# Peter Leeds

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 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.$^{:826}$ 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$^{:94}$ and The Buster Keaton Show$^{:148}$, 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 | Notes |
| 1941 | Public Enemies | Reporter | |
| 1941 | Pacific Blackout | Air Raid Warden | Uncredited |
| 1942 | Don Winslow of the Navy | Seaman Chapman | Serial |
| 1942 | Treat 'Em Rough | Davis | |
| 1942 | Priorities on Parade | Joe - Factory Employee / Show Coordinator | Uncredited |
| 1942 | The Secret Code | Henchman Carl Hiecke | Serial, [Ch. 9] |
| 1942 | I Married a Witch | Ambulance Attendant | Uncredited |
| 1942 | Reunion in France | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Lady Bodyguard | Intern | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Crash Dive | Shore Police | Uncredited |
| 1946 | That Brennan Girl | Bergie | Uncredited |
| 1947 | Hit Parade of 1947 | Bandleader in Rehearsal Room | Uncredited |
| 1949 | The Life of Riley | Conway's Voice on Radio Show | Voice, Uncredited |
| 1949 | The Lady Gambles | Jack Harrison - Hotel Clerk | |
| 1949 | D.O.A. | Leo - Bartender | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town | Tall Beautician | Uncredited |
| 1950 | South Sea Sinner | Second Policeman | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Saddle Tramp | Springer | |
| 1950 | Dial 1119 | Martin, Wounded Policeman | Uncredited |
| 1951 | Up Front | Pinanski | Uncredited |
| 1951 | Katie Did It | 'Odds' Burton | |
| 1951 | Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm | Manson | |
| 1951 | The Frogmen | Pharmacist's Mate | Uncredited |
| 1952 | My Man and I | Man with Nancy at Bar | Uncredited |
| 1952 | Come Back, Little Sheba | Milkman | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Never Wave at a WAC | Nick Laharis | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Stalag 17 | Barracks #1 Prisoner of War Getting Distillery | Uncredited |
| 1953 | 99 River Street | Nat Finley | |
| 1954 | The Long, Long Trailer | Garage Manager | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Playgirl | Sharpie | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Brigadoon | Peter - Headwaiter | Uncredited |
| 1954 | The Adventures of Hajji Baba | Merchant | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Athena | Photographer | Uncredited |
| 1954 | The Last Time I Saw Paris | Barney | |
| 1954 | The Atomic Kid | Agent Bill | |
| 1955 | Six Bridges to Cross | Harris | Uncredited |
| 1955 | Hit the Deck | Lieutenant - Operation Mud Pie | Uncredited |
| 1955 | 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 | Uncredited |
| 1955 | 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 | Uncredited |
| 1956 | The Harder They Fall | Dundee Fight Ring Announcer | Uncredited |
| 1956 | Behind the High Wall | First Detective | |
| 1956 | Tea and Sympathy | Headmaster at Bonfire | Uncredited |
| 1956 | The Best Things in Life Are Free | Genius | Uncredited |
| 1956 | The Great American Pastime | Motor Cop | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Custodial Officer Charlie | Season 2 Episode 21: "Number Twenty-Two" |
| 1957 | Mr. Adams and Eve | Driver | Episode: "Howard Goes to Jail" |
| 1957 | Slander | Herb Goodman | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Official Detective | Patterson | Episode: "The Deserted House" |
| 1957 | Bombers B-52 | TV Quiz Show Director | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Kiss Them for Me | Reporter in Nightclub | Uncredited |
| 1958 | The Brothers Karamazov | Guard | Uncredited |
| 1959 | Perry Mason | Lou Caporale | Season 3 Episode 9: "The Case of the Artful Dodger" |
| 1959 | The Scarface Mob | Lamarr Kane | TV movie |
| 1958-1959 | Trackdown | Tenner Smith | recurring role, 15 episodes |
| 1959 | High School Big Shot | Mr. Carter | |
| 1959 | The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock | Bill Burton | |
| 1959 | The Devil's Disciple | Narrator | Uncredited |
| 1959 | The Big Operator | Henland | Uncredited |
| 1959 | Girls Town | Michael Clyde | |
| 1959 | The Rookie | Seville Quare | |
| 1960 | Please Don't Eat the Daisies | Mackay's Secretary | Uncredited |
| 1960 | 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 E6 |
| 1963 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Andrew | Season 2 Episode 1: "A Home Away from Home" |
| 1963 | The Wheeler Dealers | Arthur Watkins | |
| 1964 | The Addams Family | Oscar Webber | "Morticia Joins the Ladies League" |
| 1965 | I'll Take Sweden | Car Salesman | Uncredited |
| 1965 | 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 | Uncredited |
| 1972-1974 | Adam-12 | George Porter / Dennis Baker | 2 episodes |
| 1972 | Mission Impossible | John Larson | Episode: "The Deal" |
| 1974 | The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat | Juan / Various Characters | Voice |
| 1987 | Dragnet | Roy Grest | |
* Biography portal
* New Jersey portal
* Los Angeles portal
* California portal
* Theatre portal
* Film portal
* Television portal
* Organized labor portal