Leo Gordon was a renowned character actor, known for his imposing physique, menacing voice, and intimidating glare. Born in New York, Gordon's powerful presence on screen was unmatched, striking fear into the hearts of even the bravest heroes. Director Don Siegel, who worked with Gordon on the prison film Riot in Cell Block 11, once described him as the "scariest man I have ever met". This was not just a testament to Gordon's screen presence, but also a reflection of his tumultuous past.
Before becoming an actor, Gordon served five years in San Quentin State Prison for armed robbery, during which he was shot several times by police and miraculously survived. The Folsom State Prison warden, where Gordon also served time, remembered him as a troublemaker. Initially, the warden refused to allow the film Riot in Cell Block 11 to be shot at Folsom if Gordon was involved, but Siegel was able to convince him that Gordon was no longer a threat.
Despite his tough-guy image, Gordon was not limited to playing one-dimensional villains. He did take on sympathetic roles on occasion, such as in the western Black Patch, which he also wrote, and the civil rights drama The Intruder, directed by Roger Corman. Gordon's performances in these films were highly praised, particularly in The Intruder.
In addition to his acting career, Gordon was also a talented screenwriter. He worked extensively with Corman, penning screenplays for several low-budget sci-fi films. Gordon's writing skills were not limited to genre films, however. He wrote the screenplay for the WWII epic Tobruk, in which he also starred as Kruger, a tough sergeant in a platoon of German Jews who pose as Nazi soldiers to help blow up a German oil storage facility.
Leo Gordon passed away in Los Angeles, California, in 2000 at the age of 78, due to heart failure. Throughout his career, Gordon left a lasting impact on the film industry, both as an actor and a writer. His unique blend of toughness and vulnerability made him a standout in a wide range of roles.
