Leland Crooke
Encyclopedia
Leland Crooke is an American actor from stage and film. He is known from several stage plays and films by David Beaird
.
's loosely adaption of Bertolt Brecht
's play Baal
with James Belushi
in title role) which was staged at the Goodman Theatre
in Chicago
. In October of the same year he was cast as Swiss Cheese, the youngest son of Mother Courage in Sharon Ott
's adaption of Brecht's play Mother Courage and Her Children
at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. In 1981 he was seen as Lackey (a musketeer) in Cyrano de Bergerac
at the same theatre. In 1984 he met director, screenwriter, and playwright David Beaird
with whom he collaborated at the films The Party Animal
(1984), My Chauffeur
(1986), It Takes Two, Pass the Ammo
(both 1988), Scorchers
(1991), and The Civilization of Maxwell Bright
(2005). Crooke was also seen in Beaird's stage plays Scorchers (1985 in the role of Jumper at the Equity Waiver Theater in Los Angeles) and 900 Oneonta (1999 in the role of Dandy at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles). In addition Crooke played guest roles in television series including Key West
(created by Beaird), Matlock
, Melrose Place, ER
, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, JAG
, Angel
, and Charmed
.
David Beaird
David Beaird is an American film and stage director, screenwriter, and playwright.-Career:In 1973 he was recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the play "The Hot l Baltimore" at the Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago, Illinois...
.
Career
In February 1980 Crooke gave his stage debut in the play Bal (Richard NelsonRichard Nelson (playwright)
Richard Nelson is an American playwright and librettist. He wrote the books for the musicals James Joyce's The Dead and the Broadway version of Chess.-Personal life:Nelson was born in Chicago, Illinois....
's loosely adaption of Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
's play Baal
Baal
Baʿal is a Northwest Semitic title and honorific meaning "master" or "lord" that is used for various gods who were patrons of cities in the Levant and Asia Minor, cognate to Akkadian Bēlu...
with James Belushi
James Belushi
James Adam "Jim" Belushi is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is the younger brother of comic actor John Belushi.-Early life:Belushi was born in Chicago...
in title role) which was staged at the Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre
The Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of Chicago theatre, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In October of the same year he was cast as Swiss Cheese, the youngest son of Mother Courage in Sharon Ott
Sharon Ott (director)
Sharon Ott is an award-winning director, producer and educator who has worked in regional theaters and opera throughout the United States. Ott is currently the artistic director of the Performing Arts department at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she also teaches...
's adaption of Brecht's play Mother Courage and Her Children
Mother Courage and Her Children
Mother Courage and Her Children is a play written in 1939 by the German dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht with significant contributions from Margarete Steffin...
at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Milwaukee Repertory Theater, founded by Mary Widrig John in 1954, as the Fred Miller Theatre Company, is now located on the east bank of the Milwaukee River in the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex at 108 E Wells St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is home to an eleven member Resident Acting Company...
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. In 1981 he was seen as Lackey (a musketeer) in Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac (play)
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play bears very scant resemblance to his life....
at the same theatre. In 1984 he met director, screenwriter, and playwright David Beaird
David Beaird
David Beaird is an American film and stage director, screenwriter, and playwright.-Career:In 1973 he was recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the play "The Hot l Baltimore" at the Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago, Illinois...
with whom he collaborated at the films The Party Animal
The Party Animal
The Party Animal is a movie written and directed by David Beaird. Since its inauspicious debut in 1984, it has become a minor cult classic.-Cast:*Matthew Causey - Pondo Sinatra*Timothy Carhart - Studly*Jerry Jones - Elbow*Robin Harlan - Natasha...
(1984), My Chauffeur
My Chauffeur
My Chauffeur is an American comedy film starring E. G. Marshall, Deborah Foreman, and Howard Hesseman. It was written and directed by David Beaird. The original music score was composed by Paul Hertzog. The film was released on January 24, 1986, and was marketed with the tagline "Some women will,...
(1986), It Takes Two, Pass the Ammo
Pass the Ammo
Pass the Ammo is a 1988 film starring Bill Paxton, Annie Potts, and Tim Curry. The film is a spoof of televangelism released right after the real-life Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart scandals. The movie's working title during production, "...And Pass the Ammunition," references the phrase "praise...
(both 1988), Scorchers
Scorchers (film)
Scorchers is an ensemble drama from 1991 written and directed by David Beaird with a cast of among others Faye Dunaway, James Earl Jones, Denholm Elliott, Leland Crooke and Emily Lloyd...
(1991), and The Civilization of Maxwell Bright
The Civilization of Maxwell Bright
The Civilization of Maxwell Bright is a 2005 romance film starring Patrick Warburton, Marie Matiko, Eric Roberts, Leland Crooke and Jennifer Tilly that has seen success on the arthouse movie circuit. It has won awards at the WorldFest Houston, New York VisionFest, Florida Film Festival, Boulder...
(2005). Crooke was also seen in Beaird's stage plays Scorchers (1985 in the role of Jumper at the Equity Waiver Theater in Los Angeles) and 900 Oneonta (1999 in the role of Dandy at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles). In addition Crooke played guest roles in television series including Key West
Key West (TV series)
Key West was a short-lived 1993 hour long comedy-drama television series set in Key West, Florida. Thirteen episodes aired on Fox between January and June 1993. It was created by David Beaird and Allan Marcil...
(created by Beaird), Matlock
Matlock (TV series)
Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of attorney Ben Matlock. The show originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC, where it replaced The A-Team, then from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC.The show's format was similar...
, Melrose Place, ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, JAG
JAG (TV series)
JAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
, Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
, and Charmed
Charmed
Charmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
.