USA: rerun title)
- High Noon in Mayberry (1963) TV Episode .... Luke Comstock
81. "Empire"
... aka Big G (UK)
- The Tall Shadow (1962) TV Episode .... Jake
82. Tarzan Goes to India (1962) .... Bryce, Head Engineer
83. The Intruder (1962) .... Sam Griffin
... aka I Hate Your Guts! (USA: reissue title)
... aka Shame (USA: reissue title)
... aka The Stranger (UK)
84. "Bronco"
- Destinies West (1962) TV Episode .... Nero Hollister
- The Soft Answer (1959) TV Episode .... Barnaby Spence
85. "Cheyenne"
- The Idol (1962) TV Episode .... Greg Kirby
- Death Deals This Hand (1956) TV Episode .... Santell
- The Outlander (1955) TV Episode .... MacDonald
86. The Nun and the Sergeant (1962) .... Dockman
87. "Tales of Wells Fargo"
- Trackback (1961) TV Episode .... Frank Lambert
- Jeff Davis' Treasure (1960) TV Episode .... Adam Kemper
- The Hasty Gun (1957) TV Episode (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Nick Breese
88. "Lawman"
... aka The Lawman (USA: alternative title)
- Whiphand (1961) TV Episode
89. "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp"
... aka Wyatt Earp
- The Shooting Starts (1961) TV Episode .... Miggles Hannegan
90. "Have Gun - Will Travel"
- The Last Judgment (1961) TV Episode .... Moley
- The Sanctuary (1960) TV Episode .... Harkness
- The Fifth Man (1959) TV Episode .... Bert Talman
- Winchester Quarantine (1957) TV Episode .... Clyde McNally
91. "The Brothers Brannagan"
- A Very Special Woman (1961) TV Episode
92. "COronado 9"
- Run, Shep, Run (1961) TV Episode
93. "Checkmate"
- The Murder Game (1960) TV Episode .... Harry
94. "Dan Raven"
- Japanese Sandbag (1960) TV Episode .... Regis
95. "Outlaws"
- The Rape of Red Sky (1960) TV Episode .... Hutch
96. "Bat Masterson"
- Law of the Land (1960) TV Episode .... Red Eric Pederson
- Dude's Folly (1958) TV Episode .... Joe Quinch
97. "Mr. Lucky"
- Election Bet (1960) TV Episode .... Killer
98. "The Alaskans"
- Calico (1960) TV Episode .... Tracy
99. Noose for a Gunman (1960) .... Link Roy
100. "The Untouchables"
- Head of Fire, Feet of Clay (1960) TV Episode .... Pops Gantry
- The St. Louis Story (1960) TV Episode .... Whitey
101. "Law of the Plainsman"
... aka The Westerners (USA: syndication title)
- The Show-Off (1960) TV Episode .... Rand
102. "Tightrope"
- Big Business (1960) TV Episode .... Charlie Carson
103. "The Deputy"
- The Border Between (1960) TV Episode .... Evan Sloat
104. "Five Fingers"
- The Man Who Got Away (1959) TV Episode .... Lenska
105. The Jayhawkers! (1959) .... Jake Barton
106. "Lock Up"
- Stakeout (1959) TV Episode .... Ed Sparks
107. "Perry Mason"
- The Case of the Dangerous Dowager (1959) TV Episode .... Charles Duncan
108. "Maverick"
- The Strange Journey of Jenny Hill (1959) TV Episode .... Big Mike McComb
- Shady Deal at Sunny Acres (1958) TV Episode .... Big Mike McComb
- Plunder of Paradise (1958) TV Episode .... Big Mike McComb
- According to Hoyle (1957) TV Episode .... Big Mike McComb
- War of the Silver Kings (1957) TV Episode .... Big Mike McComb
109. "26 Men"
- Showdown (1959) TV Episode
- Run No More (1958) TV Episode
110. The Big Operator (1959) .... Danny Sacanzi
... aka Anatomy of the Syndicate (USA: reissue title)
111. "Tales of the Texas Rangers"
- Desert Fury (1958) TV Episode .... Joe Brock
112. "Disneyland"
... aka Disney's Wonderful World (USA: new title)
... aka The Disney Sunday Movie (USA: new title)
... aka The Magical World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka The Wonderful World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney Presents (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (USA: new title)
- Texas John Slaughter: Ambush at Laredo (1958) TV Episode (scenes deleted) .... Outlaw #2
- Texas John Slaughter (1958) TV Episode .... Outlaw Bill
113. "Texas John Slaughter"
- Ambush in Laredo (1958) TV Episode .... Bill
- Texas John Slaughter (1958) TV Episode .... Bill
114. Escort West (1958) .... Vogel
115. "The Rough Riders"
- The Imposters (1958) TV Episode
116. Ride a Crooked Trail (1958) .... Sam Mason
117. Apache Territory (1958) .... Zimmerman
118. The Cry Baby Killer (1958) (uncredited) .... Man in crowd
... aka Cry Baby Killer (USA: poster title)
119. Quantrill's Raiders (1958) .... William Clarke Quantrill
120. The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958) .... Chip Klamp
121. "State Trooper"
- Death on Wheels (1958) TV Episode
- The Hills of Homicide (1956) TV Episode
122. "Sea Hunt"
- Flooded Mine (1958) TV Episode .... Panicky Miner
123. "Casey Jones"
- Layover at Jamestown (1957) TV Episode .... Gray
124. Baby Face Nelson (1957) .... John Dillinger
125. "Official Detective"
- Hijackers (1957) TV Episode
126. "Tombstone Territory"
- Guns of Silver (1957) TV Episode .... Pete Carter
127. The Tall Stranger (1957) .... Stark
... aka The Rifle (USA)
... aka Walk Tall (USA: alternative title)
128. Man in the Shadow (1957/I) .... Chet Huneker
... aka Pay the Devil (UK)
... aka Seeds of Wrath
129. Black Patch (1957) .... Hank Danner
130. The Restless Breed (1957) .... Cherokee
131. Lure of the Swamp (1957) .... Steggins, Insurance Investigator
132. "Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre"
... aka Jane Wyman Presents (USA: rerun title)
... aka Jane Wyman Theater (USA)
- Harbor Patrol (1957) TV Episode .... Tim Thatcher
- Assignment Champ (1956) TV Episode .... Joe Bendito
133. "Soldiers of Fortune"
- Crew of the Dolly (1957) TV Episode
- A Gift of Death (1957) TV Episode
134. "Broken Arrow"
- The Raiders (1956) TV Episode .... Will Carr
135. 7th Cavalry (1956) .... Vogel
136. "Navy Log"
- The Big A (1956) TV Episode .... Smokey
137. "Circus Boy" (1956) TV Series .... Hank Miller
138. "Screen Directors Playhouse"
- High Air (1956) TV Episode .... Tom Martin
139. Johnny Concho (1956) .... Mason
140. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) (uncredited) .... Chauffeur
141. Great Day in the Morning (1956) .... Zeff Masterson
142. "Crusader"
- A Quiet Town (1956) TV Episode
143. Red Sundown (1956) .... Rod Zellman
144. "Frontier"
- The Big Dry (1956) TV Episode .... Pauk
- Ferdinand Meyer's Army (1955) TV Episode .... Brandon
145. "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin"
- The Third Rider (1956) TV Episode .... Pete Cregar
- The White Buffalo (1955) TV Episode .... Garth
- Wolf Cry (1954) TV Episode .... Charlie
146. The Steel Jungle (1956) .... Lupo
147. The Conqueror (1956) .... Tartar captain
... aka Conqueror of the Desert
148. Man with the Gun (1955) .... Ed Pinchot
... aka Deadly Peacemaker
... aka The Trouble Shooter (UK)
149. Tennessee's Partner (1955) .... The Sheriff
150. Robbers' Roost (1955) .... Jeff (Hayes' Man)
151. Soldier of Fortune (1955) .... Big Matt
152. Santa Fe Passage (1955) .... Tuss McLawery
153. Seven Angry Men (1955) .... Martin White
... aka God's Angry Man (USA: alternative title)
154. Ten Wanted Men (1955) .... Frank Scavo
155. The Bamboo Prison (1954) .... Pike
156. Sign of the Pagan (1954) .... Bleda
157. The Yellow Mountain (1954) .... Drake
158. The Egyptian (1954) (uncredited) .... Egyptian soldier
159. "Stories of the Century"
... aka The Fast Guns (USA: reissue title)
- The Doolin Gang (1954) TV Episode .... Bill Doolin
160. Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954) .... Carnie
161. Hondo (1953) .... Ed Lowe
162. All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953) .... Peter How
163. Gun Fury (1953) .... Tom 'Jess' Burgess
164. City of Bad Men (1953) (as Leo V. Gordon) .... Russell
165. China Venture (1953) .... Sgt. Hank Janowicz
166. "Hallmark Hall of Fame"
... aka Hallmark Television Playhouse
- The Blue and White Lamp (1952) TV Episode (as Leo V. Gordon)
Writer
1. The Wasp Woman (1995) (TV) (1960 screenplay)
2. You Can't Win 'Em All (1970) (as Leo V. Gordon)
... aka Soldiers of Fortune (USA: video title)
... aka The Dubious Patriots
3. All the Loving Couples (1969)
... aka All the Loving Neighbors
4. "Adam-12" (1968) TV Series (writer)
5. Tobruk (1967) (written by) (as Leo V. Gordon)
6. The Bounty Killer (1965)
7. The Terror (1963) (screenplay)
8. Tower of London (1962) (story)
9. The Cat Burglar (1961)
10. Valley of the Redwoods (1960)
11. The Wasp Woman (1960)
12. Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)
13. "Bonanza" (1959) TV Series (writer) (two episodes)
... aka Ponderosa (USA: rerun title)
14. Escort West (1958)
15. The Cry Baby Killer (1958) (screenplay) (story)
... aka Cry Baby Killer (USA: poster title)
16. Hot Car Girl (1958)
17. "Colt .45" (1957) TV Series (writer)
18. "Maverick" (1957) TV Series
19. Black Patch (1957)
20. "Cheyenne"
- The Trap (1956) TV Episode (story)
Director
1. "Adam-12" (1968) TV Series