Leonard Barr (September 27 1903 - November 22 1980) was an old-style, one-liner standup American comic in the tradition of Henny Youngman. He was allegedly an uncle of Dean Martin, or at least was introduced that way on some appearances on Martin's TV shows in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Thanks to Martin, and TV talk shows, he achieved a significant amount of visibility and recognition in the twilight of his career.
He had a brief cameo in The Sting, appropriately as a burlesque comic. That is also the way his character is listed in the credits, as an anonymous comedian. However, in the wings of the stage just before the comic's entrance, he has a brief conversation with Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford), who addresses him as "Leonard".
He is perhaps best remembered internationally for starring in the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever in which he played Shady Tree, a stand up comedian in Las Vegas who was assassinated by henchmen Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd.
He also appeared in some five episodes of The Odd Couple in 1975 and, albeit unnamed on an episode of M*A*S*H as a USO Comedian.
Uncle of Dean Martin (I)
