Hal Linden

Hal Linden is an American actor, musician and television director who started out as a big band singer and saxophonist before turning to acting after his Army service. Born in The Bronx in 1931, he worked in summer stock and off-Broadway, then replaced Sydney Chaplin on Broadway in Bells Are Ringing and starred in a 1962 revival of Anything Goes. In 1971 he won a Tony Award for playing Mayer Rothschild in The Rothschilds. His best-known role came in 1974 as the title character of the television comedy Barney Miller, which brought him seven Primetime Emmy nominations and Golden Globe recognition. He hosted the educational programs Animals, Animals, Animals and FYI, winning two Daytime Emmy Awards, and later won a third for a guest role on CBS Schoolbreak Special. His later credits include the television film Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983), stage work, and the 2011 album It's Never Too Late.