Leonard Harris

Who was Leonard Harris?

Leonard Harris was an American critic, author, and actor. He played Senator Charles Palantine in the Martin Scorsese film Taxi Driver and the mayor in Hero at Large.

Harris began his career as a print journalist; he spent several years as the arts and entertainment critic for WCBS-TV in New York City. He had three novels published and worked as a television writer later in his career. He served on the Tony Award Nominating Committee in the later 1980s and early 1990s.

In Taxi Driver, Harris played Senator Charles Palantine, the link between anti-hero Travis Bickle and Betsy, the woman Travis is obsessed with who works on the Charles Palantine political campaign. Throughout the film, Palantine's picture can be seen all over New York City.

He died on August 28, 2011 in Hartford, Connecticut, aged 81, from complications of pneumonia.