Hal Linden

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his four-hour interview, Hal Linden talks about his early life and influences and making his Broadway debut in the musical Bells Are Ringing. He describes early television roles, doing voiceover for commercials and overdubbing for foreign films, and triumphing on Broadway with a Tony win for The Rothchilds. He recounts his eight-year stint on the classic series Barney Miller, outlining the development of the show by creator Danny Arnold, and speaking of the show's ensemble cast members including Ron Glass, Jack Soo, Max Gail, and Abe Vigoda. Linden recalls how the show and characters changed over the years, describes the show's relationship to New York City, and shares the fact that many police called it the most realistic depiction of their job ever on television. He talks of his post-Barney Miller career, including guest stints on The Golden Girls, Will & Grace, and Hot in Cleveland, and starring roles in Jack's Place and Blacke's Magic. He concludes with career highlights and regrets and gives advice to aspiring actors. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on July 2, 2013 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I'd been offered the pilot for 'Barney Miller,' but also I'd gotten an offer to star in a Broadway musical. I remember sitting in my manager's office. The Broadway producer had called and said he needed an answer by close of business. And I said cavalierly, 'All right, we've done Broadway. Let's try television.' We did the pilot, and that got us a mid-season replacement, which led to eight terrific seasons."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Hal Linden on the character "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller
03:55
Hal Linden on dealing with Standards & Practices on Barney Miller
03:55
Hal Linden on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
02:03
Hal Linden on turning down a role on St. Elsewhere
02:19
Hal Linden on being nominated for and winning Emmys
01:56
Hal Linden on his Broadway success in "The Rothchilds"
06:48
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television
On making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing"; on early television roles
On doing voiceovers and looping for foreign movies; on his Broadway success in "The Rothchilds"
On being cast as the title character in Barney Miller; on the humor of Barney Miller

Chapter 2

On shooting the pilots for Barney Miller; on the character "Barney Miller" and the decision not to shoot the show in front of a live audience
On the weaknesses of his character on Barney Miller; on Max Gail as "Wojo" on Barney Miller; on an early war with Standards & Practices over the show
On Ron Glass as "Ron Harris," Gregory Sierra as "Chano Amenguale," and Ron Carey as "Carl Levitt" on Barney Miller
On Steve Landesburg as "Arthur Dietrich," Jack Soo as "Nick Yemana," and Abe Vigoda as "Phil Fish" on Barney Miller

Chapter 3

On the cast and guest actors of Barney Miller
On his favorite episodes of Barney Miller; on Barney Miller's relationship to New York City; on the end of Barney Miller and the legacy of the show
On opportunities following the end of Barney Miller and turning down a role on St. Elsewhere; on appearing on The Love Boat; on appearing on Animals, Animals, Animals and The Hal Linden Special
On hosting FYI; on winning daytime Emmy Awards; on appearing in various made-for-television movies and the series Blacke's Magic

Chapter 4

On starring in the series Blacke's Magic and Jack's Place; on playing "Rabbi Markovitz" in the CBS Schoolbreak Special, The Writing on the Wall
On starring in the series The Boys Are Back; on guest-starring on various series
On then-current projects; on career highlights and regrets; on advice to aspiring actors
Shows

Barney Miller

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Hal Linden on being cast as the title character in Barney Miller
07:06
Hal Linden on how Barney Miller was described to him
05:24
Hal Linden on shooting the pilots for Barney Miller
06:07
Hal Linden on the character "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller
03:55
Hal Linden on the choice not to shoot Barney Miller in front of a live audience
09:30
Hal Linden on the weaknesses of "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller and other traits of the character
04:28
Hal Linden on dealing with Standards & Practices on Barney Miller
03:55
Hal Linden on Ron Glass as "Ron Harris" on Barney Miller
03:16
Hal Linden on Gregory Sierra as "Chano Amenguale" on Barney Miller
05:19
Hal Linden on Ron Carey as "Carl Levitt" on Barney Miller
01:07
Hal Linden on Steve Landesberg as "Arthur Dietrich" on Barney Miller
02:33
Hal Linden on Jack Soo as "Nick Yemana" on Barney Miller
08:50
Hal Linden on Abe Vigoda as "Phil Fish" on Barney Miller
03:54
Hal Linden on James Gregory as "Frank Luger" on Barney Miller
06:26
Hal Linden on Barbara Barrie as "Elizabeth Miller" on Barney Miller
03:32
Hal Linden on the ensemble cast of Barney Miller
02:01
Hal Linden on the set and guest actors on Barney Miller
04:29
Hal Linden on his favorite episodes of Barney Miller
02:17
Hal Linden on Barney Miller's relationship to New York City
02:25
Hal Linden on the end of Barney Miller
04:51
Hal Linden on the legacy of Barney Miller
06:12

Blacke's Magic

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Hal Linden on starring on the series Blacke's Magic
01:27
Hal Linden on starring in the series Blacke's Magic
04:33

Bold and the Beautiful, The

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Hal Linden on his stint on The Bold and the Beautiful
00:48

Drew Carey Show, The

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Hal Linden on guest-starring on The Drew Carey Show
01:57

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Hal Linden on being nominated for and winning Emmys
01:56

Golden Girls, The

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Hal Linden on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
02:03

Hot in Cleveland

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Hal Linden on guest starring on Hot in Cleveland
00:54

Love Boat, The

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Hal Linden on guest starring on The Love Boat
02:26

Perry Como Show, The

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Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday
05:25

Search For Tomorrow

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Hal Linden on acting on Search For Tomorrow
01:06

St. Elsewhere

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Hal Linden on turning down a role on St. Elsewhere
02:19

Will & Grace

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Hal Linden on guest-starring on Will & Grace
05:24
Topics

Advertising and Sponsorship

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Hal Linden on doing voiceover for commercials and looping foreign films
09:26

Advice

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Hal Linden on advice to aspiring actors
02:04

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Hal Linden on dealing with Standards & Practices on Barney Miller
03:55

Characters & Catchphrases

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Hal Linden on the character "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller
03:56
Hal Linden on the weaknesses of "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller and other traits of the character
04:28

Emmy Awards

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Hal Linden on being nominated for and winning Emmys
01:56

First Big Break

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Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday
05:24

Pivotal Career Moments

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Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday
05:24

Pop Culture

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Hal Linden on the character "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller
03:56
Hal Linden on the weaknesses of "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller and other traits of the character
04:28

Television Industry

View Topic
Hal Linden on doing voiceover for commercials and looping foreign films
09:26
Hal Linden on dealing with Standards & Practices on Barney Miller
03:55
Hal Linden on advice to aspiring actors
02:04
Professions

Actor

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Hal Linden on advice to aspiring actors
02:04

Performers

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Hal Linden on advice to aspiring actors
02:04
Genres

Comedy Series

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Hal Linden on playing "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller (Part 1) 
12:30
Hal Linden on playing "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller (Part 2)
59:09
Hal Linden on playing "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller  (Part 3) 
32:16
People

Danny Arnold

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Hal Linden on the choice not to shoot Barney Miller in front of a live audience
09:30

Beatrice Arthur

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Hal Linden on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
02:03

Barbara Barrie

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Hal Linden on Barbara Barrie as "Elizabeth Miller" on Barney Miller
03:32

James Burrows

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Hal Linden on guest-starring on Will & Grace
05:25

Ron Carey

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Hal Linden on Ron Carey as "Carl Levitt" on Barney Miller
01:08

Max Gail

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Hal Linden on Max Gail as "Stan Wojciehowicz" on Barney Miller
06:10

Judy Holliday

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Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday
05:24

Suzanne Pleshette

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Hal Linden on starring in the series The Boys Are Back
02:00

Abe Vigoda

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Hal Linden on Abe Vigoda as "Phil Fish" on Barney Miller
03:54

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