Leo Burmester

Leo Burmester
Born
Bernard Leo Burmester

(1944-02-01)February 1, 1944
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedJune 28, 2007(2007-06-28) (aged 63)
New York City, U.S.
Education
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Singer
SpouseLora Lee Ecobelli (2005–2007)

Bernard Leo Burmester (February 1, 1944 – June 28, 2007) was an American actor of stage and screen.[1]

Early life and education

Burmester was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky,[1] and studied at Western Kentucky University as a biology major before switching to drama. He worked summer stock at Shawnee Summer Theatre of Greene County, Indiana. After receiving an MFA from the University of Denver, he taught college for a year before becoming a working actor.

Career

Stage

Burmester appeared with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, originating roles in Marsha Norman's drama play Getting Out and James McLure's Lone Star, and eventually recreating them in his off-Broadway and Broadway debuts, respectively.[1]

On Broadway, he is known for performing as the booming villain General D. in Raggedy Ann: The Musical Adventure (1986). He played the role of Monsieur Thénardier in the original production of Les Misérables, the role of Bradley in the 1996 revival of Sam Shepard's drama Buried Child directed by Gary Sinise, and as Sid Davis in a 1998 revival of Eugene O'Neill's comedy Ah, Wilderness! at Lincoln Center.[1] He played the Police Sergeant in Harry Connick, Jr.'s musical Thou Shalt not (2001). Other Broadway roles include the award-winning musical The Civil War (1999), and the musical adaptation, Urban Cowboy (2003).[1]

Off-Broadway roles include Hucklebee in a revival of the 1960 musical The Fantasticks.[1]

Screen

Burmester made his feature film debut in a big budget project with Cruising (1980), and had a featured role as the mortuary director in Honky Tonk Freeway (1981). Burmester played one of the FBI agents hounding the faux Rosenberg couple in Daniel (1983). He played Holly Hunter's character's father in the prologue of Broadcast News (1987), and the bum in front of The Plaza in Big Business (1988). Roles started to get larger with James Cameron's The Abyss (1989), as Catfish DeVries, decompression expert.[1] Burmester worked for director John Sayles several times, including in Passion Fish (1992) and Lone Star (1996), and also for directors such as William Friedkin, Clint Eastwood, Robert Altman, John Schlesinger and Sidney Lumet, and as the Apostle Nathaniel in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).[1]

On television, Burmester starred in the CBS sitcom Flo as Randy Stumphill, the mechanic who frequented the bar. Burmeister also played Woodrow Wilton, in season two episode of Walker, Texas Ranger, the episode was called "An Innocent Man", where he played a guy framed for murder.

Personal life and death

Burmester died at age 63 on June 28, 2007, in New York City, from complications from a tick bite and leukemia[2] after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.[1] Burmester was survived by his wife, Lora Lee Echobelli, and children, Daniel and Colette.[1] His ashes were scattered in Kentucky.

Theatre

Filmography

Film

Leo Burmester film credits
YearTitleRoleNotes Ref.
1980CruisingWater Sport[3]
1981Honky Tonk FreewayMortuary Director[3]
1983DanielFBI Agent #1[3]
1984The House of GodDr. Gath[3]
1986Odd JobsWylie D. Daiken[3]
1986Sweet LibertyHank[3]
1987Broadcast NewsJane's Dad[1]
1988The Last Temptation of ChristNathaniel, Apostle[1]
1988Big BusinessBum[3]
1989The Abyss'Catfish' De Vries[1]
1992Article 99'Shooter' Polaski[3]
1992Passion FishReeves[1]
1992Innocent BloodDave Flinton[3]
1992Fly by NightRickey TickDirected by Steve Gomer[3]
1993A Perfect WorldDeputy Tom Adler[3]
1995The Neon BibleBobbie Lee Taylor[3]
1996Lone StarCody[1]
1997The Devil's AdvocateFlorida Prosecutor[3]
1997SwitchbackClyde 'Shorty' Callahan[3]
1998The Secret of Mulan(voice)Video[4]
1998River RedJudge Perkins[3]
1998The FarmhouseDallas Miller[3]
1999Getting to Know YouLamar Pike, Sr.[3]
1999SaturnDad[3]
1999LimboHarmon King[3]
1999Dumbarton BridgeJack[3]
2002The End of the BarBoxing Trainer
2002City by the SeaLieutenant Katt[3]
2002Out of These RoomsKit's Dad
2002Gangs of New YorkTelegraph Operator No. 1 (voice)
2003Red BetsyEmmet Rounds[3]
2004America BrownBo Williams[3]
2005PatchMr. MoynahanShort
2005The Legend of ZorroColonel Beauregard[3]
2013AftermathSheriffFinal film role

Television

Leo Burmester television credits
YearTitleRoleNotes Ref.
1980–1981FloRandy Stumphill28 Episodes
1982Rattlesnake in a CoolerThe Doctor / PrisonerTV movie[3]
1983Rage of AngelsJimTV movie[3]
1983ChiefsEmmett SpenceTV miniseries[3]
1984George WashingtonEban KrutchTV miniseries[3]
1986George Washington II: The Forging of a NationEban KrutchTV miniseries[3]
1988 The Equalizer Jim Harding Episode: "No Place Like Home"
1989 The Equalizer Coach Bell Episode: "Suicide Squad"
1989–1990 True Blue Officer Red Tollin 12 episodes
1991 Young Riders Mr. Marsh Episode: "The Initiation"
1993 Walker, Texas Ranger Woodrow Jonathan Wilton Episode: "An Innocent Man"
1993Alex Haley's QueenHendersonTV miniseries[3]
1994 Law & Order Defense Attorney Lester Hastings Episode: "Snatched"
1995The Great Elephant EscapeEthridgeTV movie[3]
1995TrumanFrank VassarTV movie[3]
1996MistralCommissioner Russell CraneTV movie[3]
1996 Law & Order Mr. Le Clair Episode: "Charm City: Part 1"
1997William Faulkner's Old ManPlump ConvictTV movie. AKA, Hallmark Hall of Fame: Old Man[3]
1997...First Do No HarmBob PurdueTV movie[3]
1999Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love StoryCorby Judd (Part 1)TV miniseries[3]
2002Monday Night MayhemCarl LindermannTV movie[3]
2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Lorne Cutler Episode: "The Third Horseman"
2002 Law & Order Defense Attorney Lester Hastings Episode: "Patriot"
2004Carry Me HomeGrizzleTV movie
2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Bud Gabler Episode: "Cage"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Simonson, Robert. "Obituaries: Leo Burmester, Original Thenardier in Les Miz, Dead at 63". Playbill. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  2. ↑ Theatre World. Crown Publishers. 2007. p. 387. ISBN 9781557837424. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 "Leo-Burmester: Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  4. ↑ "The Secret of Mulan". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
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