Les Lannom

Last updated
Les Lannom
Born
Leslie Thomas Lannom

(1946-11-04) November 4, 1946 (age 77)
Alma mater Southern Illinois University [1]
Occupation(s)Actor, musician
Years active1972–present
Children1

Leslie Thomas "Les" Lannom (born November 4, 1946, Johnston City, Illinois) [2] is an American actor and musician. [2] He is perhaps best known for playing Lester Hodges in the American private detective television series Harry O from 1974 to 1976, and his role as Sergeant Casper in the 1981 film Southern Comfort . [3]

Contents

Family

Les Lannom was born in Johnston City, Illinois in 1946, the only child of Rosa ( née Stout; 19222005) and Leslie Deneen Lannom (died 1949) [4] After his father's death, his mother married Edgar H. Roach on December 31, 1950. Edgar Roach died on November 3, 1989. [4]

Les Lannom has one son, Leslie D. "Honcho" Lannom, and a granddaughter, Riley Lannom. [4]

Career

Lannom played Larry Penzoss in the 1985 television miniseries Space and played Bufe Coker in the 1978 television miniseries Centennial . Both miniseries were based on James A. Michener novels. He appeared in part V of the miniseries Roots: The Next Generations as Jake, a gas station operator. He also appeared in the film Silkwood (1983). Lannom portrayed Sergeant Casper in Walter Hills Southern Comfort . [2]

He made guest appearances on such series as Columbo , Scarecrow and Mrs. King , CHiPs , Benson , Knots Landing , The Waltons , The Streets of San Francisco , The Six Million Dollar Man , Cannon , The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries , Judging Amy , The X Files , ER , NYPD Blue , and The Larry Sanders Show , among others. [2]

From 2002 to 2006, he appeared onstage as Det. Brent Randall in Dark Legends in Blood. In 2007, he lent his considerable talent to the students of the Speech & Acting Team at his hometown high school in Johnston City, Illinois, acting as a volunteer assistant coach. In April 2008, he returned to the high school stage as "Vince Fontaine" in Grease .

An accomplished musician, Lannom plays bagpipes, guitar, trumpet, harmonica, and is a singer. He is currently enjoying semi-retirement in Johnston City, playing the pipes and teaming up with music partner, Holly Kee, to create the unique sound of ROISIN DUBH. Les and Holly teamed up as Narrator and Executive Producer of audiobooks for the Benjamin Tucker Mystery Series by author Harry James Krebs. The duo began a similar relationship with author Michael Phelps to produce audio versions for Phelps' two books about Lannom's friendship with Harry O co-star David Janssen for television director and producer, Jerry Thorpe. [5] Most recently, he has been a voice actor to a website avatar, "Sport", on Pinnacle Sports.

Filmography

Film
YearFilmRoleNotes
1972 Prime Cut O'Brien
1975 Framed Gary
1975 Stingray ElmoAlternative title: Abigail Wanted
1981 Southern Comfort Sgt. Casper*it is Lannom's 'Casper' on the film's British DVD box cover; see IMDb
1983 Silkwood Jimmy
1987 Like Father Like Son Coach Ellis
1988 Shoot to Kill Sheriff Dave ArnettAlternative title: Deadly Pursuit
1997 The Pest Bagpipe player
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1972–74 Cannon 2 episodes
1973 Kung Fu 1 episode
1973 The Rookies Gifford1 episode
1973–76 Harry O Lester Hodges6 episodes
1974 Chase Ron Whitsett1 episode
1974Hitchhike!Tim MooreTelevision film
1975 The Streets of San Francisco Off. Kevin Bryce1 episode
1975Someone I TouchedFrankTelevision film
1975 Death Scream Mr. DanielsTelevision film
1976Jeremiah of Jacob's NeckMaxTelevision film
1976 Most Wanted 1 episode
1977 Baa Baa Black Sheep 1 episode
1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries George Tompkins1 episode
1977 The Six Million Dollar Man 1 episode
1978Lacy and the Mississippi QueenWebberTelevision film
1978Zuma BeachStanTelevision film
1978 Centennial Bufe CokerMiniseries
1978 Pearl Chief LooperMiniseries
1979 Elvis Sonny WestTelevision film
1979 Roots: The Next Generations JakeMiniseries
1979 The Waltons Sweet Billy2 episodes
1980 Knots Landing Music1 episode
1980The ChisholmsJerry O'Neal1 episode
1980 Benson Bulldog1 episode
1980 Gideon's Trumpet Bobby EarleTelevision film
1981 CHiPs Janos1 episode
1984 The Yellow Rose Earl Yates1 episode
1985 Space Larry PenzosMiniseries
1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Russell Towne1 episode
1987 Houston Knights 2 episodes
1988 Tour of Duty SSG Exley1 episode
1988Police Story: Gladiator SchoolMullinsTelevision film
1990 Columbo: Columbo Goes to College MalloyTelevision film
1991Sons and DaughtersBill Sanders1 episode
1993 Johnny Bago Donovan Brother #11 episode
1993 The Larry Sanders Show Tech Guy, Stage hand2 episodes
1996 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Rod Clemons1 episode
1997 JAG Dart Thrower1 episode
1997 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction 1 episode
1997 NYPD Blue 1 episode
1999 Purgatory BartenderTelevision film
1999 ER Neslen1 episode
1999Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The MovieEd GordonTelevision film
1999 The X-Files Deputy Fosterepisode: "Rush"
2000 Judging Amy David Chaskin1 episode

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References

  1. "Police story roles: Lannom on TV". Southern Illinoisan . Carbondale, Illinois. December 7, 1973. p. 17. Retrieved February 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Les Lannom". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  3. Canby, Vincent (September 25, 1981). "Southern Comfort". The New York Times . Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Obituary: Dora Rosan Roach, newspapers.com. Accessed June 16, 2024.
  5. Klener, Dick (March 11, 1976). "More Fun For Les Lannom". The Times and Democrat . Orangeburg, South Carolina. p. 18. Retrieved February 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Closed Access logo transparent.svg