Leslie Thomas "Les" Lannom (born November 4, 1946, Johnston City, Illinois) is an American voice artist and musician, and retired film and television actor. 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.
Family Les Lannom was born in Johnston City, Illinois in 1946, the only child of Dora ( Stout; 19222005) and Leslie Deneen Lannom (19221949)Obituary: Dora Rosan Roach, newspapers.com. Accessed June 16, 2024. After his father's death, his mother married Edgar H. Roach on December 31, 1950. Edgar Roach died on November 3, 1989.
Les Lannom has one son, Leslie D. "Honcho" Lannom, and a granddaughter, Riley Lannom.
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.
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.
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. Most recently, he has been a voice actor to a website avatar, "Sport", on Pinnacle Sports.
Filmography + Film Year Film Role Notes 1972 Prime Cut O'Brien 1975 Framed Gary 1978 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 Bagpipe player + Television Year Title Role Notes 1972–74 Cannon 2 episodes 1973 Kung Fu 1 episode 1973 Gifford 1 episode 1973–76 Harry O Lester Hodges 6 episodes 1974 Chase Ron Whitsett 1 episode 1974 Hitchhike! Tim Moore Television film 1975 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 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 Sweet Billy 2 episodes 1980 Knots Landing Music 1 episode 1980 Jerry O'Neal 1 episode 1980 Benson Bulldog 1 episode 1980 Gideon's Trumpet Bobby Earle Television film 1981 CHiPs Janos 1 episode 1984 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 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 Deputy Foster episode: "Rush" 2000 Judging Amy David Chaskin 1 episode
References
External links
Les Lannom (Aveleyman)