In 1945, before his 18th birthday, he joined the Canadian Merchant Navy and became Second Mate on his ship; his career ended when poor working conditions led him to become involved in a mutiny.
[2] In the early 1960s, Leiterman joined the CBC, where he became well-known for the show This Hour Has Seven Days which he co-produced with Patrick Watson from 1964 to 1966.
After that series was cancelled, Leiterman joined CBS to provide advice for the development of 60 Minutes, and he produced the CBC special "Sixteen in Webster Grove".
In 1971, he was part of a group that founded Wired City Communications, as a division of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Leiterman, who was a Christian Scientist, died at his winter residence in Vero Beach, Florida on 19 December 2012.