---
name: "Leo Burmester"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/leo-burmester"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 February 1944"
died: "28 June 2007"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-21T03:26:34.248766+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Leo Burmester

Actor. Born 1 February 1944 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Died 28 June 2007.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 February 1944, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- **Died:** 28 June 2007
- **Active:** 1987–1996
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 78 (2), 1990s 86 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 72 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Drama 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1, Science Fiction 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $171m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Burmester, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2697231, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0122238/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30151

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Abyss*](https://film.one/film/the-abyss.md) (71)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Leo Burmester was an American actor of stage and screen. Born Bernard Leo Burmester on 1 February 1944 in Louisville, Kentucky, he studied drama at Western Kentucky University and received an MFA from the University of Denver. He began his career with the Actors Theatre of Louisville and originated roles that transferred to New York.

On Broadway he appeared in the original production of *Les Misérables* as Monsieur Thénardier and in revivals of *Buried Child* and *Ah, Wilderness!*. His film roles include Nathaniel in Martin Scorsese's *The Last Temptation of Christ* (1988), Catfish De Vries in James Cameron's *The Abyss* (1989), and parts in John Sayles films *Passion Fish* (1992) and *Lone Star* (1996). He also appeared in *The Devil's Advocate* (1997), *A Perfect World* (1993) and *Gangs of New York* (2002).

Burmester died on 28 June 2007 in New York City.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Lone Star* (1996), Fi1m 86, as Cody — [page](https://film.one/film/lone-star.md)
- *The Abyss* (1989), Fi1m 71, as Catton ‘Catfish’ De Vries — [page](https://film.one/film/the-abyss.md)
- *Broadcast News* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Jane's Dad — [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md)

## Complete filmography (57)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Aftermath* (2013), as Sheriff
- *America Brown* (2005), as Bo Williams
- *Broadway's Lost Treasures II* (2004), as Monsieur Thénardier (segment "Les Misérables")
- *Red Betsy* (2003), as Emmet Rounds
- *Gangs of New York* (2002), as Telegraph Operator #1 (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/gangs-of-new-york.md)
- *City by the Sea* (2002), as Lieutenant Katt
- *Monday Night Mayhem* (2002), as Carl Lindemann
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Lorne Cutler
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Bud Gabler
- *Limbo* (1999), as Harmon King
- *Speed of Life* (1999), as Dad
- *Getting to Know You* (1999), as Lamar Pike, Sr.
- *Dumbarton Bridge* (1999), as Jack
- *River Red* (1998), as Judge Perkins
- *Trinity* (1998), series, Actor
- *You're the One* (1998), series, Actor
- *The Secret of Mulan* (1998), Actor
- *Eye of the Storm* (1998), as Dallas
- *Switchback* (1997), as Clyde 'Shorty' Callahan
- *The Devil's Advocate* (1997), as Florida Prosecutor
- *...First Do No Harm* (1997), as Bob Purdue
- *Old Man* (1997), as Plump Convict
- *Mistrial* (1996), as Commissioner Russell Crane
- *Lone Star* (1996), as Cody — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/lone-star.md)
- *Truman* (1995), as Frank Vassar
- *The Neon Bible* (1995), as Bobbie Lee Taylor
- *The Great Elephant Escape* (1995), as Ethridge
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Dalton Robertson
- *A Perfect World* (1993), as Tom Adler
- *Walker, Texas Ranger* (1993), series, as Woodrow Jonathan Wilton
- *Alex Haley's Queen* (1993), series, as Henderson
- *Passion Fish* (1992), as Reeves
- *Innocent Blood* (1992), as Flinton
- *Arresting Behavior* (1992), series, as Officer Bill Ruskin
- *Article 99* (1992), as Shooter Polaski
- *Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story* (1991), series, as Corby Judd
- *William Shakespeare's Hamlet* (1990), as Osric
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Lester Hastings, Defense Attorney Le Clair — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *True Blue* (1989), series, as Officer Red Tollin
- *The Abyss* (1989), as Catton ‘Catfish’ De Vries — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-abyss.md)
- *Baywatch* (1989), series, as Max Jackson
- *Big Business* (1988), as Bum
- *The Last Temptation of Christ* (1988), as Nathaniel, Apostle
- *Broadcast News* (1987), as Jane's Dad — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md)
- *George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation* (1986), series, as Eban Krutch
- *Sweet Liberty* (1986), as Hank
- *Odd Jobs* (1986), as Wylie D. Daiken
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Jim Harding
- *The House of God* (1984), as Dr. Gath
- *Chiefs* (1983), series, as Emmett Spence
- *Daniel* (1983), as FBI #1
- *Rage of Angels* (1983), series, as Jim
- *Precious Blood* (1982), Actor
- *Rattlesnake in a Cooler* (1982), as The Doctor / Prisoner
- *Nurse* (1981), series, as Wally
- *Flo* (1980), series, Actor
- *Cruising* (1980), as Water Sport

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/leo-burmester