Les Lannom
Born (1946-11-04) November 4, 1946
Alma materSouthern Illinois University[1]
Occupation(s)Actor, musician
Years active1972–present

Les Lannom (born November 4, 1946)[2] is an American actor and musician. Born in Johnston City, Illinois.[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 Southern Comfort.[3]

Career

Lannom appeared as a guest on the television series Judging Amy, The X Files, ER, NYPD Blue, The Larry Sanders Show, Columbo, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, CHiPs, Benson, Knots Landing, The Waltons (as Sweet Billy), The Streets of San Francisco, The Six Million Dollar Man, Cannon, and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.[2] He 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. Lannom 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]

From 2002 to 2006, Lannom 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 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 his hometown of Johnston City, Illinois, playing the pipes and teaming up with music partner, Holly Kee, to create the unique sound of ROISIN DUBH. Les and Holly are also teaming up as Narrator and Executive Producer of audiobooks for the Benjamin Tucker Mystery Series by author Harry James Krebs. The pair has also begun a similar relationship with author Michael Phelps to produce audio versions for Phelps' two books about his friendship with David Janssen. Lannom and Janssen worked together on several episodes of Harry O, for which Lannom work on the television pilot of Harry O was liked by television director and producer, Jerry Thorpe.[4]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1972 Prime Cut O'Brien
1975 Framed Gary
1975 Stingray Elmo Alternative 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 Arnett Alternative title: Deadly Pursuit
1997 The Pest Bagpipe player
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1972–74 Cannon 2 episodes
1973 Kung Fu 1 episode
1973 The Rookies Gifford 1 episode
1973–76 Harry O Lester Hodges 6 episodes
1974 Chase Ron Whitsett 1 episode
1974 Hitchhike! Tim Moore Television film
1975 The Streets of San Francisco Off. Kevin Bryce 1 episode
1975 Someone I Touched Frank Television film
1975 Death Scream Mr. Daniels Television film
1976 Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck Max Television film
1976 Most Wanted 1 episode
1977 Baa Baa Black Sheep 1 episode
1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries George Tompkins 1 episode
1977 The Six Million Dollar Man 1 episode
1978 Lacy and the Mississippi Queen Webber Television film
1978 Zuma Beach Stan Television film
1978 Centennial Bufe Coker Miniseries
1978 Pearl Chief Looper Miniseries
1979 Elvis Sonny West Television film
1979 Roots: The Next Generations Jake Miniseries
1979 The Waltons Sweet Billy 2 episodes
1980 Knots Landing Music 1 episode
1980 The Chisholms Jerry O'Neal 1 episode
1980 Benson Bulldog 1 episode
1980 Gideon's Trumpet Bobby Earle Television film
1981 CHiPs Janos 1 episode
1984 The Yellow Rose Earl Yates 1 episode
1985 Space Larry Penzos Miniseries
1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Russell Towne 1 episode
1987 Houston Knights 2 episodes
1988 Tour of Duty SSG Exley 1 episode
1988 Police Story: Gladiator School Mullins Television film
1990 Columbo: Columbo Goes to College Malloy Television film
1991 Sons and Daughters Bill Sanders 1 episode
1993 Johnny Bago Donovan Brother #1 1 episode
1993 The Larry Sanders Show Tech Guy, Stage hand 2 episodes
1996 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Rod Clemons 1 episode
1997 JAG Dart Thrower 1 episode
1997 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction 1 episode
1997 NYPD Blue 1 episode
1999 Purgatory Bartender Television film
1999 ER Neslen 1 episode
1999 Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie Ed Gordon Television film
1999 The X-Files Deputy Foster episode: "Rush"
2000 Judging Amy David Chaskin 1 episode

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 icon
  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. 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 icon
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