Leo Gordon was a prolific American actor and screenwriter who appeared in more than 70 films and dozens of TV shows, mostly playing brutish villains and thugs. He was also a former convict who turned his life around after serving time in prison. He died of cardiac failure in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles on December 26, 2000, at the age of 78. Here is a brief overview of his life and career, and the circumstances of his death.
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Early Life and Crime
Leo Gordon was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 2, 1922. He grew up in poverty during the Great Depression and dropped out of school in the eighth grade. He worked in construction and demolition, and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public works program, before enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War II. After serving for two years, he moved to Southern California, where he became involved in robbery.
In 1946, he and a friend attempted to rob a bar and its patrons with a pistol. He was shot in the stomach by one of the officers making the arrest. He was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to five years in San Quentin Prison. There, he educated himself by reading almost every book in the library.
Acting Career
After his release from prison, Gordon used his military benefits to take acting classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He met his future wife, Lynn Cartwright, who was also an aspiring actress, and they married in 1950. They moved to Los Angeles, where Gordon landed his first film role in the 1953 western City of Bad Men.
Gordon soon became a recognizable character actor, playing tough and menacing roles in films such as Hondo (1953), Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954), The Conqueror (1956), China Gate (1957), The Intruder (1962), The Haunted Palace (1963), Tobruk (1967), The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (1967), The Big Bounce (1969), The Last Rebel (1971), The Shootist (1976), and Maverick (1994).
He also appeared in numerous TV shows, such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Cheyenne, Rawhide, Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, Adam-12, Kojak, Charlie’s Angels, Starsky & Hutch, and Magnum P.I.
Screenwriting and Novel Writing
Gordon was not only an actor but also a screenwriter. He wrote scripts for films such as Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959), The Cry Baby Killer (1958), which marked Jack Nicholson’s debut, Black Patch (1957), which he also starred in, Hot Car Girl (1958), The Wasp Woman (1959), Tobruk (1967), which he co-wrote with Leo V. Gordon (no relation), The Gatling Gun (1971), which he also produced and starred in, and Tarzan and the Valley of Gold (1966).
He also wrote for TV shows such as Bonanza, Cheyenne, Adam-12, Laramie, and Tales of Wells Fargo. He wrote 21 episodes of Adam-12 alone.
Gordon also wrote novels based on some of his scripts, such as Black Patch and The Gatling Gun.
Personal Life and Death
Gordon was married to Lynn Cartwright for 50 years until his death. They had one daughter, Tara Gordon. They were both active members of the Screen Actors Guild and advocated for actors’ rights.
Gordon received the Golden Boot Award in 1997 for his contributions to the western genre. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Gordon died peacefully in his sleep on December 26, 2000, after suffering from a brief illness. He had cardiac failure as the cause of death according to The Celebrity Deaths. He was cremated and his ashes were interred with his wife’s at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Leo Gordon was a remarkable actor who overcame his troubled past and carved a niche for himself in Hollywood. He left behind a legacy of memorable performances and stories that will live on for generations to come.
