Leonard Birman (born September 28, 1932) is a Canadian American actor,
who began his career in Montreal. In his 45 years on stage, screen and
radio, he has portrayed a wide variety of characters, including some
choice roles in classical and contemporary theatre.Birman was born in
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the second son of Maurice Lieb Birman, who
was a millinery designer, and Anna Birman, a marriage that lasted 70
years. He graduated from Baron Byng High School in 1949 as class
president, and within months he was captivated by the stage and the
discovery of being naturally at home on it. He had been a good student
and now had no interest at all in continuing on to college.His
earliest influences came by way of the STAGE series, Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation's radio productions of original plays and
international classics beginning in the early 1940s. As a long time
fan, he was honored and humbled to be joining the remaining members of
the troupe when he moved to Toronto in 1962. He soon became a
mainstay, playing dozens of pivotal roles.Coincidental with his first
appearances in community theatre (1955), CBC/Radio Canada announced
plans for their first live English and French television series to be
produced in Montreal. Called Dateline on the English language channel
and Je Me Souviens on the French language channel, it aired on
alternate Friday nights with the same cast. His audition won him his
first TV role.
who began his career in Montreal. In his 45 years on stage, screen and
radio, he has portrayed a wide variety of characters, including some
choice roles in classical and contemporary theatre.Birman was born in
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the second son of Maurice Lieb Birman, who
was a millinery designer, and Anna Birman, a marriage that lasted 70
years. He graduated from Baron Byng High School in 1949 as class
president, and within months he was captivated by the stage and the
discovery of being naturally at home on it. He had been a good student
and now had no interest at all in continuing on to college.His
earliest influences came by way of the STAGE series, Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation's radio productions of original plays and
international classics beginning in the early 1940s. As a long time
fan, he was honored and humbled to be joining the remaining members of
the troupe when he moved to Toronto in 1962. He soon became a
mainstay, playing dozens of pivotal roles.Coincidental with his first
appearances in community theatre (1955), CBC/Radio Canada announced
plans for their first live English and French television series to be
produced in Montreal. Called Dateline on the English language channel
and Je Me Souviens on the French language channel, it aired on
alternate Friday nights with the same cast. His audition won him his
first TV role.
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