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Sheldon Leonard

Sheldon Leonard

Sheldon Leonard Bershad (February 22, 1907 – January 11, 1997) was an American film and television actor, producer, director, and writer. Sheldon Leonard Bershad was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of middle class Jewish parents Anna Levit and Frank Bershad. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1929.

As an actor, Leonard specialized in playing supporting characters, especially gangsters or "heavies", in films such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946; as bartender Nick), To Have and Have Not (1944), Guys and Dolls (1955), and Open Secret (1948). His trademark was his especially thick New York accent, usually delivered from the side of his mouth. In Decoy (1946), Leonard uses his "heavy" persona to create the hard-boiled police detective Joe Portugal.

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Movies Starring Sheldon Leonard (79)

The Bowery Boys: Legends of Laughter (2020)

Thirty years of film clips, interviews, outtakes, stills and more pay tribute to the lives and work of the comedy legends known as the Bowery Boys. ...

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Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life (2011)

A loving tribute to a forgotten pioneer of the golden age of television. Starting out as a Runyonesque character actor, Sheldon Leonard went on to produce some of the most beloved and groundbreaking shows of all time, such as The Andy Griffith Show, The Da ...

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Color Adjustment (1992)

From Amos 'n' Andy to Nat King Cole, from Roots to The Cosby Show, black people have played many roles on primetime television. Brilliantly weaving clips from classic TV shows with commentary from TV producers, black actors and scholars, Marlon Riggs blend ...

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The Making of 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1990)

Tom Bosley hosts a documentary the looks into the story behind how one of cinema's greatest films It's A Wonderful Life was made. ...

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James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987)

Documentary about James Stewart's long career as an actor and positive personal life. ...

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The Brink's Job (1978)

In 1950, a group of unlikely criminal masterminds commits the robbery of the century. Led by Tony Pino, a petty thief fresh out of prison, and Joe McGinnis, who specializes in planning lucrative capers, the gang robs Brink's main office in Boston of more t ...

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The Islander (1978)

A retired mainland lawyer buys a small Honolulu hotel and finds himself in a murderous situation involving a runaway grand jury witness, a ruthless mobster, and a racket-busting U.S. Senator framed for beating up an airline stewardess. ...

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Top Secret (1978)

A hip American agent and his foxy associate try to recover a hundred pounds of stolen plutonium in Italy before it can be used by terrorists. ...

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Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

A New York gangster and his girlfriend attempt to turn street beggar Apple Annie into a society lady when the peddler learns her daughter is marrying royalty. ...

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Guys and Dolls (1955)

In New York, a gambler is challenged to take a Salvation Army missionary to Havana, and unexpectedly they fall for each other. And the bet has a hidden motive ... classic song and dance ensues! ...

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Money from Home (1953)

Herman owes a lot of gambling debts. To pay them off, he promises the mob he'll fix a horse, so that it does not run. He intends to trick his animal-loving cousin Virgil, an apprentice veterinarian, into helping him. Of course, he doesn't tell Virgil what ...

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The Diamond Queen (1953)

A French jeweler travels to India in search of a fabulous diamond. ...

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A Peck o' Trouble (1953)

Lazy Dodsworth the Cat wants to catch a woodpecker for his breakfast. The woodpecker has built its home inside the upper trunk of a very tall tree, and Dodsworth puts on a professor's cap, pretending to be a passive teacher of bird-catching and thereby dec ...

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Stop, You're Killing Me (1952)

With the end of Prohibition a former bootlegger and his wife attempt to go straight. Remake of the 1938 film "A Slight Case of Murder". ...

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Breakdown (1952)

A boxer (William Bishop) jailed for murder proves his girlfriend's (Ann Richards) wealthy father and a ward boss framed him. ...

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Sock a Doodle Do (1952)

A prize-fighting banty rooster, so slap-happy that he goes into a punching spree whenever he hears a bell, falls out of a truck and onto the farm where Foghorn Leghorn is in the midst of his usual sparring match with the barnyard dog. Foghorn and the dog u ...

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Young Man with Ideas (1952)

A Montana lawyer gets distracted after moving to California with his wife and children. ...

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Kiddin' the Kitten (1952)

A lazy and fat cat, named Dodsworth, is ordered by his mistress to catch mice that have invaded her home and are terrorizing her. Dodsworth doesn't want to condescend to personal physical effort to catch the mice, so dons a professor's hat and dupes a kitt ...

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Here Come the Nelsons (1952)

The homespun Nelson family must deal with various comical situations, including an encounter with gangsters. ...

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Come Fill the Cup (1951)

Alcoholic newspaperman Lew Marsh hits bottom, loses his job and is rehabilitated by Charley Dolan. After six years on the wagon he gets his job back and devotes himself to other recovering alcoholics. ...

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Behave Yourself! (1951)

A young man takes in a dog that turns out to be wanted by mobsters. ...

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Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951)

As novice detectives, Bud and Lou come face to face with the Invisible Man. ...

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The Iroquois Trail (1950)

An American scout and his Indian friend help the English troops against the French during the French and Indian War. ...

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Take One False Step (1949)

Catherine Sykes disappears after a midnight drive with Professor Andrew Gentling . When she's presumed murdered, his friend Martha convinces him that he's a prime suspect and should investigate before he's arrested. ...

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My Dream Is Yours (1949)

Conceited singer Garry Mitchell refuses to renew his radio contract, so agent Doug Blake decides to find a new personality to replace him. In New York, he finds Martha Gibson, a single mother with a great voice. He arranges for her to move to Hollywood, bu ...

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Daughter of the Jungle (1949)

An airplane carrying a pair of police officers escorting gangsters to prison crash-lands in the African jungle. They are rescued from an attack by savage natives by a white woman who appears out of nowhere, and it turns out she is a lost heiress who hersel ...

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Shep Comes Home (1948)

Little Larry Havens, whose father died in WWII, runs away from home to keep from being separated from "Shep," his father's dog. In Arizona, he is befriended by a kindly Mexican, Manuel Ortiz, who he is able to repay in time, with the aid of Sheriff "Cap" W ...

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Joe Palooka in Winner Take All (1948)

Joe is scheduled for the big fight as usual. This one has more fight sequences than plot. ...

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Jinx Money (1948)

A man wins $50,000 in a card game with gamblers, but is soon found dead and the money missing. Slip and Sach find the money near where the body was discovered, and soon find themselves the target of both the police and the gamblers. ...

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Madonna of the Desert (1948)

A jeweled Madonna, property of rancher Joe Salinas, attracts two crooks to his ranch, Monica Dell, a smooth operator, and ruthless Nick Julian. Joe believe that the statue has a miraculous power to ward off evil, and Monica, after a narrow escape from inju ...

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Open Secret (1948)

A couple discovers that their friend has gone missing. Their investigation leads them to believe that antisemites are behind the disappearance. ...

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If You Knew Susie (1948)

In the small town of Brookford, everybody can trace their ancestors back to the Revolutionary War, except Sam and Susie Parker. One day, however, they find a letter written by George Washington that mentions the bravery of a Revolutionary War hero named Pa ...

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Alias a Gentleman (1948)

Aging ex-con tries to stop his daughter from getting involved with shady characters. ...

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The Gangster (1947)

Based on the novel Low Company. One of the most peculiar film noirs of the 1940s stars Barry Sullivan as a small-time hood who suffers a mental breakdown as his big plans begin to crumble. Beautiful Belita is his singer girlfriend who only fuels his parano ...

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The Fabulous Joe (1947)

Milo Terkel's life is never the same after he is willed a dog named Joe. Milo buys his wife a diamond necklace for their anniversary, but when he returns home he finds a note saying she is attending a charity affair. He decides to celebrate alone, taking J ...

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Violence (1947)

Magazine writer Ann Mason infiltrates the United Defenders, a public service organization which is actually a front for racketeers. But a case of amnesia threatens to blow her cover. ...

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Sinbad the Sailor (1947)

Daredevil sailor Sinbad embarks on a voyage across the Seven Seas to find the lost riches of Alexander the Great. His first stop is the port of Basra, where his ship is seized and scheduled for auction. In his attempt to win it back, he befriends beautiful ...

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It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost a ...

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Decoy (1946)

A fatally shot female gangleader recounts her sordid life of crime to a police officer just before she dies. ...

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The Last Crooked Mile (1946)

A mystery grows after a bank robbery car leads investigators to a carnival sideshow. ...

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Bowery Bombshell (1946)

Slip, Sach, Bobby, Whitey and Chuck unsuccessfully try to sell a dilapidated car to a street cleaner for a fabulous amount, so they can get enough money to save Louie's Malt Shop. Sidewalk photographer Cathy Smith snaps a pictures of three bank robbers as ...

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Somewhere in the Night (1946)

George Taylor returns from WWII with amnesia. Back home in Los Angeles, while trying to track down his old identity, he stumbles onto a three year old murder case and a hunt for a missing $2 million. ...

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Her Kind of Man (1946)

A nightclub singer can't choose between a charismatic small-time gangster and an honest newspaperman. ...

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Rainbow Over Texas (1946)

Roy visits his home town while on a personal appearance tour. While there he enters a pony express race. To keep him from winning, bad guys try to sabatoge Roy's entry. They fail, or course. Songs include the title song and "Smile for me, Senorita. ...

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The Gentleman Misbehaves (1946)

After his first attempt to obtain cash fails, a Broadway producer turns to a gambler to raise money for his show. ...

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Frontier Gal (1945)

Johnny Hart is on the run from the law after killing one of the men who shot his partner. He passes through a town and stops at a saloon owned by singer Lorena Dumont. The two seem a good, albeit tempestuous match, although Johnny has no plans to marry -- ...

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Captain Kidd (1945)

Cutthroat pirate William Kidd captures Admiral Blayne's treasure ship and hides the bounty in a cave. Three years later, Kidd, posing as a respectable merchant captain, offers his services to the King of England. Seeking a social position, Kidd also negoti ...

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Why Girls Leave Home (1945)

In this crime drama, a young woman leaves her unhappy life at home to become a sophisticated night club singer. Her first job is nearly fatal when she entangles herself with the mobsters who own the joint and learns too much about their operation. Her boss ...

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River Gang (1945)

An orphan girl lives with apparently kind uncle who turns out to be a murderer. ...

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Radio Stars on Parade (1945)

A Hollywood talent agency tries to avoid finacial ruin by getting its best clients on the air. ...

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Zombies on Broadway (1945)

Two bumbling press agents must search for a zombie to fulfill a commitment to their ex-gangster boss's new nightclub or face the consequences. ...

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Crime, Inc. (1945)

A crime reporter writes book to expose names and methods of the criminal leaders. He is held on a charge after refusing to explain how he got his information, but is released and helps to expose the syndicate. ...

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To Have and Have Not (1945)

A Martinique charter boat skipper gets mixed up with the underground French resistance operatives during WWII. ...

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The Falcon in Hollywood (1944)

Suave amateur detective Tom Lawrence--aka Michael Arlen's literary hero The Falcon--arrives in Hollywood for some rest and relaxation, only to find himself involved in the murder of a movie actor. There's no shortage of suspects: the costume designer to wh ...

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Gambler's Choice (1944)

The professional gambler Ross Hadley is the owner of a posh gaming establishment in the heart of New York... ...

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Trocadero (1944)

A newspaper columnist and host of his own national network radio program, interviewing more film personalities on his show than any other commentator, is searching for a story for a Sunday column carried by newspaper from coast to coast. Hanging out in Hol ...

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Uncertain Glory (1944)

In occupied France, a convicted thief and murderer escapes the guillotine when a bombing raid strikes the prison, but is quickly re-captured by the inspector of the Surete responsible for his original arrest. Fearing the guillotine more than his actual dea ...

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Timber Queen (1944)

Russ Evans, A WWII veteran army pilot, decides to check up on the widow of an old war buddy of his, Elaine Graham. The logging company she inherited is doing poorly, but Elaine gets an order in for a huge shipment of lumber. Russ and his friend Squirrel vo ...

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Klondike Kate (1943)

A young man in Alaska finds himself accused of murder, and must fight to clear his name. ...

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Harvest Melody (1943)

Farmer Tommy and his girl Jane come in from the country for a night at the Hollywood Trocadero. There, they meet Chuck, Hollywood's Number One press agent, and his Girl Friday, Daisie. Hearing of the hardships imposed down on the farm by the war-related la ...

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Passport to Suez (1943)

The Lone Wolf goes undercover in Egypt to foil a Nazi plot to bomb and disable the Suez canal, which is vital to England's war effort. ...

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Hit the Ice (1943)

After Flash Fulton and Weejie McCoy take pictures of a bank robbery, they're lured to the mountain resort hideout of the robbers, where they meet an old friend and his band. ...

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Taxi, Mister (1943)

The owner (William Bendix) of a cab company tries to foil a racketeer. ...

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City Without Men (1943)

A young woman's husband has been imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. In order to be near him to try to help him get his sentence overturned, she moves into a boardinghouse near the prison whose residents are the wives of inmates. ...

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Lucky Jordan (1942)

Lucky Jordan is a gangster living in New York City and when he's drafted into the army, he tries to escape duty by using an old con woman named Annie to convince the draft board he's needed at home. When that fails, Jordan is sent to boot camp, but he does ...

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Street of Chance (1942)

In this Cornell Woolrich thriller, a man's memory is recovered after being injured by falling construction material. Discovering a year-long lapse, he returns to his old life and discovers a lot of mysterious happenings. ...

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Pierre of the Plains (1942)

A French-Canadian trapper's adventures jeopardize his romance with an innkeeper. ...

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Tortilla Flat (1942)

Danny, a poor northern Californian Mexican-American, inherits two houses from his grandfather and is quickly taken advantage of by his vagabond friends. ...

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Born to Sing (1942)

A group of children put on a show in order to prove that a down and out musician was the real composer of a Broadway show's songs. ...

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Rise and Shine (1941)

The college president, the head cheerleader and a gambling gangster try to keep a flunking football star in the game ...

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Week-End in Havana (1941)

A ship company employee, Jay Williams, is sent to Florida where one of the company cruise ships is stuck on a reef off of the coast. He obtains waivers from all of the passengers with the exception of Nan Spencer, a department store salesgirl who wants her ...

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Married Bachelor (1941)

A man's marriage suffers when he pretends to be a bachelor while promoting "his" best-selling book about married life (actually written by an eccentric professor) in order to pay off a debt to a gangster. ...

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Buy Me That Town (1941)

A gangster and his mob buy a small-town in this warm comedy. They, tired of trying to make it as big city hoods, buy the town to use as a hideout. The leader of the gang begins to have a change of heart after he begins falling for a local girl. ...

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Private Nurse (1941)

In this brief B programmer, a nurse is hired to care for a widower's daughter who is unaware that her father is a gangster and that her mother is actually still alive. The concerned nurse burdens herself with the difficult responsibility of revealing the u ...

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Tall, Dark and Handsome (1941)

Robin Hoodish gangster in 1929 Chicago is an object of affection, kind to New York hood and bad to a bad crook. ...

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Another Thin Man (1939)

Not even the joys of parenthood can stop married sleuths Nick and Nora Charles from investigating a murder on a Long Island estate. ...

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Ouanga (1935)

In Haiti, a black female plantation owner enacts a voodoo curse, and revives zombies for revenge on a white male neighbor, who has chosen a white woman over her for marriage. ...

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The Gem of the Ocean (1934)

In this musical short, the leading lady is a French woman who finds mystery and romance on a luxury liner. There is much music with a chorus of beautiful girls dancing in lush art deco settings. ...

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My Mummy's Arms (1934)

Two Americans attempt to make time with the daughter of the British financier of an archaeological expedition to Egypt. ...

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Movies Made By Sheldon Leonard (2)

Top Secret (1978)

A hip American agent and his foxy associate try to recover a hundred pounds of stolen plutonium in Italy before it can be used by terrorists. ...

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Shadow Of Terror (1945)

A scientist possessing the formula for making a nuclear bomb finds himself chased by evil gangsters in this thriller that was made just after the A-bomb was dropped upon Hiroshima. ...

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