Peter Leeds
Introduction '''Peter Leeds''' (May 30, 1917 – November 12, 1996) was an American actor who appeared on television more than 8,000 times and also had many film, Broadway, and radio credits. The majority of his work took place in the 1950s and 1960s. Working with many well-known comedians, he became popular as a straight man to their antics.Beyond situation comedies, Peter Leeds was also a dramatic actor, a Broadway performer, and a regular on many variety shows. He made three guest appearances on ''Perry Mason'' and multiple appearances on the radio drama Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Peter Leeds was also a popular voice-over artist, being heard on over 3,000 radio shows.
Early life  A native of Bayonne, New Jersey, Leeds received his training at the Neighborhood Playhouse. He made his film debut with a bit part in ''Public Enemies'' (1941). He received a scholarship from the John Marshall Law School, which he attended for one year. He also attended The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Leeds was noticed by the Group Theater of New York, through which he received a scholarship and graduated.
Career Leeds ''(right)'' in ''Bonanza'', 1960Leeds worked with hundreds of well-known actors, including Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Carol Burnett, Red Skelton, Jack Benny, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, and Johnny Carson. He appeared four times with David Janssen in the crime drama, ''Richard Diamond, Private Detective''. Leeds was cast as George Colton in nine episodes of the 1960s CBS sitcom, ''Pete and Gladys.'' He guest-starred on an episode of the 1961 crime adventure-drama series ''The Investigators'' and on an episode of the 1962-1963 ABC drama series, ''Going My Way''. In 1965, he guest-starred in an episode of ''The Cara Williams Show''.Leeds was known for his association with Stan Freberg and played his foil in several song parodies. In addition, he had several roles on both Volume One and Volume Two of the classic comedy albums ''Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America'', and also appeared as a regular on the short-lived CBS radio series ''The Stan Freberg Show'' in 1957.Leeds had a recurring role as gambler/saloon owner Tenner Smith in the 1957-1959 CBS television series, ''Trackdown''.Leeds appeared in three episodes of Perry Mason including Bill Emory in the 1958 episode "The Case of the Sunbather's Diary. "Leeds played federal agent LaMarr Kane in "The Scarface Mob", the pilot for ABC's ''The Untouchables'' TV series, a role taken over in the actual series by Chuck Hicks. He was a member of the casts of the 1958 version of ''The Betty White Show'' and ''The Buster Keaton Show'' , and made an appearance on ''Batman (TV show)'' (year two, episodes 29 and 30).
USO tours Leeds accompanied Bob Hope on 14 international USO (United Service Organizations) tours.
Voice work Leeds also did voices for animated television and film, including ''The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat'', ''Hong Kong Phooey'', ''The New Yogi Bear Show'', ''The Dukes'', ''Challenge of the GoBots'', ''CBS Storybreak'', ''The Jetsons'' and was the narrator of ''The Quick Draw McGraw Show''. He was also on the CBS radio program, ''The Stan Freberg Show'' along with Daws Butler and June Foray.
Broadway Leeds appeared on Broadway in the first cast of ''Sugar Babies'' along with Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller in 1979.
Personal life Leeds and his wife of 34 years, Pat Leeds, had a son, Dr. Michael Leeds. Leeds died of cancer at the age of 79, on November 12, 1996, in Los Angeles, California.
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists During the 1970s, Leeds spent five years as the president of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). He later served on the actors' union's national and local Board of Directors. In 1992, AFTRA repaid his many years of service with its highest honor, the Gold Card. Leeds later served on the Board of Governors for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Filmography  Year Title Role Notes1941 ''Public Enemies''  Reporter 1941 ''Pacific Blackout''  Air Raid Warden  Uncredited1942 ''Don Winslow of the Navy''  Seaman Chapman  Serial1942 ''Treat 'Em Rough''  Davis 1942 ''Priorities on Parade''  Joe - Factory Employee / Show Coordinator  Uncredited1942 ''The Secret Code''  Henchman Carl Hiecke  Serial, Ch. 91942 ''I Married a Witch''  Ambulance Attendant  Uncredited1942 ''Reunion in France''  Boy  Uncredited1943 ''Lady Bodyguard''  Intern  Uncredited1943 ''Crash Dive''  Shore Police  Uncredited1946 ''That Brennan Girl''  Bergie  Uncredited1947 ''Hit Parade of 1947''  Bandleader in Rehearsal Room  Uncredited1949 ''The Life of Riley''  Conway's Voice on Radio Show  Voice, Uncredited1949 ''The Lady Gambles''  Jack Harrison - Hotel Clerk 1949 ''D.O.A.'' Leo - Bartender  Uncredited1950 ''Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town''  Tall Beautician  Uncredited1950 ''South Sea Sinner''  Second Policeman  Uncredited1950 ''Saddle Tramp''  Springer 1950 ''Dial 1119''  Martin, Wounded Policeman  Uncredited1951 ''Up Front''  Pinanski  Uncredited1951 ''Katie Did It''  'Odds' Burton 1951 ''Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm''  Manson 1951 ''The Frogmen''  Pharmacist's Mate  Uncredited1952 ''My Man and I''  Man with Nancy at Bar  Uncredited1952 ''Come Back, Little Sheba''  Milkman  Uncredited1953 ''Never Wave at a WAC''  Nick Laharis  Uncredited1953 ''Stalag 17''  Barracks #1 Prisoner of War Getting Distillery  Uncredited1953 ''99 River Street''  Nat Finley 1954 ''The Long, Long Trailer''  Garage Manager  Uncredited1954 ''Playgirl''  Sharpie  Uncredited1954 ''Brigadoon''  Peter - Headwaiter  Uncredited1954 ''The Adventures of Hajji Baba''  Merchant  Uncredited1954 ''Athena''  Photographer  Uncredited1954 ''The Last Time I Saw Paris''  Barney 1954 ''The Atomic Kid''  Agent Bill 1955 ''Six Bridges to Cross''  Harris  Uncredited1955 ''Hit the Deck''  Lieutenant - Operation Mud Pie  Uncredited1955 ''Tight Spot''  Fred Packer 1955 ''Interrupted Melody''  Dr. Ed Ryson 1955 ''Love Me or Leave Me''  Fred Taylor 1955 ''It's Always Fair Weather''  Mr. Trasker  Uncredited1955 ''Bobby Ware Is Missing''  Mackey of F.B.I. 1955 ''I'll Cry Tomorrow''  Richard 1955 ''Willy''  Jerry Burke  Episode: "Franklin's Shoe Business"1956 ''It's Always Jan''  Newspaper reporter  Episode: "Guilty Conscience"1956 ''The Price of Fear''  Mitchell  Uncredited1956 ''The Harder They Fall''  Dundee Fight Ring Announcer  Uncredited1956 ''Behind the High Wall''  First Detective 1956 ''Tea and Sympathy''  Headmaster at Bonfire  Uncredited1956 ''The Best Things in Life Are Free''  Genius  Uncredited1956 ''The Great American Pastime''  Motor Cop  Uncredited1957 ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents''  Custodian  Season 2 Episode 21: "Number Twenty-Two"1957 ''Mr. Adams and Eve''  Driver  Episode:  "Howard Goes to Jail"1957 ''Slander''  Herb Goodman  Uncredited1957 ''Official Detective''  Patterson  Episode:  "The Deserted House"1957 ''Bombers B-52''  TV Quiz Show Director  Uncredited1957 ''Kiss Them for Me''  Reporter in Nightclub  Uncredited1958 ''The Brothers Karamazov''  Guard  Uncredited1959 ''The Scarface Mob''  Lamarr Kane  TV movie1958-1959 ''Trackdown''  Tenner Smith  recurring role, 15 episodes1959 ''High School Big Shot''  Mr. Carter 1959 ''The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock''  Bill Burton 1959 ''The Devil's Disciple''  Narrator  Uncredited1959 ''The Big Operator''  Henland  Uncredited1959 ''Girls Town''  Michael Clyde 1959 ''The Rookie''  Seville Quare 1960 ''Please Don't Eat the Daisies''  Mackay's Secretary  Uncredited1960 ''The Facts of Life''  Thompson - the Dry Cleaner 1961 ''The Tab Hunter Show''  Gordon Harris  Episode: "Personal Appearance"1961 ''The Investigators''  Walter Keeler  Episode: "Death Leaves a Tip"1961 ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' Policeman  Episode: "Harrison B Harding of Camp Crowder Mo" S1 E61963 ''The Wheeler Dealers''  Arthur Watkins 1964 ''The Addams Family''  Oscar Webber  "Morticia Joins the Ladies League"1965 ''I'll Take Sweden''  Car Salesman  Uncredited1965 ''Harlow''  Parker 1966 ''I Dream of Jeannie''  Big Charlie  "My Master, the Doctor", Season 1, Episode 20,1966 ''The Oscar''  Bert 1966 ''The Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas Show''  Actor 1967 ''Rango''  Raven  Episode "What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing Holding Up a Place Like This? "1967 ''8 on the Lam''  Marty  1968 ''With Six You Get Eggroll''  Police Officer Joelson  Uncredited1972-1974 ''Adam-12''  George Porter / Dennis Baker  2 episodes1972 ''Mission Impossible''  John Larson  Episode: "The Deal"1974 ''The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat''  Juan / Various Characters  Voice1987 ''Dragnet''  Roy Grest
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