ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 12, 1997 TAG: 9701130060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: Associated Press
Sheldon Leonard, who went from playing Hollywood tough guys to producing such TV hits as ``The Andy Griffith Show'' and ``I Spy,'' died Friday at his home. He was 89.
Leonard played underworld figures in the 1940s and 1950s, speaking out of the side of his mouth in such films as ``Guys and Dolls'' and ``Pocketful of Miracles.''
One of his best-remembered roles came in 1946 when he played the bartender who threw Jimmy Stewart out on his ear in the classic ``It's a Wonderful Life.''
In the 1950s, Leonard moved into television, first as an actor, then a director and eventually as a producer of such popular shows as ``The Dick Van Dyke Show,'' which ran from 1961-1966.
Leonard once said ``chronic dissatisfaction'' led to his wide-ranging career.
``Somebody said, `If you don't like the way we're doing it, why don't you do it yourself?' and the next thing I knew I was a director,'' he recalled. ``From there I became a producer, from being chronically dissatisfied with directors.''
With Danny Thomas, he produced, wrote and frequently directed episodes of several highly successfully comedies, such as ``The Andy Griffith Show,'' ``Gomer Pyle'' and ``The Danny Thomas Show.''
He had a recurring role as Thomas' agent in ``The Danny Thomas Show,'' which ran from 1953-1971, winning Emmy Awards in 1957 and 1961 for directing. He also won an Emmy in 1970 for producing ``My World and Welcome to It,'' a situation comedy loosely based on the works of James Thurber.
In 1965, he produced the comedy-adventure ``I Spy,'' which starred Bill Cosby, one of television's first black leading men.Leonard was inducted into the television academy's Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements.
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB