Leatherhead appeared in the 1987–1996 TV series as an enemy of the Turtles, who fought them on several different occasions. He was redesigned for this series by his original Mirage Studios creator, Ryan Brown.
Leatherhead was a giant Albino alligator (The biggest one that ever got born) before he swam through a portion of Florida's Everglades swamp, which had been contaminated with mutagen (due to previous activities of Krang and Shredder, the one that gave birth to the Punk Frogs). Upon making contact with the mutagen shortly after contact with a Cajun trapper, he mutated to his current humanoid form(gaining his green skin in the process. But despite his new intelligence he could not shake off his ferocity and hunting instincts entirely, which is why he was a danger to anyone who crossed his path.
After his mutation, Leatherhead wears a yellow cargo vest, blue rubber waders (rubber pants that go over boots and regular pants, held up by straps over shoulders), a brown belt, and a disheveled pink hat. He usually carries bear traps and large crayfish on his person. He is a survivalist and tracker. Here he is portrayed as an ruthless antagonist unlike his other incarnations.
This version of Leatherhead speaks with a Cajun accent and is voiced by Jim Cummings in most episode but in "Night of the Rogues" he is voiced by Peter Renaday. Both actors are from Louisiana, with Renaday (born Pierre Laurent Renoudet) actually being Cajun.
