Keith Leopold was an academic and author of young adult fiction in a number of languages. He graduated in 1942 from the University of Sydney, with a University Medal for German and subsequently served for two years with Australian Special Intelligence. In 1945 he accepted a position at the University of Sydney before moving to the University of Queensland to take up the position of Head of the Department of German in 1947. He continued to teach at UQ until 1985 and was made Emeritus Professor. Professor Leopold was closely associated with the teaching of German in schools. One of his novels, When we ran, (1981), was adapted into the film Run Chrissie Run! which was released by the South Australian Film Corporation in 1984.