Leon Marks Lion was a renowned English actor, exceling in both stage and screen performances, as well as a playwright, theatrical manager, and producer. His illustrious career spanned over four decades, commencing with his first professional appearance in 1897. Throughout his successful and varied career, he frequently toured with light opera and Shakespeare companies, regularly performing in London's esteemed West End. Lion's talents extended beyond acting, as he also wrote and produced numerous plays. He had the privilege of working with renowned playwright John Galsworthy, whose letters to Lion were published in book-form in 1969. In fact, Lion produced several plays by Galsworthy, including the acclaimed "The Skin Game", which was adapted into a film by the masterful Alfred Hitchcock.
Lion's cinematic endeavors consisted of thirteen films, with his most notable role being that of the comical tramp "Ben" in Hitchcock's 1932 production, Number 17. He also made appearances in some of England's earliest television broadcasts in 1938/9, solidifying his status as a pioneer in the industry.
