Leonard Frey originally wanted to become an artist, but in college he became interested in acting. He made his stage debut in an off-Broadway production of "Little Mary Sunshine" and his film debut as a celebrant in Passages from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake (1966), but he first rose to prominence in the role of Harold, the self-proclaimed "Jew ...
[on playing the role of Motel, the Tailor, in Fiddler on the Roof (1971)] I'm grateful to The Boys in the Band (1970) but I started to get paranoid that I'd reach old age with people still thinking of me only as Harold - if they thought of me at all. Since 'Fiddler,' I've stopped worrying."
2
[on his role as Mendel, the Rabbi's son in the original Broadway production of "Fiddler on the Roof"] "It was originally a very small part, no more than a cough and a 'Mazel tof' but it got bigger."
#
Fact
1
He was nominated for a 1979 Joseph Jefferson Award for Guest Artist for his role in "Two-Part Invention" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
2
Was nominated for Broadway's 1975 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for "The National Health."
3
Though known for his portrayal of "Motel" in Fiddler on the Roof (1971), he originally played "Mendel", the rabbi's son, in the 1964 Broadway show.
4
Studied acting at New York City's prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse under famed acting coach Sanford Meisner.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1987
TV Series
Walter Witherspoon
Murder, She Wrote
1987
TV Series
Felix Casslaw
Mr. Sunshine
1986
TV Series
Prof. Leon Walters
Moonlighting
1985
TV Series
Skyler Cantrell
Earthlings
1984
TV Movie
Jayza
Mr. Smith
1983
TV Series
Raymond Holyoke
The Sound of Murder
1982
Trapper John, M.D.
1982
TV Series
Derrick Peters
Best of the West
1981-1982
TV Series
Parker Tillman
Tattoo
1981
Halsey
Up the Academy
1980
Keck
Where the Buffalo Roam
1980
Desk Clerk
Skag
1980
TV Series
Philip
Barney Miller
1975-1980
TV Series
Alfred Royce / Roland Gusik
Hart to Hart
1980
TV Series
Roger Winslow
Quincy M.E.
1978
TV Series
Frank Bristol
Eight Is Enough
1978
TV Series
Testimony of Two Men
1977
TV Mini-Series
David Paxton
Phillip and Barbara
1976
TV Movie
George
Mary Tyler Moore
1975
TV Series
The Student
Shirts/Skins
1974
TV Movie
Medical Center
1974
TV Series
Joshua
Shaft
1973
TV Series
Kyle Bruckner
Shirts/Skins
1973
TV Movie
Jerry Axelrod
Fiddler on the Roof
1971
Motel
Mission: Impossible
1971
TV Series
Dr. Thomas Burke
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon
1970
Guiles
The Boys in the Band
1970
Harold
Neither Are We Enemies
1970
TV Movie
Judas Iscariot
The Magic Christian
1969
Laurence Faggot
N.Y.P.D.
1969
TV Series
Moss
Passages from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake
1966
Celebrant
The Fat Black Pussycat
1963
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Fiddler on the Roof
1971
performer: "Miracle of Miracles" 1964 - uncredited
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Super Password
1985-1986
TV Series
Himself - Celebrity Contestant
Body Language
1985
TV Series
Himself
Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour
1983-1984
TV Series
Himself - Panelist
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1983
TV Special
Himself
All-Star Family Feud Special
1982
TV Series
Himself - Contestant
Family Feud
1982
TV Series
Himself
The 29th Annual Tony Awards
1975
TV Special
Himself
The Mike Douglas Show
1971-1972
TV Series
Himself - Comedian / Himself - Actor / Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1971-1972
TV Series
Himself
The 44th Annual Academy Awards
1972
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
$850,000
