Leo Zalman Penn(August 27, 1921 – September 5, 1998) was an American television director and actor. He was the father of musicianMichael Pennand actorsSeanandChris Penn.
Leo Penn | |
|---|---|
 Penn in 1964 | |
| Born | Leo Zalman Penn August 27, 1921 |
| Died | September 5, 1998(aged 77) |
| Occupation(s) | Television director, actor |
| Years active | 1946–1995 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | Dylan Penn(granddaughter) |
Early life
editPenn was born inLawrence, Massachusetts,the son of a Russian-Jewish immigrant mother, Elizabeth (néeMelincoff; 1890–1961) and Maurice Daniel Penn (néPinon; 1897–1981), who was of Lithuanian-Jewish descent.[1][2][3]Leo Penn served in theUnited States Army Air ForcesduringWorld War IIas aB-24 Liberatorbombardier with the 755th Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group, stationed in England as part of theEighth Air Force.[4]
Career
editA life member ofThe Actors Studio,[5]Penn won theTheatre World Awardin 1954 for his performance in the playThe Girl on the Via Flaminia.He acted in numerous roles in the early years of television. In 1956, he was cast as Mr. Rico in the episode "Ringside Padre" of the religion anthology seriesCrossroads.In 1957, he appeared in the episode "One If by Sea" of the military drama series,Navy Log.He was also cast in an episode ofBeverly Garland's 1957–1958 groundbreaking crime dramaDecoy.In 1960, he played Cavage in "The Poker Fiend" onRichard Boone'sCBSwestern seriesHave Gun – Will Travel.In 1961, he was cast as Tiko in the episode "The World Is Her Oyster" of theABCadventure seriesThe Islanders,set in the South Pacific, and appeared in an episode of the ABC crime dramaThe Asphalt Jungle.He also appeared in another ABC adventure seriesStraightaway,which focuses on automobile racing. On March 3, 1961, he co-starred withPeter FalkandJoyce Van Pattenin the episode "Cold Turkey" of the ABC legal drama seriesThe Law and Mr. JonesstarringJames Whitmore.About this time, he also appeared onPat O'Brien's ABC sitcomHarrigan and Son.In the 1961–1962 television season, Penn acted in the CBS crime dramaCheckmatein the episode "The Button-Down Break" and starred as Jerry Green inGertrude Berg's CBS's sitcomMrs. G. Goes to Collegerenamed at mid-season asThe Gertrude Berg Show.
Penn landed work as a director for many television series, includingI Spy,Lost in Space, Cannon,Star Trek,Blue Light,Custer,the 1976 westernSara,St. Elsewhere,Kojak,Starsky and Hutch,Cagney & Lacey,Little House on the Prairie,Columbo,Hawaii Five-O,Trapper John, M.D.,Hart To Hart,Magnum, P.I.,andFather Murphy.In 1983, he was nominated for anEmmy Awardfor Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series forThe Mississippi.[citation needed]
Politics
editPenn supported the Hollywood trade unions[6]and refused to accuse others to theHouse Un-American Activities Committeein their investigation of suspected Communist infiltration of the film industry. He was subsequentlyblacklisted,and Paramount refused to renew his contract. As a result, Penn was not able to work as a movie actor.[7]He found acting work in television, butCBSousted him after receiving an anonymous accusation that he had addressed a Communist political meeting.[8]Barred from acting in film or TV, he became a director.[9]
Personal life and death
editPenn marriedEileen Ryanin 1957, and they had three sons:Michael Penn,Sean Penn,andChris Penn.[6]He died from lung cancer atSaint John's Health CenterinSanta Monica, California,on September 5, 1998, at the age of 77.[6]
Filmography
editThis sectionis missing informationabout his directing credits.(June 2024) |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | The Best Years of Our Lives | ATC Corporal | Uncredited |
| 1947 | Fall Guy | Tom Cochrane | |
| 1949 | The Undercover Man | Sydney Gordon | |
| Not Wanted | Steve Ryan | ||
| 1959 | The Story on Page One | Morrie Goetz | |
| 1962 | Birdman of Alcatraz | Eddie Kassellis | Uncredited |
| A Man Called Adam | Director | ||
| 1973 | Columbo: Any Old Port in a Storm | Director | |
| 1977 | Sixth and Main | Doc | |
| 1977 | Little House On The Prairie | Director | |
| 1984 | The Wild Life | Tom's Dad | |
| 1995 | The Crossing Guard | Hank |
References
edit- ^Pfefferman, Naomi (October 16, 1997)."Spectator".Jewish Journal.RetrievedMay 25,2018.
- ^"Chopped Liver Gets a Mention, but No Jewish Wins on Oscar Night".Jewish Telegraphic Agency.March 2, 2004.RetrievedMay 25,2018.
- ^Bilmes, Alex (February 16, 2015)."Sean Penn Is Esquire's March Cover Star".Esquire.RetrievedMay 8,2018.
- ^"Famous B-24/PB4Y Crew Members".B-24 Best Web. 2011.RetrievedJuly 25,2011.
- ^Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980".A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio.New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p.279.ISBN0-02-542650-8.
- ^abcShattuck, Kathryn (September 10, 1998)."Leo Penn".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 15,2019.
- ^Hilden, Julie (January 18, 2005)."In Defense of Sean Penn's Speaking Out: How Celebrity Activists Can Serve as A Modern Bulwark of Our Constitutional System".FindLaw.com.Thomson Reuters.Archived fromthe originalon November 27, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 15,2019.
- ^Kelly, Richard T. (2004).Sean Penn: His Life and Times.New York City:Canongate Books.p. 26.ISBN1-84195-623-6.
- ^Stark, Rachael."Elia Kazan—Genius or Informant?".Infoplease.Sandbox Networks, Inc.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 15,2019.