Leo Penn
Biography
Leonard Francis Penn, commonly known as Leo Penn, was born on August 27, 1921, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States, and died on September 5, 1998, at the age of 77. An American male who worked as both an actor and a television director, Penn accumulated more than one hundred credited projects, with TMDB listing 114 known credits. He is recognized primarily for his directing work in television. Penn was the father of three children who pursued careers in entertainment: musician Michael Penn and actors Sean Penn and Chris Penn. His career spanned several decades, contributing to the development of American television programming.
Career overview
Leo Penn was an American television director whose career spanned several decades of American broadcast drama. Born on August 27, 1921 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he entered the industry as both an actor and a director, eventually accumulating more than one hundred credited directing assignments, as recorded by the Motion Picture Database. His body of work includes episodes of well‑known series such as Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Untouchables and The Defenders, productions that were prominent in the 1950s and 1960s and helped establish his reputation for handling suspense and courtroom narratives on the small screen.
In addition to his directing achievements, Penn’s professional profile lists a total of 114 known credits, reflecting a sustained presence behind the camera across a variety of television genres. His contributions were part of the broader development of American television drama during a period when anthology and procedural formats were expanding. Penn continued to work in television until his death on September 5, 1998 at the age of 77.
Beyond his own career, Leo Penn was the father of musician Michael Penn and actors Sean Penn and Chris Penn, linking his personal legacy to a family that would achieve notable prominence in the entertainment industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
125 titles- The Crossing Guard (1995) as Hank
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Leo Pepper
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) Director
- Nasty Boys (1990) Director
- Nasty Boys, Part 2: Lone Justice (1990) Director
- In the Heat of the Night (1988) Director
- Judgment in Berlin (1988) Director
- Judgment in Berlin (1988) Writer
- Jake and the Fatman (1987)
- Jake and the Fatman (1987) Director
- Matlock (1986) as Father Fitzgerald
- Matlock (1986) as Russ Lewis
- Matlock (1986) as Spaulding
- Matlock (1986) Director
- The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1986) as Leo
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Fred
- Mike Hammer (1984) Director
- Paper Dolls (1984) Director
- The Wild Life (1984) as Tom's Dad
- Hardcastle and McCormick (1983) Director
- The Mississippi (1983) Director
- Boone (1983) Director
- The Horse Dealers Daughter (1983) as Dr. Lloyd Sloan
- St. Elsewhere (1982) Director
- Cagney & Lacey (1982) Director
- Remington Steele (1982) Director
- Fame (1982) Director
- Mr. Merlin (1981) Director
- Bret Maverick (1981) Director
- Father Murphy (1981) Director
- Hellinger's Law (1981) Director
- Magnum, P.I. (1980) Director
- Hart to Hart (1979) Director
- Tales of the Unexpected (1979) Director
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979) Director
- Mrs. Columbo (1979) Director
- Eischied (1979) Director
- Murder in Music City (1979) Director
- Little Women (1978) Director
- The Dark Secret of Harvest Home (1978) Director
- What Really Happened to the Class of '65? (1977) Director
- Sixth and Main (1977) as Doc
- The Bionic Woman (1976) Director
- Starsky & Hutch (1975) Director
- Switch (1975) Director
- Doctors' Hospital (1975) Director
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) Director
- Movin' On (1974) Director
- Lucas Tanner (1974) Director
- Kojak (1973) Director
- Police Story (1973) Director
- The New Perry Mason (1973) Director
- The Girl with Something Extra (1973) Director
- Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1973) Director
- Ghost Story (1972) Director
- Columbo (1971) Director
- Cannon (1971) Director
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971) Director
- The Interns (1970) Director
- Quarantined (1970) Director
- Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969) Director
- Room 222 (1969) Director
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) Director
- The Name of the Game (1968) Director
- Lancer (1968) Director
- The Outcasts (1968) Director
- Ironside (1967) Director
- Mannix (1967) Director
- Judd, for the Defense (1967) Director
- Custer (1967) Director
- Dundee and the Culhane (1967) Director
- Deadlock (1967) Director
- Star Trek (1966) Director
- The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) Director
- Blue Light (1966) Director
- A Man Called Adam (1966) Director
- Lost in Space (1965) Director
- Laredo (1965) Director
- I Spy (1965) Director
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964) Director
- The Fugitive (1963) Director
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) Director
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) Director
- The Virginian (1962) Director
- The Eleventh Hour (1962) Director
- Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) as Eddie Kassellis (uncredited)
- Don't Call Me Charlie (1962)
- Dr. Kildare (1961) Director
- Ben Casey (1961)
- Ben Casey (1961) as Dr. David McMillan
- Ben Casey (1961) Director
- Cain's Hundred (1961) as Larry Cram
- The Asphalt Jungle (1961)
- The Asphalt Jungle (1961) as Lonnie Peterson
- The Gertrude Berg Show (1961)
- Straightaway (1961)
- The Aquanauts (1960) as Moe
- Harrigan and Son (1960)
- The Law and Mr. Jones (1960) as Eddie Simms
- The Untouchables (1959) as Milton Tannenbaum
- One Step Beyond (1959) as Jed Horvath
- The Detectives (1959)
- New York Confidential (1959)
- The Story on Page One (1959) as Morrie Goetz
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) Director
- The Veil (1958)
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957)
- Decoy (1957) as Lt. Larry Hayes
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Walter Blake
- Gunsmoke (1955) Director
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955)
- Navy Log (1955)
- Dangerous Assignment (1952)
- Boston Blackie (1951)
- The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1951)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Sam Hodgekiss
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Marshall Collins
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Father Paul
- Not Wanted (1949) as Steve Ryan
- The Undercover Man (1949) as Sidney Gordon
- Studio One (1948) as Morrow
- Studio One (1948) as Peter
- Studio One (1948) Writer
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948)
- Fall Guy (1947) as Tom Cochrane
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Leo Penn best known for?
Leo Penn is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Crossing Guard (1995), Mr. Jones (1993), Mr. Jones (1993), Nasty Boys (1990).
When and where was Leo Penn born?
Leo Penn was born on August 27, 1921 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA. They passed away on September 5, 1998.
How many credits does Leo Penn have?
Leo Penn has accumulated over 125 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1947 to 1995.
What is Leo Penn's background in cinema and television?
Leonard Francis Penn, commonly known as Leo Penn, was born on August 27, 1921, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States, and died on September 5, 1998, at the age of 77. An American male who worked as both an actor and a television director, Penn accumulated more than one hundred credited projects, with TMDB listing 1...
Leo Penn by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Sam Hodgekiss — aged about 29
- The Untouchables (1959) as Milton Tannenbaum — aged about 37
- The Veil (1958) — aged about 36
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Fred — aged about 63
- Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) as Eddie Kassellis (uncredited) — aged about 40
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) — aged about 35
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