# Les Lannom

Leslie Thomas "Les" Lannom (born November 4, 1946, Johnston City, Illinois) is an American actor and musician. He is perhaps best known for playing Lester Hodges in the American private detective television series Harry O from 1974 to 1976, and his role as Sergeant Casper in the 1981 film Southern Comfort.

## Family

Les Lannom was born in Johnston City, Illinois in 1946, the only child of Rosa (née Stout; 1922–2005) and Leslie Deneen Lannom (died 1949) After his father's death, his mother married Edgar H. Roach on December 31, 1950. Edgar Roach died on November 3, 1989.
Les Lannom has one son, Leslie D. "Honcho" Lannom, and a granddaughter, Riley Lannom.

## Career

Lannom played Larry Penzoss in the 1985 television miniseries Space and played Bufe Coker in the 1978 television miniseries Centennial. Both miniseries were based on James A. Michener novels. He appeared in part V of the miniseries Roots: The Next Generations as Jake, a gas station operator. He also appeared in the film Silkwood (1983). Lannom portrayed Sergeant Casper in Walter Hills Southern Comfort.
He made guest appearances on such series as Columbo, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, CHiPs, Benson, Knots Landing, The Waltons, The Streets of San Francisco, The Six Million Dollar Man, Cannon,The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Judging Amy, The X Files, ER, NYPD Blue, and The Larry Sanders Show, among
others.
From 2002 to 2006, he appeared onstage as Det. Brent Randall in Dark Legends in Blood. In 2007, he lent his considerable talent to the students of the Speech & Acting Team at his hometown high school in Johnston City, Illinois, acting as a volunteer assistant coach. In April 2008, he returned to the high school stage as "Vince Fontaine" in Grease.
An accomplished musician, Lannom plays bagpipes, guitar, trumpet, harmonica, and is a singer. He is currently enjoying semi-retirement in Johnston City, playing the pipes and teaming up with music partner, Holly Kee, to create the unique sound of ROISIN DUBH. Les and Holly teamed up as Narrator and Executive Producer of audiobooks for the Benjamin Tucker Mystery Series by author Harry James Krebs. The duo began a similar relationship with author Michael Phelps to produce audio versions for Phelps' two books about Lannom's friendship with Harry O co-star David Janssen for television director and producer, Jerry Thorpe. Most recently, he has been a voice actor to a website avatar, "Sport", on Pinnacle Sports.

## Filmography

Film :
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1972 | Prime Cut | O'Brien | |
| 1975 | Framed | Gary | |
| 1975 | Stingray | Elmo | Alternative title: Abigail Wanted |
| 1981 | Southern Comfort | Sgt. Casper | *it is Lannom's 'Casper' on the film's British DVD box cover; see IMDb |
| 1983 | Silkwood | Jimmy | |
| 1987 | Like Father Like Son | Coach Ellis | |
| 1988 | Shoot to Kill | Sheriff Dave Arnett | Alternative title: Deadly Pursuit |
| 1997 | The Pest | Bagpipe player | |
Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1972–74 | Cannon | | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | Kung Fu | | 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Rookies | Gifford | 1 episode |
| 1973–76 | Harry O | Lester Hodges | 6 episodes |
| 1974 | Chase | Ron Whitsett | 1 episode |
| 1974 | Hitchhike! | Tim Moore | Television film |
| 1975 | The Streets of San Francisco | Off. Kevin Bryce | 1 episode |
| 1975 | Someone I Touched | Frank | Television film |
| 1975 | Death Scream | Mr. Daniels | Television film |
| 1976 | Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck | Max | Television film |
| 1976 | Most Wanted | | 1 episode |
| 1977 | Baa Baa Black Sheep | | 1 episode |
| 1977 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | George Tompkins | 1 episode |
| 1977 | The Six Million Dollar Man | | 1 episode |
| 1978 | Lacy and the Mississippi Queen | Webber | Television film |
| 1978 | Zuma Beach | Stan | Television film |
| 1978 | Centennial | Bufe Coker | Miniseries |
| 1978 | Pearl | Chief Looper | Miniseries |
| 1979 | Elvis | Sonny West | Television film |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations | Jake | Miniseries |
| 1979 | The Waltons | Sweet Billy | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | Knots Landing | Music | 1 episode |
| 1980 | The Chisholms | Jerry O'Neal | 1 episode |
| 1980 | Benson | Bulldog | 1 episode |
| 1980 | Gideon's Trumpet | Bobby Earle | Television film |
| 1981 | CHiPs | Janos | 1 episode |
| 1984 | The Yellow Rose | Earl Yates | 1 episode |
| 1985 | Space | Larry Penzos | Miniseries |
| 1985 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Russell Towne | 1 episode |
| 1987 | Houston Knights | | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Tour of Duty | SSG Exley | 1 episode |
| 1988 | Police Story: Gladiator School | Mullins | Television film |
| 1990 | Columbo: Columbo Goes to College | Malloy | Television film |
| 1991 | Sons and Daughters | Bill Sanders | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Johnny Bago | Donovan Brother #1 | 1 episode |
| 1993 | The Larry Sanders Show | Tech Guy, Stage hand | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Rod Clemons | 1 episode |
| 1997 | JAG | Dart Thrower | 1 episode |
| 1997 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | | 1 episode |
| 1997 | NYPD Blue | | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Purgatory | Bartender | Television film |
| 1999 | ER | Neslen | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie | Ed Gordon | Television film |
| 1999 | The X-Files | Deputy Foster | episode: "Rush" |
| 2000 | Judging Amy | David Chaskin | 1 episode |