Leo Martin

Born on November 2, 1924 as Leon De Waegenaere in the town of Berchem near Antwerp, young Leo soon developed a great interest for music throughout his childhood, especially the clarinet. Throughout his early career, he excelled in musical performances mixed with subtle touches of humor and even short sketches done in between songs. In the late sixties however, he came into contact with Gaston Berghmans, with whom he formed the immortal and inseparable comedy duo "Gaston & Leo" in 1972. After mostly performing in local theaters all over Belgium, Gaston and Leo signed a exclusivity contract with commercial TV station VTM when it first started up in February of 1989. The last show the duo hosted was "De Gaston & Leo Show", airing from 1992 to 1993. Leo Martin suddenly passed away on March 18, 1993 of lung cancer. After his untimely death, his partner Gaston revealed he had always considered Leo the brother he never had and "a piece of me has died along with him and will never come back". With his great big brown mustache and resounding bass voice, Leo will always be remembered by Flemish television viewers and theater aficionados alike.