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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
March 20, 1931
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Hal Linden
0.7 Popularity
Biography
Hal Linden (born Harold Lipshitz, March 20, 1931) is an American stage and screen actor, television director and musician. His best-known role was as the title character in the television comedy series Barney Miller, for which he earned seven Primetime Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations. Born in the Bronx, Linden was the son of Charles Lipshitz and Frances Rosen. His older brother would become a future professor of music at Bowling Green State University, Ohio. Similarly musical, Hal took up classical clarinet in his late teens and played regularly with symphony orchestras. After graduating from the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan, he studied music at Queens College, moving later to City College to pursue business. Hal also played in dance bands and was asked to join Sammy Kaye on tour before being drafted into the Army, where he sang and provided entertainment for the troops. This sparked an interest in acting, and, upon receiving his discharge, he enrolled at New York's American Theatre Wing where he trained in voice and drama. In 1955, Hal met Frances Martin, a dancer. They married three years later, and she gave up her career to raise a family. Hal's first Broadway show was in "Bells Are Ringing" where he understudied lead Jeff Moss. During the 1960s, Hal accumulated more musical credits in "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," "Subways Are for Sleeping," "The Apple Tree" and "The Pajama Game." He won the 1971 Tony award for his role in "The Rothschilds." This particular stage success led to a TV career that culminated in the title role on the popular Barney Miller (1974) sitcom. Emmy-nominated every year the program aired, Hal became a household name. Since that time, he has appeared in other lesser TV series including Blacke's Magic (1986), and Jack's Place (1992). He has held a secondary presence in such films as A New Life (1988) and Out to Sea (1997). More musical leads such as "I Do! I Do!" and "The Pajama Game" came his way, along with dramatic pursuits in "I'm Not Rappaport" and "The Sisters Rosenzweig." Hal has also undertaken musical tours in his continuing role as clarinetist. He and wife Frances are avid golfers during their spare time.
Known For
Credits
Micro Budget
as Russel
2024
8.0
Merv
as Merv
2023
10.0
You People
as Mr. Greenwald
2023
5.6
Off Broadway
as J.P. Fister
2021
0.0
Hacks
as Cliff Biff
2021
7.5
Grand-Daddy Day Care
as Gabe
2019
5.8
The Samuel Project
as Samuel
2018
6.7
American Housewife
as Mr. Montez
2016
7.7
The Mindy Project
as Manny
2012
6.3
2 Broke Girls
as Lester
2011
7.2
Hot in Cleveland
as Alex
2010
7.3
Jack Taylor of Beverly Hills
as Self
2007
6.0
Light Years Away
as Grandpa Sommers
2006
2.7
Supernatural
as Rabbi Isaac Bass
2005
8.3
Living with Fran
2005
6.3
Grey's Anatomy
as Bertram Hollister
2005
8.2
🎬
The Tony Danza Show
as Self
2004
6.1
Time Changer
as The Dean
2003
5.6
Dumb Luck
as Blaine Mitchell
2003
5.0
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
as Self
2003
7.0
The Glow
as Arnold Janusz
2002
5.2
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
as Mr. Turner
2001
7.6
The Zeta Project
2001
7.5
Gilmore Girls
as Chad
2000
7.9
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Leonard Maxwell
1999
7.9
The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads
as Ernie Landale
1999
6.0
Jump
as Shrink
1999
1.5
Killers in the House
1998
0.0
The King of Queens
as Bernard
1998
7.1
Will & Grace
as Alan
1998
6.8
Out to Sea
as Mac Valor
1997
5.7
The Drew Carey Show
as Mr. Van zandt
1995
6.5
The Colony
as Philip Denig
1995
5.3
Nowhere Man
as Senator Wallace
1995
7.7
Touched by an Angel
as Dave Price
1994
7.2
Touched by an Angel
as Sam Brown
1994
7.2
🎬
The Boys Are Back
as Fred Hansen
1994
2.0
America and the Holocaust: Deceit and Indifference
as Narrator (voice)
1994
0.0
The Nanny
as Maury Sherry
1993
8.1
Jack's Place
1992
8.0
Night of 100 Stars III
as Self
1990
4.0
Dream Breakers
as Harry Palliser
1989
0.0
American Experience
as Narrator (voice)
1988
6.9
A New Life
as Mel Arons
1988
3.8
🎬
The Grand Knockout Tournament
as Self
1987
5.7
Blacke's Magic
as Alexander Blacke
1986
6.0
Let's Go Mets
as Self
1986
0.0
The Golden Girls
as John
1985
7.6
The Ray Bradbury Theater
as Captain Black
1985
6.8
Night of 100 Stars II
as Self
1985
8.0
My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn
as Jack Warner
1985
6.5
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
as Self - Performer
1984
0.0
All-Star Party for Frank Sinatra
as Self
1983
6.0
I Do! I Do!
as He (Michael)
1983
0.0
James Bond: The First 21 Years
as Self
1983
5.0
The Other Woman
as Lou Chadway
1983
3.3
Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land
as Josh Gilliam
1983
4.9
🎬
Christmas in Washington
as Self
1982
7.5
I Love Liberty
as Self
1982
0.0
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
1982
6.7
Father Figure
as Howard
1980
5.0
When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?
as Richard Ethridge
1979
5.7
Battle of the Network Stars
1976
6.0
How to Break Up a Happy Divorce
as Tony Bartlett
1976
0.0
The Love Boat
as Andrew Canaan
1976
0.0
The Muppet Show
as Self - Special Guest Star
1976
8.0
Donny & Marie
as Self
1976
6.7
Van Dyke and Company
as Self
1975
5.0
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
7.0
Cher
as Self
1975
6.2
Barney Miller
as Barney Miller
1975
7.3
Tony Orlando and Dawn
as Self
1974
3.5
NOVA
as Narrator
1974
7.0
Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside
as Det. Lou Isaacs
1973
0.0
Ghost Story
as David Wells
1972
7.1
Great Performances
as Self
1971
5.8
The Carol Burnett Show
as Self
1967
7.7
The F.B.I.
as Abel Norton
1965
5.4
That Man from Rio
1964
7.4
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
1961
5.4
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self - Co-Host
1961
5.4
Bells Are Ringing
as Singer (uncredited)
1960
6.3
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter
1956
5.9
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter/Performer
1956
5.9
Tony Awards
as Self - Performer
1956
5.9
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter / Performer
1956
5.9
Tony Awards
as Self - Nominee
1956
5.9
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
as Self
1948
8.0