Leo Z. Penn (August 27, 1921—September 5, 1998) was an American actor and director.
Penn was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants Elizabeth (née Melincoff) and Maurice Daniel Penn. Leo Penn may have had distant Spanish ancestry, as his father's surname was originally "Piñon".
Penn served as an officer and bombardier in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
Penn advocated U.S. neutrality in the war...
more
Leo Z. Penn (August 27, 1921—September 5, 1998) was an American actor and director.
Penn was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants Elizabeth (née Melincoff) and Maurice Daniel Penn. Leo Penn may have had distant Spanish ancestry, as his father's surname was originally "Piñon".
Penn served as an officer and bombardier in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
Penn advocated U.S. neutrality in the war in Europe during the period of time where the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact created a non-aggression pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. After Hitler attacked the Soviet Union, Penn urged that America enter the war.
Penn supported the Hollywood trade unions, and refused to accuse others to the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was black-listed, and Paramount refused to renew his contract. As a result Penn was not able to work as a movie actor. He found acting work in television, but CBS ousted him after receiving an anonymous...
less
