Leo Burmester


Bernard Leo Burmester was an American actor of stage and screen.

Early life and education

Burmester was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and studied at Western Kentucky University as a biology major before switching to drama. He worked summer stock at Shawnee Summer Theatre of Greene County, Indiana. After receiving an MFA from the University of Denver, he taught college for a year before becoming a working actor.

Career

;Stage
Burmester appeared with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, originating roles in Marsha Norman's drama play Getting Out and James McLure's Lone Star, and eventually recreating them in his off-Broadway and Broadway debuts, respectively.
On Broadway, he is known for performing as the booming villain General D. in Raggedy Ann: The Musical Adventure. He played the role of Monsieur Thénardier in the original production of Les Misérables, the role of Bradley in the 1996 revival of Sam Shepard's drama Buried Child directed by Gary Sinise, and as Sid Davis in a 1998 revival of Eugene O'Neill's comedy Ah, Wilderness! at Lincoln Center. He played the Police Sergeant in Harry Connick, Jr.'s musical Thou Shalt not. Other Broadway roles include the award-winning musical The Civil War, and the musical adaptation, Urban Cowboy.
Off-Broadway roles include Hucklebee in a revival of the 1960 musical The Fantasticks.
;Screen
Burmester made his feature film debut in a big budget project with Cruising, and had a featured role as the mortuary director in Honky Tonk Freeway. Burmester played one of the FBI agents hounding the faux Rosenberg couple in Daniel. He played Holly Hunter's character's father in the prologue of Broadcast News, and the bum in front of The Plaza in Big Business. Roles started to get larger with James Cameron's The Abyss, as Catfish DeVries, decompression expert. Burmester worked for director John Sayles several times, including in Passion Fish and Lone Star, and also for directors such as William Friedkin, Clint Eastwood, Robert Altman, John Schlesinger and Sidney Lumet, and as the Apostle Nathaniel in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ.
On television, Burmester starred in the CBS sitcom Flo as Randy Stumphill, the mechanic who frequented the bar. Burmeister also played Woodrow Wilton, in season two episode of Walker, Texas Ranger, the episode was called "An Innocent Man", where he played a guy framed for murder.

Personal life and death

Burmester died at age 63 on June 28, 2007, in New York City, from complications from a tick bite and leukemia after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. Burmester was survived by his wife, Lora Lee Echobelli, and children, Daniel and Colette. His ashes were scattered in Kentucky.

Theatre

Lone Star Big River Raggedy Ann Les Misérables – ThénardierBuried Child Ah, Wilderness The Civil War Thou Shalt Not – The Police OfficerUrban Cowboy The Fantasticks – Hucklebee

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980–1981FloRandy Stumphill28 Episodes
1982Rattlesnake in a CoolerThe Doctor / PrisonerTV movie
1983Rage of AngelsJimTV movie
1983ChiefsEmmett SpenceTV miniseries
1984George WashingtonEban KrutchTV miniseries
1986George Washington II: The Forging of a NationEban KrutchTV miniseries
1988The EqualizerJim HardingEpisode: "No Place Like Home"
1989The EqualizerCoach BellEpisode: "Suicide Squad"
1989–1990True BlueOfficer Red Tollin12 episodes
1991Young RidersMr. MarshEpisode: "The Initiation"
1993Walker, Texas RangerWoodrow Jonathan WiltonEpisode: "An Innocent Man"
1993Alex Haley's QueenHendersonTV miniseries
1994Law & OrderDefense Attorney Lester HastingsEpisode: "Snatched"
1995The Great Elephant EscapeEthridgeTV movie
1995TrumanFrank VassarTV movie
1996MistralCommissioner Russell CraneTV movie
1996Law & OrderMr. Le ClairEpisode: "Charm City: Part 1"
1997William Faulkner's Old ManPlump ConvictTV movie. AKA, Hallmark Hall of Fame: Old Man
1997...First Do No HarmBob PurdueTV movie
1999Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love StoryCorby Judd TV miniseries
2002Monday Night MayhemCarl LindermannTV movie
2002Law & Order: Criminal IntentLorne CutlerEpisode: "The Third Horseman"
2002Law & OrderDefense Attorney Lester HastingsEpisode: "Patriot"
2004Carry Me HomeGrizzleTV movie
2006Law & Order: Special Victims UnitBud GablerEpisode: "Cage"