How tall was Leo Gordon

Duffer 5ft 11 said on 27/Jun/21
He looked about 4 inches taller than Neville Brand (who was billed as 5'10")
in the very excellent "Riot in Cell Block 11" (1954) so yeah a strong 6'2" appears correct for him. A truly menacing character, both on screen and in real life.

Ian C. said on 6/May/21
Gordon seems to be within an inch of John Wayne in Hondo. Six foot three (or very close to it) is reasonable for Leo Gordon.

Also, a very powerfully built guy. John Wayne beats him up in the movie, but Gordon would have made short work of the Duke in real life.

FIint said on 26/Feb/18
People are saying 6’2 or 6’3, but in the Intruder he looks between two and three inches taller than William Shatner, who was probably 5’8, plus big shoes. I don’t think Leo could have been anywhere near this height, but he was certainly built like a bull.

Ian C. said on 16/Feb/18
Gordon was pretty close to six foot three in 1959, when he played a part in an episode of Bronco, with Ty Hardin. Hardin looked about six foot one (but claimed six-two), and Gordon was about an inch and a half taller. A very scary-looking guy, who was dishonourably discharged from the U.S. Army, and who served a five year stretch in San Quentin for armed robbery. But he appeared in over 170 movies and TV shows, which you don't get to do as a supporting player unless you are easy to work with, so he must have learned somewhere along the way to be kind to people.

James said on 18/May/17
He didn't look 6'2" in "Gun Fury".

LRG said on 11/Jan/16
One of the best "Heavies" in Hollywood! Every time I channel surf and catch him in something I stop and watch....he commanded your attention onscreen. Great in "Night of The Grizzly" as bounty hunter Cass Dowdy, and excellent on all the Gunsmokes early on. Great actor.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 29/Jun/15
Could look 6ft3 beside Clint Walker...

Mw1982 said on 23/Nov/14
6/2 for sure a real scrapper

mrbobh5344 said on 5/Nov/14
Real life tough guy. 6'2" is usually tagged as his height. He spent five years in San Quentin for armed robbery. He was likely exactly what we saw on screen.

thebad7 said on 31/May/11
@TG: I first saw your father in the 1955 Randolph Scott Western, TEN WANTED MEN. He was terrific as the the principal heavy.

Either way, he was a tall, muscular guy. Wow! Only 200? I'd have thought he was closer to 215 or 220 lbs.--he had a solid build. As for his height, I believe you--standing next to my favorite screen actor, Lee Van Cleef, he looked to be at least 6'2", and maybe a bit over. I was really surprised to learn he was a writer, too. Your father is sorely missed--a terrific Western player. I wish we had more like him today.

tb7

TG said on 4/Feb/11
Actually, he was 6'3". He had an accident while shooting a Bonanza and ended up having a spinal fusion. He lost an inch in height...making him a mere 6'2". Trival perhaps. I know because I'm his daughter. I might add that HE WAS FANTASTIC!

Bob H. said on 23/Feb/07
At this site: Click Here

you'll find that Gordon was shot twice in the stomach in WW2 and also later spent time in prison for armed robbery. When you see him onscreen swaggering around like a tough guy... it's because he WAS tough guy.

Larry said on 20/Jul/06
Gramps - Remember Leo from NIGHT OF THE GRIZZLY? He even looked like a plausible foe for Clint Walker (though NOT the grizzly). No comment on the bear's behavior! :-) I just "suspend disbelief"! :-)

Gramps said on 19/Jul/06
Yeah, I loved Leo Gordon. He had a very deep, gruff voice, and his chin and cheeks looked like they were chiseled from granite, much like the young Jack Palance, only beefier.

Larry said on 18/Jul/06
He was indeed 6'2" and probably usually over 200 pounds. I believe he wrote under the name Leo V. Gordon.