The Story Behind the Marshals Finale Tribute to Leonard Lenny E. Hancock Jr.

If you stuck around for the last episode of 'Marshals', just before the credits rolled, you’d have spotted a tribute card: 'In Loving Memory of Leonard "Lenny" E. Hancock Jr.' If you don’t recognise the name, you’re not alone, but you’ve absolutely seen his work if you watch much American telly. Let’s talk through who he was, why he mattered to this new 'Yellowstone' spinoff, and why CBS felt the need to give him a proper send-off.

Lenny Hancock Jr.: The Bloke Behind the Props

Lenny, as everyone called him, was the prop master on 'Marshals'. If you’re picturing some geezer just chucking a gun belt on a table, think again. Prop masters like Lenny are the detail obsessives who make sure all the physical bits you see on screen—the kit, tools, weird bits of gear—look spot-on, right down to the last bullet casing.

He didn’t just roll in for 'Marshals', either. Lenny had a hefty CV that included big American police procedurals like 'CSI: New York' and 'S.W.A.T'. So he knew his way around telly cops. What’s sad is Lenny died after a car crash in Arizona, and the creators decided to remember him with a nod in the finale—and some chat in a behind-the-scenes video that’s up for CBS viewers.

Why All the Fuss About Props?

If you’re a fan of accuracy (or just a bit of a nitpicker), you’d have liked Lenny. He was the sort who fretted about tiny things you’d probably never notice—except, actually, you do. He explained it himself in the CBS featurette:

'One of the things that I care about a lot when I do a show is that it’s really accurate. Like on this show, the police vest they wear, that is what the Marshals wear.'

He wasn’t mucking about. If you had a character who used to be a Navy SEAL, he’d go dig out exactly the right drag bag for him. If Cal liked his tan 'coyote' coloured gear, Lenny made sure every bit of kit matched. Belle? She’s a cowgirl, so he kitted her out in green—makes sense, yeah? Andrea’s from Washington DC, so she turns up in black, like most people coming out of big city law enforcement posts.

Lenny said all this attention to props meant you can 'tell who’s who' without any clunky explanation. Little stylistic Easter eggs that only the nerds (like me) pick up on, but it adds a layer.

So What Was His Kit Like?

Lenny had what he called the 'prop house on wheels'—apparently a mammoth 48 foot trailer packed with anything and everything the cast and crew might dream up. I guess if you need something, the odds are Lenny’s already got three of them, in different sizes.

• His work: 'Marshals', 'CSI: New York', 'S.W.A.T.'
• His approach: Obsessive about getting the details right, down to the colour schemes for each character's gear.
• His legacy: Elevating 'Marshals' with authenticity you don’t notice… unless it’s gone missing.
• His passing: Died in a car accident in Arizona before the series finale.

Where to Watch

If you’ve not yet dipped into 'Marshals', or you want to spot Lenny’s handiwork for yourself, the entire first series is on Paramount+.