LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES - SHELDON LEONARD

SHELDON LEONARD

AS SEEN IN:

'I Spy'

"Return To Glory"

From Wikipedia:

Sheldon Leonard (born Sheldon Leonard Bershad; February 22, 1907 – January 11, 1997) was a pioneering American film and television producer, director, writer, and actor.

[He is best] known today as the producer of hugely popular television series, including 'The Danny Thomas Show'(aka 'Make Room For Daddy') (1953–64), 'The Andy Griffith Show' (1960–68), 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' (1961–66), and 'I Spy' (1965–68). 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', where he played the owner of a large sports arena. The show lasted only one season (1975–76).

The character of Andy Taylor was introduced in a 1960 episode of 'The Danny Thomas Show', which led to the series of 'The Andy Griffith Show'. Leonard is informally credited with developing the practice of using an episode of a series as a backdoor pilot episode for new series, in which a guest star is introduced as a new character with the intention using this character as the basis for a new show.

Leonard also has the distinction (along with author Mickey Spillane) of being one of the first two Miller Lite spokesmen. Using his trademark accent, he told the audience, "I was at first reluctant to try Miller Lite, but then I was persuaded to do so by my friend, Large Louis." One of his last acting roles was a guest appearance on the TV series 'Cheers', in which he played the proprietor of "The Hungry Heifer," Norm Peterson's favorite eating establishment.

Leonard died at 89, and was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California. His name served as a namesake for the characters Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter in the American sitcom 'The Big Bang Theory', as the writers are fans of his work.

SYNOPSIS:

At the end of "Return To Glory", Leonard and his wife were pestered by Kelly Robinson at an outdoor art market until Leonard finally slugged the spy to be rid of him.  

O'BSERVATION:

If Sheldon Leonard was also appearing as himself in these three other episodes:

• "Crusade To Limbo"
• "No Exchange On Damaged Merchandise"
• "Mederra Block"

(as seen in the first, third and fourth pictures above)

then it could be that he was deliberately tailing the agents to gather enough information about their activities to create a TV show about them called 'I Spy' (which has been referenced in other TV shows like 'Cosby', 'The Jeffersons' and 'The Middleman'.)  And he had to find some way to discourage Robinson from pointing him out so as not to bring attention to himself.

BCnU!