Sheldon Leonard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sheldon Leonard Bershad (February 22, 1907 – January 11, 1997) was an American film and television actor, producer, director, and writer. Sheldon Leonard Bershad was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of middle class Jewish parents Anna Levit and Frank Bershad. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1929. As an actor, Leonard specialized in playing supporting characters, especially gangsters or "heavies", in films such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946; as bartender Nick), To Have and Have Not (1944), Guys and Dolls (1955), and Open Secret (1948). His trademark was his especially thick New York accent, usually delivered from the side of his mouth. In Decoy (1946), Leonard uses his "heavy" persona to create the hard-boiled police detective Joe Portugal. On radio from 1945 to 1955, Leonard played an eccentric racetrack tout on The Jack Benny Program and later in the TV series of the same name. His role was to salute Benny out of the blue in railroad stations, on street corners, or in department stores ("Hey Bud. C'mere a minute."), ask Benny what he was about to do, and then proceed to try to argue him out of his course of action by resorting to inane and irrelevant racing logic. As "The Tout," he never gave out information on horse racing, unless Jack demanded it. One excuse the tout gave was, "Who knows about horses?" Leonard was part of the cast of voice actors on the Damon Runyon Theatre radio show (1948-1949). He was part of the ensemble cast of the Martin and Lewis radio show. He also appeared frequently on The Adventures of the Saint, often playing gangsters and heavies, but also sometimes in more positive roles. Leonard was also a regular on the radio comedy series The Adventures of Maisie in the 1940s. During the 1950s, Leonard provided the voice of lazy fat cat Dodsworth in two Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoons directed by Robert McKimson. In the adventure movie The Iroquois Trail (1950), Leonard played against type in the significant role of Chief Ogane, a Native American warrior, who pursues and fights the frontiersman Nat "Hawkeye" Cutler (George Montgomery) in a climactic duel to the death with knives. Later in the 1950s and 1960s, he established a reputation as a producer of successful television series, including The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room For Daddy) (1953–64), The Andy Griffith Show (1960–68), Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. (1964–69), The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–66), and I Spy (1965–68). He also directed several TV series episodes, including four of the first eight episodes of the TV series Lassie (Season 1, 1954). Leonard also provided the voice of Linus the Lionhearted in a series of Post Crispy Critters cereal TV commercials in 1963-64, which led to a Linus cartoon series that aired on Saturday (and later, Sunday) mornings on CBS (1964–66) and ABC (1967–69). He also was briefly the star of his own television show Big Eddie (1975), where he played the owner of a large sports arena. The show lasted for only ten episodes.
A holiday favourite for generations... George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the...
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Decoy
as Sergeant Joe PortugalA fatally shot female gangleader recounts her sordid life of crime to a police officer just...
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Pocketful of Miracles
as Steve DarceyA New York gangster and his girlfriend attempt to turn street beggar Apple Annie into a society...
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Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
as Boots MorganAs novice detectives, Bud and Lou come face to face with the Invisible Man.
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To Have and Have Not
as Lt. CoyoA Martinique charter boat skipper gets mixed up with the underground French resistance...
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Guys and Dolls
as Harry the HorseGambler Nathan Detroit has few options for the location of his big craps game. Needing $1,000 to...
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Another Thin Man
as Phil ChurchNot even the joys of parenthood can stop married sleuths Nick and Nora Charles from...
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Captain Kidd
as Cyprian BoyleCutthroat pirate William Kidd captures Admiral Blayne's treasure ship and hides the bounty in a...
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Sinbad the Sailor
as AuctioneerDaredevil sailor Sinbad embarks on a voyage across the Seven Seas to find the lost riches of...
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Somewhere in the Night
as SamGeorge Taylor returns from WWII with amnesia. Back home in Los Angeles, he tries to track down...
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Week-End in Havana
as BorisA ship company employee, Jay Williams, is sent to Florida where one of the company cruise ships...
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Color Adjustment
as SelfFrom Amos 'n' Andy to Nat King Cole, from Roots to The Cosby Show, black people have played many...
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The Gangster
as CornellBased on the novel Low Company. One of the most peculiar film noirs of the 1940s stars Barry...
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Uncertain Glory
as Henri DuvalIn occupied France, a convicted thief and murderer escapes the guillotine when a bombing raid...
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Money from Home
as Jumbo SchneiderHerman owes a lot of gambling debts. To pay them off, he promises the mob he'll fix a horse, so...
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Passport to Suez
as Johnny BoothThe Lone Wolf goes undercover in Egypt to foil a Nazi plot to bomb and disable the Suez canal,...
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Violence
as Fred StalkMagazine writer Ann Mason infiltrates the United Defenders, a public service organization which...
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Hit the Ice
as Harry 'Silky' FellowsbyFlash Fulton (Bud Abbott) and Weejie McCoy (Lou Costello) take pictures of a bank robbery. Lured...
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Pierre of the Plains
as ClairouA French-Canadian trapper's adventures jeopardize his romance with an innkeeper.
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The Brink's Job
as J. Edgar HooverIn 1950, a group of unlikely criminal masterminds commits the robbery of the century. Led by...
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Come Fill the Cup
as Lennie GarrAlcoholic newspaperman Lew Marsh hits bottom, loses his job and is rehabilitated by Charley...
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Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
as HermonJoe is scheduled for the big fight as usual. This one has more fight sequences than plot.
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Young Man with Ideas
as Rodwell 'Brick' DavisA Montana lawyer gets distracted after moving to California with his wife and children.
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Behave Yourself!
as Shortwave BertA young man takes in a dog that turns out to be wanted by mobsters.
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If You Knew Susie
as Steve GarlandIn the small town of Brookford, everybody can trace their ancestors back to the Revolutionary...
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City Without Men
as Monk LaRueA young woman's husband has been imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. In order to be near...
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The Last Crooked Mile
as Ed 'Wires' MacGuireA mystery grows after a bank robbery car leads investigators to a carnival sideshow.
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Take One False Step
as Detective PaccianoCatherine Sykes disappears after a midnight drive with Professor Andrew Gentling . When she's...
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My Dream Is Yours
as GrimesConceited singer Garry Mitchell refuses to renew his radio contract, so agent Doug Blake decides...
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Tortilla Flat
as Tito RalphDanny, a poor northern Californian Mexican-American, inherits two houses from his grandfather...
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Lucky Jordan
as Slip MoranLucky Jordan is a gangster living in New York City and when he's drafted into the army, he tries...
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Klondike Kate
as 'Sometime' SmithA young man in Alaska finds himself accused of murder, and must fight to clear his name.
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Rise and Shine
as MenaceThe college president, the head cheerleader and a gambling gangster try to keep a flunking...
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Breakdown
as Nick SampsonA boxer (William Bishop) jailed for murder proves his girlfriend's (Ann Richards) wealthy father...
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The Islander
as Paul LazaroA retired mainland lawyer buys a small Honolulu hotel and finds himself in a murderous situation...
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The Iroquois Trail
as Chief OganeAn American scout and his Indian friend help the English troops against the French during the...
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Ouanga
as LeStrange, the OverseerIn Haiti, a black female plantation owner enacts a voodoo curse, and revives zombies for revenge...
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Timber Queen
as Smacksie GoldenRuss Evans, A WWII veteran army pilot, decides to check up on the widow of an old war buddy of...
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Street of Chance
as Joe MarruciIn this Cornell Woolrich thriller, a man's memory is recovered after being injured by falling...
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Kiddin' the Kitten
as Dodsworth (voice) (uncredited)A lazy and fat cat, named Dodsworth, is ordered by his mistress to catch mice that have invaded...
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The Falcon in Hollywood
as Louie BuchananSuave amateur detective Tom Lawrence--aka Michael Arlen's literary hero The Falcon--arrives in...
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James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
as Self (archive footage)Documentary about James Stewart's long career as an actor and positive personal life.
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Frontier Gal
as 'Blackie' ShouldersJohnny Hart (Rod Cameron) is on the run from the law after killing one of the men who shot his...
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River Gang
as Peg LegAn orphan girl lives with apparently kind uncle who turns out to be a murderer.
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The Fabulous Joe
as LouieMilo Terkel's life is never the same after he is willed a dog named Joe. Milo buys his wife a...
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Shep Comes Home
as 'Swifty' LewisLittle Larry Havens, whose father died in WWII, runs away from home to keep from being separated...
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Jinx Money
as Lippy HarrisA man wins $50,000 in a card game with gamblers, but is soon found dead and the money missing....
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Crime, Inc.
as Capt. FerroneA crime reporter writes book to expose names and methods of the criminal leaders. He is held on...
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Rainbow Over Texas
as Kirby HaynesRoy visits his home town while on a personal appearance tour. While there he enters a pony...
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Taxi, Mister
as Gangster Louis Glorio / The Frisco GhostThe owner (William Bendix) of a cab company tries to foil a racketeer.
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Bowery Bombshell
as Ace Deuce BakerSlip (Leo Gorcey), Sach (Huntz Hall), Bobby (Bobby Jordan), Whitey (William Benedict) and Chuck...
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Gambler's Choice
as Chappie WilsonThe professional gambler Ross Hadley is the owner of a posh gaming establishment in the heart of...
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Zombies on Broadway
as Ace MillerHiring real zombies for a broadway show proves difficult.
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Married Bachelor
as Johnny BranniganA man's marriage suffers when he pretends to be a bachelor while promoting "his" best-selling...
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Her Kind of Man
as Felix BenderA singer can't choose between a charismatic gangster and an honest newspaperman.
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Here Come the Nelsons
as DukeThe homespun Nelson family must deal with various comical situations, including an encounter...
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Tall, Dark and Handsome
as Pretty Willie WilliamsRobin Hoodish gangster in 1929 Chicago is an object of affection, kind to New York hood and bad...
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Private Nurse
as John WintonIn this brief B programmer, a nurse is hired to care for a widower's daughter who is unaware...
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Stop, You're Killing Me
as LeftyA gangster and his wife attempt to go straight. Comedy. Remake of the 1938 film "A Slight Case...
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Open Secret
as Detective Sgt. Mike FrontelliA couple discovers that their friend has gone missing. Their investigation leads them to believe...
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A Peck O' Trouble
as Dodsworth (voice)Lazy Dodsworth the Cat wants to catch a woodpecker for his breakfast. The woodpecker has built...
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Born to Sing
as Pete DetroitA group of children put on a show in order to prove that a down and out musician was the real...
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Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life
as HimselfA loving tribute to a forgotten pioneer of the golden age of television. Starting out as a...
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Harvest Melody
as ChuckFarmer Tommy and his girl Jane come in from the country for a night at the Hollywood Trocadero....
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Alias a Gentleman
as Harry BealerAging ex-con tries to stop his daughter from getting involved with shady characters.
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My Mummy's Arms
as AbdullahTwo Americans attempt to make time with the daughter of the British financier of an...
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The Gentleman Misbehaves
as Trigger StazziAfter his first attempt to obtain cash fails, a Broadway producer turns to a gambler to raise...
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Why Girls Leave Home
as Chris WilliamsIn this crime drama, a young woman leaves her unhappy life at home to become a sophisticated...
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Radio Stars on Parade
as Lucky MaddoxA Hollywood talent agency tries to avoid finacial ruin by getting its best clients on the air.
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Madonna of the Desert
as Nick JulianA jeweled Madonna, property of rancher Joe Salinas, attracts two crooks to his ranch, Monica...
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The Making of 'It's a Wonderful Life'
as Self (archival footage)Tom Bosley hosts a documentary the looks into the story behind how one of cinema's greatest...
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Trocadero
as Mickey JonesA newspaper columnist and host of his own national network radio program, interviewing more film...
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Top Secret
as Carl VitaleA hip American agent and his foxy associate try to recover a hundred pounds of stolen plutonium...
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Sock a Doodle Do
as Kid Banty (voice) (uncredited)A prize-fighting banty rooster, so slap-happy that he goes into a punching spree whenever he...
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The Diamond Queen
as MogulA French jeweler travels to India in search of a fabulous diamond.
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Buy Me That Town
as Chink MoranA gangster and his mob buy a small-town in this warm comedy. They, tired of trying to make it as...
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Daughter of the Jungle
as Dalton KraikAn airplane carrying a pair of police officers escorting gangsters to prison crash-lands in the...
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The Mike Douglas Show
as SelfThe Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that...
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Murder, She Wrote
as Sgt. Bulldog KowalskiAn unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life...
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The Cosby Show
as uncreditedThe Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for...
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I Love Lucy
as Harry Martin (uncredited)Cuban Bandleader Ricky Ricardo would be happy if his wife Lucy would just be a housewife....
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The Lucy Show
as Sheldon LeonardThe Lucy Show is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962–68. It was Lucille Ball's...
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Burke's Law
as Ronald 'Touchy' TouchstoneBurke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...
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Burke's Law
as 'Chicasaw Pete' WickowskiBurke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...
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The Facts of Life
as uncreditedThe Facts of Life is an American sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from...
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The Merv Griffin Show
as SelfThe Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran...
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Cheers
as uncreditedThe story about a blue-collar Boston bar run by former sports star Sam Malone and the quirky and...
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The Bob Hope Show
as SelfThe Bob Hope Show hosted by Bob Hope, debuted on April 9, 1950. During the 1952-1953 season, NBC...
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The Jack Benny Program
as Elevator ToutLaugh along with funnyman Jack Benny as he brings his underplayed humor to TV along with regular...
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The Jack Benny Program
as Racetrack ToutLaugh along with funnyman Jack Benny as he brings his underplayed humor to TV along with regular...
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The Colgate Comedy Hour
as SelfThe Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC...
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Sanford and Son
as uncreditedThe misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.
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The Dick Van Dyke Show
as Big Max CalvadaThe Dick Van Dyke Show centers around the work and home life of television comedy writer Rob...
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Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
as uncreditedGomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. is an American situation comedy that originally aired on CBS from September...
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Matlock
as Casino TipsterMatlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of...
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Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
as SelfAn American sketch comedy television program hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin.
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The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
as SelfThe Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts is a NBC television special show hosted by entertainer Dean...
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Screen Director's Playhouse
as GeorgePresented by Eastman Kodak, this show was a series of original scripts directed by acclaimed...
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The David Susskind Show
as SelfThe David Susskind Show is an American television talk show hosted by David Susskind. The...
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My World and Welcome to It
as uncreditedMy World and Welcome to It is an American half-hour television sitcom based on the humor and...
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The Danny Thomas Show
as GusDanny Thomas, an entertainer, tries to balance his home life with the needs of his career, with...
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I Spy
as Disc JockeyI Spy is an American television secret-agent adventure series. It ran for three seasons on NBC...
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Dream On
as uncreditedThe family life, romantic life, and career of Martin Tupper, a divorced New York City book...
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General Electric Theater
as uncreditedGeneral Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...
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Linus the Lionhearted
as uncreditedLinus the Lionhearted is an American animated television series featuring a main character of...
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