Wissenswertes

The characters Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007) are named in honor of him.

He once did a guest appearance in his own show Tennisschläger und Kanonen (1965) (Three Hours on a Sunday Night (1965)) playing the villain of the episode, Mr. Sorge.

Married to Frances Bober for over 65 years. They had a son and daughter. Frances passed away two years after Sheldon (1999) at age 91 and was buried beside him.

In 1992, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame after receiving five Emmy awards for his producing/directing efforts. In 1995, he received a lifetime membership into the Director's Guild of America. Accepting the honor, he quipped, "Giving a lifetime membership to a guy 88 years old... big f***ing deal!".

In 1965 he cast Bill Cosby in the TV series Tennisschläger und Kanonen (1965), making him one of TV's first black leading men.

TV producer of such fare as The Danny Thomas Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Andy Griffith Show.

Used to be well known for gangster roles until he appeared in Pocket Full of Miracles.

Originally went into Wall Street from high school.