Tags
actor, Army, bit TV roles, cancer-related pneumonia, Celebrity, City College of New York, Len Lesser, Seinfeld, Uncle Leo
Len Lesser (December 3, 1922 – February 16, 2011)
Leonard King Lesser was born in New York City. In 1942, Lesser received a bachelor’s degree in economics and government from the City College of New York. At age 19, he joined the U.S. Army. He served four years before being discharged in April 1946. He returned with a new dream: Lesser now wanted to be an actor. In 1954, he moved to Los Angeles to find work in television and commercials. Throughout his career, Lesser had the opportunity to star alongside legends like Steve McQueen, Robert DeNiro and Clint Eastwood. In 1991, he landed a recurring role on the sitcom, Seinfeld as Uncle Leo. It would become his home for nine years. Lesser continued scoring bit parts on TV shows.
On February 16, 2011, Lesser died from cancer-related pneumonia at his Burbank home. He was 88 years old. Lesser was survived by his daughter Michele, son David, daughter-in-law Julie and three grandchildren.