Les Lannom

Last updated
Les Lannom
Born (1946-11-04) November 4, 1946 (age 76)
Alma mater Southern Illinois University [1]
Occupation(s)Actor, musician
Years active1972–present

Les Lannom (born November 4, 1946) [2] is an American actor and musician. Born in Johnston City, Illinois. [2] He is perhaps best known for playing Lester Hodges in the American private detective television series Harry O from 1974 to 1976, and his role as Sergeant Casper in Southern Comfort . [3]

Contents

Career

Lannom appeared as a guest on the television series Judging Amy , The X Files , ER , NYPD Blue , The Larry Sanders Show , Columbo , Scarecrow and Mrs. King , CHiPs , Benson , Knots Landing , The Waltons (as Sweet Billy), The Streets of San Francisco , The Six Million Dollar Man , Cannon , and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries . [2] He played Larry Penzoss in the 1985 television miniseries Space and played Bufe Coker in the 1978 television miniseries Centennial . Both miniseries were based on James A. Michener novels. Lannom appeared in part V of the miniseries, "Roots, The Next Generations" as Jake, a gas station operator. He also appeared in the film Silkwood (1983). Lannom portrayed Sergeant Casper in Walter Hills Southern Comfort . [2]

From 2002 to 2006, Lannom appeared onstage as Det. Brent Randall in Dark Legends in Blood. In 2007, he lent his considerable talent to the students of the Speech & Acting Team at his hometown high school Johnston City, Illinois, acting as a volunteer assistant coach. In April 2008, he returned to the high school stage as "Vince Fontaine" in Grease .

An accomplished musician, Lannom plays bagpipes, guitar, trumpet, harmonica, and is a singer. He is currently enjoying semi-retirement in his hometown of Johnston City, Illinois, playing the pipes and teaming up with music partner, Holly Kee, to create the unique sound of ROISIN DUBH. Les and Holly are also teaming up as Narrator and Executive Producer of audiobooks for the Benjamin Tucker Mystery Series by author Harry James Krebs. The pair has also begun a similar relationship with author Michael Phelps to produce audio versions for Phelps' two books about his friendship with David Janssen. Lannom and Janssen worked together on several episodes of Harry O , for which Lannom work on the television pilot of Harry O was liked by television director and producer, Jerry Thorpe. [4]

Filmography

Film
YearFilmRoleNotes
1972 Prime Cut O'Brien
1975 Framed Gary
1975 Stingray ElmoAlternative title: Abigail Wanted
1981 Southern Comfort Sgt. Casper*it is Lannom's 'Casper' on the film's British DVD box cover; see IMDb
1983 Silkwood Jimmy
1987 Like Father Like Son Coach Ellis
1988 Shoot to Kill Sheriff Dave ArnettAlternative title: Deadly Pursuit
1997 The Pest Bagpipe player
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1972–74 Cannon 2 episodes
1973 Kung Fu 1 episode
1973 The Rookies Gifford1 episode
1973–76 Harry O Lester Hodges6 episodes
1974 Chase Ron Whitsett1 episode
1974Hitchhike!Tim MooreTelevision film
1975 The Streets of San Francisco Off. Kevin Bryce1 episode
1975Someone I TouchedFrankTelevision film
1975 Death Scream Mr. DanielsTelevision film
1976Jeremiah of Jacob's NeckMaxTelevision film
1976 Most Wanted 1 episode
1977 Baa Baa Black Sheep 1 episode
1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries George Tompkins1 episode
1977 The Six Million Dollar Man 1 episode
1978Lacy and the Mississippi QueenWebberTelevision film
1978Zuma BeachStanTelevision film
1978 Centennial Bufe CokerMiniseries
1978 Pearl Chief LooperMiniseries
1979 Elvis Sonny WestTelevision film
1979 Roots: The Next Generations JakeMiniseries
1979 The Waltons Sweet Billy2 episodes
1980 Knots Landing Music1 episode
1980The ChisholmsJerry O'Neal1 episode
1980 Benson Bulldog1 episode
1980 Gideon's Trumpet Bobby EarleTelevision film
1981 CHiPs Janos1 episode
1984 The Yellow Rose Earl Yates1 episode
1985 Space Larry PenzosMiniseries
1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Russell Towne1 episode
1987 Houston Knights 2 episodes
1988 Tour of Duty SSG Exley1 episode
1988Police Story: Gladiator SchoolMullinsTelevision film
1990 Columbo: Columbo Goes to College MalloyTelevision film
1991Sons and DaughtersBill Sanders1 episode
1993Johnny BagoDonovan Brother #11 episode
1993 The Larry Sanders Show Tech Guy, Stage hand2 episodes
1996 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Rod Clemons1 episode
1997 JAG Dart Thrower1 episode
1997 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction 1 episode
1997 NYPD Blue 1 episode
1999 Purgatory BartenderTelevision film
1999 ER Neslen1 episode
1999Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The MovieEd GordonTelevision film
1999 The X-Files Deputy Fosterepisode: "Rush"
2000 Judging Amy David Chaskin1 episode

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Janssen</span> American actor (1931–1980)

David Janssen was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Richard Kimble in the television series The Fugitive (1963–1967). Janssen also had the title roles in three other series: Richard Diamond, Private Detective; O'Hara, U.S. Treasury and Harry O.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Hagman</span> American actor (1931–2012)

Larry Martin Hagman was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, Dallas, and the befuddled astronaut Major Anthony Nelson in the 1965–1970 sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. Hagman had supporting roles in numerous films, including Fail-Safe, Harry and Tonto, S.O.B., Nixon, and Primary Colors. His television appearances also included guest roles on dozens of shows spanning from the late 1950s until his death, and a reprise of his signature role on the 2012 revival of Dallas. Hagman also worked as a television producer and director. He was the son of actress Mary Martin. Hagman underwent a life-saving liver transplant in 1995. He died on November 23, 2012, from complications of acute myeloid leukemia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Bosley</span> American actor (1927–2010)

Thomas Edward Bosley was an American actor, television personality and entertainer. Bosley is best known for portraying Howard Cunningham on the ABC sitcom Happy Days (1974-1984) for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nomination. He's also known for his role as Sheriff Amos Tupper in the Angela Lansbury lead CBS mystery series Murder, She Wrote (1984-1988), and as the title character in the NBC/ABC series Father Dowling Mysteries (1989-1991).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Isaacs</span> English actor

Jason Isaacs is an English actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Graves</span> American actor (1926-2010)

Peter Graves was an American actor who portrayed Jim Phelps in the CBS television series Mission: Impossible from 1967 to 1973 and in its revival from 1988 to 1990. His elder brother was actor James Arness. Graves also played airline pilot Captain Clarence Oveur in the 1980 comedy film Airplane! and its 1982 sequel Airplane II: The Sequel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. D. Cannon</span> American actor

John Donovan Cannon was an American actor. An alumnus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, he is best known for his co-starring role of Chief of Detectives Peter B. Clifford in the television series McCloud with Dennis Weaver from 1970 until 1977, and for his part as the witness Lloyd Chandler who cleared Dr. Richard Kimble in "The Judgment", the series finale of The Fugitive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timothy Hutton</span> American actor and director

Timothy Tarquin Hutton is an American actor and film director. He is the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which he won at age 20 for his performance as Conrad Jarrett in Ordinary People (1980). Hutton has since appeared regularly in feature films and on television, with featured roles in the drama Taps (1981), the spy film The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), and the horror film The Dark Half (1993), among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Waters (actor)</span> Australian actor

John Russell Waters is an Australian film, theatre and television actor, singer, guitarist, songwriter and musician best known in Australia, where he moved to in 1968. He is the son of Scottish actor Russell Waters. John Waters has been in the industry for over 50 years, and was part of the Australian children's television series Play School for 18 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vic Morrow</span> American actor (1929–1982)

Victor Morrow was an American actor. He came to prominence as one of the leads of the ABC drama series Combat! (1962–1967), which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Series. Active on screen for over three decades, his film roles include Blackboard Jungle (1955), King Creole (1958), God's Little Acre (1958), Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974), and The Bad News Bears (1976). Morrow continued acting up to his death during filming of Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) when he and two child actors were killed by a helicopter crash during filming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don S. Davis</span> American actor

Donald Sinclair "Don" Davis was an American character actor best known for playing General Hammond in the television series Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007), and earlier for playing Major Garland Briggs on the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991). He was also a theater professor, painter, and United States Army captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forrest Tucker</span> American actor (1919–1986)

Forrest Meredith Tucker was an American actor in both movies and television who appeared in nearly a hundred films. Tucker worked as a vaudeville straight man at the age of fifteen. A mentor provided funds and contacts for a trip to California, where party hostess Cobina Wright persuaded guest Wesley Ruggles to give Tucker a screen test because of Tucker's photogenic good looks, thick wavy hair and height of six feet, five inches. Tucker was a sight reader who needed only one take and his film career started well despite a perception in most Hollywood studios that blond men were not photogenic. He enlisted in the Army during World War II. After twenty years spent mainly in Westerns and action roles, he returned to his roots, showing versatility as a comedic and stage musical actor. In the television series F Troop, he became identified with the character of Cavalry Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke. Tucker struggled with a drinking problem that began to affect his performances in the later years of his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Jackson (actor)</span> Scottish actor

Gordon Cameron Jackson, was a Scottish actor best remembered for his roles as the butler Angus Hudson in Upstairs, Downstairs and as George Cowley, the head of CI5, in The Professionals. He also portrayed Capt Jimmy Cairns in Tunes of Glory, and Flt. Lt. Andrew MacDonald, "Intelligence", in The Great Escape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Bisley</span> Australian actor (born 1951)

Steve Bisley is an Australian writer, film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Mad Max and The Great Gatsby. On TV, some of his better-known roles include Detective Sergeant Jack Christey on Water Rats and Jim Knight on Doctor Doctor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Vaughan</span> English actor

Peter Vaughan was an English character actor known for many supporting roles in British film and television productions. He also acted extensively on the stage.

<i>Southern Comfort</i> (1981 film) 1981 film by Walter Hill

Southern Comfort is a 1981 American action thriller film directed by Walter Hill and written by Michael Kane, Hill and his longtime collaborator David Giler. It stars Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Fred Ward, T. K. Carter, Franklyn Seales and Peter Coyote. The film, set in 1973, features a Louisiana Army National Guard squad of nine from an infantry unit on weekend maneuvers in rural bayou country as they antagonize some local Cajun people and become hunted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Barrett</span> Australian actor

Raymond Charles Barrett was an Australian actor. During the 1960s, he was a leading actor on British television, where he was best known for his appearances in The Troubleshooters (1965–1971). From the 1970s, he appeared in lead and character roles in Australian films and TV series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Friels</span> Australian actor

Colin Friels is a Scottish-born Australian actor of theatre, TV and film and presenter

<i>Harry O</i> Television series

Harry O, sometimes spelled Harry-O, is an American private detective series that aired for two seasons on ABC from 1974 to 1976. The series starred David Janssen, and Jerry Thorpe was executive producer. Harry O followed the broadcast of two pilot films: firstly Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On and secondly Smile Jenny, You're Dead, both starring Janssen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Duggan</span> American actor (1923–1988)

Andrew Duggan was an American character actor. His work includes 185 screen credits between 1949 and 1987 for roles in both film and television, as well a number more on stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Pullman</span> American actor

William Pullman is an American actor. After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater, he was an adjunct professor at Montana State University before deciding to pursue acting. He made his film debut in Ruthless People (1986), and starred in Spaceballs (1987), The Accidental Tourist (1988), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), While You Were Sleeping (1995), Casper (1995), Independence Day (1996), Lost Highway (1997), and Lake Placid (1999). He has appeared frequently on television, usually in TV films. Starting in the 2000s he has also acted in miniseries and regular series, such as Torchwood (2011), starring roles in 1600 Penn (2012–13) and The Sinner (2017–2021). In 2021, he had a recurring role in the miniseries Halston.

References

  1. "Police story roles: Lannom on TV". Southern Illinoisan . Carbondale, Illinois. December 7, 1973. p. 17. Retrieved February 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Les Lannom". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  3. Canby, Vincent (September 25, 1981). "Southern Comfort". The New York Times . Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  4. Klener, Dick (March 11, 1976). "More Fun For Les Lannom". The Times and Democrat . Orangeburg, South Carolina. p. 18. Retrieved February 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Closed Access logo transparent.svg