Leon Belasco
Leon Belasco was a Russian-American actor and musician who had a career in film and television that spanned from the 1920s to the 1980s, appearing in more than 100 films.
Musical career
Born in Odessa, Russian Empire, Belasco attended St. Joseph College in Yokohama, Japan, and trained as a musician in Japan and Manchuria. He was briefly the concertmaster of the Japanese-Russian Symphony Orchestra, a predecessor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
When he moved on his own to California in 1921, Belasco found occasional work in Hollywood. He made his film debut in 1926 in the silent film The Best People. To supplement his income, he played the violin. Later he formed his own band, which mainly performed in hotels in and around New York City. The Andrews Sisters were introduced through his band.
In 1933, Belasco and his orchestra were heard on the Oldsmobile Program on CBS radio.
Film career
During a season break from a hotel engagement, he returned to Hollywood, first appearing in Broadway Serenade and Topper Takes a Trip. He acted in 13 films in 1942, including Holiday Inn, Casablanca, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and Road to Morocco.
He appeared with the Marx Brothers in their last film together, Love Happy. Being able to speak Russian, he was a dialogue director in Norman Jewison's 1966 comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming.
Belasco often played eccentric or befuddled European and ethnic characters. He also played heavier roles in espionage dramas. On radio, he played a thieving informant in The Man Called X. His best-known television role was as Appopoplous the landlord in My Sister Eileen. His last film was Superdad, and his final television movie was Woman of the Year.
Television career
Beginning in 1953, Belasco appeared in a variety of television shows, including Maverick, Twilight Zone, My Favorite Martian, The Lucy Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, My Three Sons, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Little House on the Prairie and Trapper John, M.D..
Belasco was Jewish and in a 1943 article in the Colorado Intermountain Jewish News, he was listed among a number of other well-known Jews in the film industry who had joined the military during World War II. Belasco's name appeared alongside those of Don Castle, Melvyn Douglas, George E. Stone, Sid Silvers, Billy Halop, Max Baer, Fritz Feld, Max Rosenbloom, and Tony Martin.
On his death in 1988 in Orange, California, Belasco was cremated, and his ashes scattered.
Selected filmography
The Saint in [New York (film)|The Saint in New York] - Driver Dramatic School - Nightclub Announcer Topper Takes a Trip - BellboyFisherman's Wharf - LuigiBeauty for the Asking - Beauty Shop Owner Broadway Serenade - 'Squeaker'The Flying Irishman - Russian Commentator Good Girls Go to Paris - Nightclub Violinist Man About Town - Arab Petitioner in Show Lady of the Tropics - Assistant to Manager On Your Toes - Mishka - Slave in Ballet Legion of Lost Flyers - 'Frenchy' RogianI Take This Woman - Pancho It's a Date - Captain of Waiters My Favorite Wife - Waiter - Pacific Club Poolside The Lady in Question - Barber Lucky Partners - Nick #1The Mummy's Hand - AliSpring Parade - Violinist Orchestra LeaderMelody and Moonlight - Maestro Tugboat Annie Sails Again - Headwaiter Comrade X - Comrade Baronoff - Hotel Manager Where Did You Get That Girl? - HaydenTall, Dark and Handsome - Alfredo HerreraAbdul the Bulbul-Ameer - A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob - First Taxi Driver They Dare Not Love - Pierre I'll Wait for You - Mr. Lapagos, the TailorKisses for Breakfast - Piano Accompanist Ringside Maisie - Shady Lawn Band Leader Hold Back the Dawn - Mr. Spitzer It Started with Eve - Couturier Never Give a Sucker an Even Break - Pianist Nothing but the Truth - Dr. ZarakNiagara Falls - Head WaiterThe Chocolate Soldier - Waiter at the Double Eagle Skylark - Long-Haired Man in Subway CarThe Night of January 16th - Airplane Steward Design for Scandal - Alexander RaoulPlaymates - Prince Maharoohu Roxie Hart - Waiter The Night Before the Divorce - Leo - the HeadwaiterAlways in My Heart - Luke Kid Glove Killer - Chris Spyro - Cook Yankee Doodle Dandy - Magician Night in New Orleans - Waiter in Tavern Holiday Inn - Flower Shop Proprietor Give Out, Sisters - WaiterHenry Aldrich, Editor - Leon BrinkBetween Us Girls - Nightclub Patron Highways by Night - Howard Road to Morocco - Yusef That Other Woman - WalterCasablanca - Dealer in Rick's Café Over My Dead Body - PierreIt Comes Up Love - Orchestra LeaderHers to Hold - Orchestra Leader The Heat's On - Shore - the Agent She's for Me - ActonThe Gang's All Here - Waiter Chip Off the Old Block - Pianist And the Angels Sing - Waiter Pin Up Girl - Mario Meet the People - Milo San Diego, I Love You - Violinist The Conspirators - Vincent's Waiter An American Romance - Cigar Store Proprietor Storm Over Lisbon - Fado Singer Night Club Girl - GastonSee My Lawyer - Violinist Earl Carroll Vanities - Baron DashekHollywood and Vine - Cedric BorrisWonder Man - Pianist Easy to Look At - PhillipeOut of This World - Leon Yolanda and the Thief - Taxi DriverSwing Parade of 1946 - PeteSuspense - Pierre YashaHoliday in Mexico - Orchestra Leader Little Iodine - SimkinsIt Happened on Fifth Avenue - Musician Philo Vance Returns - Alexis KarnoffThree Daring Daughters - Ship Bandleader I, Jane Doe - DurocFor the Love of Mary - IgorAdventures of Don Juan - Don de Cordoba Every Girl Should Be Married - ViolinistJiggs and Maggie in Jackpot Jitters - Gambler Holiday in Havana - Luis Amantado Love Happy - Mr. LyonsEverybody Does It - Prof. HugoBagdad - BeggarNancy Goes to Rio - Prof. Gama Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town - Beauty Salon Manager Please Believe Me - The CroupierLove That Brute - François Ducray aka FrenchyThe Flame and the Arrow - Arturo of Milan / Players' Impresario / Court Announcer Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion - Hassam—AuctioneerThe Toast of New Orleans - Dominiques' Orchestra Leader Bomba and the Hidden City - RaschidCuban Fireball - HunyabiLittle Egypt - MoulaiHavana Rose - RenaldiThe Golden Horde - Nazza the Astrologer The Fabulous Senorita - Señor GonzalesGobs and Gals - PeterSon of Ali Baba - BabuJalopy - Prof. Bosgood ElrodCall Me Madam - Leader Geraldine - Professor DuboisCan-Can - Arturo - orchestra leaderMy Six Loves - MarioThe Art of Love - PrinceSuperdad - Limousine DriverWon Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood - Fromberg Butler With Phone Call