Fans of classic television were in for a treat this week when one of the most iconic sitcom stars of the 1970s was spotted out and about in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The legendary actor, now 94, became a household name as the calm and commanding Captain Barney Miller in the hit series Barney Miller, which ran from 1975 to 1982.
Looking spry, the TV veteran kept it casual in a relaxed outfit—a far cry from his days in uniform as the head of New York’s fictional 12th precinct.
The outing was a far cry from his early Broadway roots, when he won a Tony Award for Best Actor in 1971 for his portrayal of Mayer Rothschild in The Rothschilds.
Of course, longtime fans know his talents extend far beyond sitcoms, with memorable guest roles in Touched by an Angel, The King of Queens, Gilmore Girls, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent—and even earlier, he got his start as a big band musician growing up in the Bronx.
So… can you guess who it is?
Fans of classic television were in for a treat this week when one of the most iconic sitcom stars of the 1970s was spotted out and about in Los Angeles on Wednesday
The legendary actor, now 94, became a household name as the calm and commanding Captain Barney Miller in the hit series Barney Miller, which ran from 1975 to 1982
to 1982. Looking spry, the TV veteran kept it casual in a relaxed outfit—a far cry from his days in uniform as the head of New York’s fictional 12th precinct
If you said Hal Linden, you’re absolutely right!
In a 2017 interview with Vulture, Linden was asked about Barney Miller’s distinctive tone and whether its understated comedic style could be described as ‘minimalist.’
‘It does fit, because we used to cut lines from the script,’ Linden said. ‘There’d be a punchline and we’d do the scene, and you’d find out that all you had to do was cut back to a physical reaction. They were just as funny as the words.
He added, ‘We’d cut punchlines all the time. Yes, I think minimalist is a good description of the writing. There’s very few “jokes” in Barney Miller. It was all relationship humor.’
Linden also reflected on how Barney Miller stood out for its realism, especially compared to the flashy cop shows of the time.
‘The cop who wrote cop books, Joseph Wambaugh, said exactly the same thing. He said the closest thing to reality was Barney Miller, because most of the time you’re on the phone, filing papers, filling out reports, gathering or disseminating informationl’ he told the outlet at the time.
He added: ‘I once asked a police officer — I think he was a detective — “How many times have you fired your weapon in anger?” I asked a lot of cops that. I think the highest number I ever had was two.
‘Most of them said they’d never fired their weapons, so all the pictures of Telly Savalas or other TV cops firing off rounds on Kojak and so forth, were ridiculous. That’s why real police never identified with Kojak.
If you said Hal Linden (pictured in Barney Miller), you’re absolutely right!
Linden also reflected on how Barney Miller stood out for its realism, especially compared to the flashy cop shows of the time; (Pictured, top row: Ron Glass (Det. Ron Glass), Jack Soo (Det. Nick Yemana), Gregory Sierra (Det. Sgt. Chano Amenguale); bottom row: Maxwell Gail (Det. Stanley “Wojo” Wojohowicz), Hal Linden (Capt. Barney Miller), Abe Vigoda (Det. Phil Fish))
‘The cop who wrote cop books, Joseph Wambaugh, said the closest thing to reality was Barney Miller, because most of the time you’re on the phone, filing papers, filling out reports, gathering or disseminating informationl,’ Linden once said
Hal Linden hosting the 19880 ABC tv series ‘Animals, Animals, Animals’
In addition to his iconic TV role on Barney Miller, he made lasting contributions to educational programming and earned multiple Emmy Awards
On stage, he returned to Broadway in The Gathering and toured nationally in Tuesdays with Morrie
‘It wasn’t police work. Police work is grunt work.’
Linden was born on March 20, 1931, in The Bronx, New York.
His decades-long career has spanned music, stage, and screen, showcasing his versatility as a performer.
In addition to his iconic TV role on Barney Miller, he made lasting contributions to educational programming and earned multiple Emmy Awards.
Even in later years, Linden remained active, releasing a jazz album in 2011 and continuing to appear in theater and television projects.
He guest-starred on hit shows like The King of Queens, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Hot in Cleveland, and played key roles in films such as A New Life and Time Changer.
On stage, he returned to Broadway in The Gathering and toured nationally in Tuesdays with Morrie.
His enduring presence in the industry reflects both his talent and his deep love for performing.
