Leo Orenstein was born on July 24, 1919 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Leo was a producer and director, known for Encounter (1952), Festival (1960) and Playdate (1961). Leo was married to Lucille Kallen and Yukie Kadoguchi. Leo died on February 5, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
He was a writer. director, and producer who created more than 150 dramas for the CBC. He worked for both stage and screen throughout his career. He was also a painter, illustrator, and teacher.
He started out writing radio dramas in the USA. He returned to Canada as a theater producer in Toronto.
Along with his own original works, he produced adaptations of works by Chekhov, Ibsen, Ionesco, and Shaw.
Anything that is the least bit controversial is considered dangerous. The agency men are always worried that some group is going to holler. As a result, real conflicts are missing from TV drama, and instead we have cardboard figures in implausible situations. (from a 1959 interview with the Toronto Star)