Sheldon Leonard (February 22, 1907 – January 11, 1997) was a legendary American actor, director, and writer who, after a long and successful career playing memorable tough guys, became one of the most powerful and influential producers in television history.
As an actor, Leonard was a master of playing gangsters and “heavies,” instantly recognizable for his thick, side-of-the-mouth New York accent. He is best remembered for his role as Nick, the exasperated bartender, in the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). He was also a radio stalwart, famously playing an eccentric racetrack tout who would pester Jack Benny on his popular radio and television shows.
In the 1950s, Sheldon Leonard transitioned to producing and created a string of television’s most beloved and iconic sitcoms, including The Danny Thomas Show, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1965, he broke new ground with the spy series I Spy, making Bill Cosby the first African-American co-star in a dramatic television series and cementing Leonard’s legacy as a true pioneer of the medium.
