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12-21-2010, 05:06 AM
Steve Landesberg, best known to television audiences as Det. Sgt. Arthur Dietrich on the '70s sitcom "Barney Miller," died today following a long battle with cancer.
He was 65.
The funnyman died on Monday, according to his agent Jeffrey Leavitt. He had reportedly been battling cancer.
Landesberg started his career as a stand-up comedian in New York before landing his most famous role as Detective Arthur Dietrich in hit TV sit-com Barney Miller in 1975, with the show running until 1982. A veteran of stand-up at places like the Improv and a member of the New York Stickball Team improv group, Landesberg had a long career in television, movies, commercials, and on the stage.
After guesting several times and appearing as a semi-regular, Landesberg joined Barney Miller as a regular in its fourth season. His character’s deadpan delivery of myopic facts became a staple of the series. He was nominated three times for supporting actor Emmys for the sitcom. The series ran for eight seasons, from 1975 until 1982. Landesberg even reprised the role for the short-lived "Barney Miller" spinoff "Fish," a vehicle for fellow castmember Abe Vigoda.
After "Barney Miller" went off the air, the actor did extensive voice-over work, as well as making numerous guest appearances on a variety of television series including "The Golden Girls," "Seinfeld," "That 70s Show," "Law and Order," "The Rockford Files," "Everybody Hates Chris," and a featured guest appearance in an episode of the A&E's "The Cleaner." He also worked quite a bit in voice overs, acting on shows like American Dad!, Capitol Critters, Dinosaurs, and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. His most recent regular role was Dr. Myron Finkelstein on the Starz original comedy "Head Case," for which he co-wrote seven episodes.
Landesberg is also credited with the quote "Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense."
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Ross Landesberg, and a daughter, Elizabeth.
He was 65.
The funnyman died on Monday, according to his agent Jeffrey Leavitt. He had reportedly been battling cancer.
Landesberg started his career as a stand-up comedian in New York before landing his most famous role as Detective Arthur Dietrich in hit TV sit-com Barney Miller in 1975, with the show running until 1982. A veteran of stand-up at places like the Improv and a member of the New York Stickball Team improv group, Landesberg had a long career in television, movies, commercials, and on the stage.
After guesting several times and appearing as a semi-regular, Landesberg joined Barney Miller as a regular in its fourth season. His character’s deadpan delivery of myopic facts became a staple of the series. He was nominated three times for supporting actor Emmys for the sitcom. The series ran for eight seasons, from 1975 until 1982. Landesberg even reprised the role for the short-lived "Barney Miller" spinoff "Fish," a vehicle for fellow castmember Abe Vigoda.
After "Barney Miller" went off the air, the actor did extensive voice-over work, as well as making numerous guest appearances on a variety of television series including "The Golden Girls," "Seinfeld," "That 70s Show," "Law and Order," "The Rockford Files," "Everybody Hates Chris," and a featured guest appearance in an episode of the A&E's "The Cleaner." He also worked quite a bit in voice overs, acting on shows like American Dad!, Capitol Critters, Dinosaurs, and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. His most recent regular role was Dr. Myron Finkelstein on the Starz original comedy "Head Case," for which he co-wrote seven episodes.
Landesberg is also credited with the quote "Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense."
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Ross Landesberg, and a daughter, Elizabeth.