Born Sheldon Leonard Bershad, February 22, 1907, in New York City, New York to a Jewish family, Sheldon Bershad was a critically acclaimed actor, a producer and a director. Sheldon died in California on January 10, 1997, and is buried alongside his wife, at the Hillside Cemetery in Culver City, California. Sheldon is known for his ironic transition from "tough guy" roles to producing TV comedies and dramas. He has played in well over twenty movies, and during his behind-the-cameras career, Sheldon worked with such prominent actors like Bill Cosby, Robert Culp, Danny Thomas, etc. The Big Bang Theory, a 2007 situation comedy, has the two main characters named Leonard and Sheldon; this is a tribute to Sheldon Leonard from the creators of this show.
Born to his middle class Jewish parents, Anna and Frank, Bershard claimed that he dreamed of becoming an actor since his early days. He was a graduate of Syracuse University, and had a brief career as a stage actor in the play Kiss the Boys Goodbye; however, at the age of 31, Sheldon moved to Hollywood and started appearing on the big screen with the 1939 movie Another Thin Man, but it wasn't until 1946 when he was noticed as an actor; he played the roles
A quite popular actor he was, Sheldon was also a pioneering actor in many new film genres, and also made appearances on the radio, particularly on The Jack Benny Program and The Adventures of the Saint during the late '40s and the early '50s. During his years in the radio, he also landed roles in movies such as Tortilla Flat, Here Come the Nelsons, Stop, You're Killing Me, and others.
His heart belonged to producing and directing, though. He produced The Dick Van Dyke show from 1961-1966, and was the writer, producer, and director of the immense hit, The Andy Griffith Show. He developed great relationship with most of the Griffith Show's cast, including such prominent actors and actresses such as Ron Howard, Don Knotts, and Frances Elizabeth Bavier. He won two Emmies for his work with his directing work with the later The Danny Thomas Show; later, in 1965 he produced the famous comedy I Spy, which featured aforementioned Bill Cosby and Robert Culp. The show ran for three seasons until its cancellation in 1968.
Later on, in 1975, he had a show of his own, but it lasted for only one season; this concluded Leonard's exciting career. Leonard Brandon had won numerous Emmies through the span of his career; he was serving in the Directors Guild for 39 years, and got into Television Academy's Hall of Fame three years before his death. Although not the most important actor, his directing works shaped the American television. Although The Andy Griffith Show, by many considered his 'Opus Magnum', didn't earn Leonard any considerable awards, the show was a huge influence on many to-be directors. The outstanding creativity of Sheldon Leonard, together with required technical knowledge, shaped many important aspects in American movies and TV shows.
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