Link (http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-steve-landesberg-20101221,0,6445609.story)

Steve Landesberg, a comic actor who played the intellectual Det. Arthur Dietrich in the long-running ABC sitcom "Barney Miller," has died. He was believed to be 74.

Landesberg died early Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said his agent, Jeff Leavitt. No cause was given.

"Barney Miller" starred Hal Linden in the title role as a New York police captain managing his offbeat group of officers in a Greenwich Village police station.

The show, which ran from 1975 to 1982, included Abe Vigoda as Det. Phil Fish, Ron Glass as Det. Ron Harris and Max Gail as Det. Stanley "Wojo" Wojohowicz.

Landesberg joined the cast in 1976 as Dietrich, whom a Times reviewer once referred to as "infuriatingly cerebral."

"I'm not really much like Dietrich," he told the Washington Post in 1979. "He reads everything. Science, technology, economics. I have no interest in that stuff.… I try to play him as a cop. Intellectual and funny, but a good cop."

Landesberg said police officers "tell me they know guys like Dietrich … most cops never fire their guns. That's why they like our show."

Landesberg was born in New York on Nov. 23, 1936, according to public records. In the Washington Post profile, he wouldn't disclose his age. "Let's just say I started late," he said. "It hurts you with casting directors.… If you tell them your age — let's say you're middle-aged — and they've never heard of you, they figure you're no good, or else they would've heard of you already. I tell my friends not to tell their ages."

Landesberg said he was quiet growing up. " And when I was in the service I was quiet, but in the barracks I'd get crazy," he told the Alameda (Calif.) Times-Star in 2003. "And then one day I took it onstage."

He started doing stand-up comedy in New York clubs in 1969, working on the same stages as David Brenner and Jimmie Walker.

"Before that I worked in a lot of hotels, as an assistant credit manager," he told the Detroit Free Press in 1997. "That's part clerk, cop and manager. To check out scam artists and bad credit cards, that was my early police training to train for playing a fictional cop."

Landesberg made his first appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in the early 1970s and became a familiar face on television.

Before "Barney Miller," he also appeared on "Dean Martin Presents the Bobby Darin Amusement Co." in 1972 and "Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers" in 1974-75.

He had guest roles on "The Golden Girls" in 1991 and "That '70s Show" in 2007. His most recent film role was as pediatrician Dr. Rosenbaum in the 2008 comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," starring Jason Segel and Kristen Bell.

Landesberg also did commercials, including one for a truck company in 1985. During filming he met his wife, Nancy, a producer who survives him along with a daughter.

It's so sad. God bless you Steve and thanks for the memories. :(

OMG! He was still so young!

:rip:

i saw him in person once when i went to a taping of the merv griffin show he was really funny r i p steve

:rip: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! :crying: Loved him!!!

:rip: Steve Landesberg

Here's to a VERY underrated comic actor. He was always able to convey intelligence (not an easy thing to do) and his ultra dry sense of humor was so appealing. He really added something special to the BM show. His timing was absolutely perfect; what a unique actor.

This really makes me sad tonight.

:rip: Steve Landesberg

Actor Steve Landesberg Dead at 65

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.popeater.com/media/2010/12/stevelandesberg.jpg

After a prolonged bout with cancer, longtime actor Steve Landesberg died Friday morning, The Hollywood Reporter (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/forgetting-sarah-marshall-actor-steve-61788) reports. He was best known for his role on the long-running TV sitcom, 'Barney Miller.' He recently played a pediatrician in the hit comedy film, 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' alongside Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis (http://www.popeater.com/celebrities/mila-kunis/) and Jason Segal.

"It is with great sadness to report the loss of my friend and client Steve Landesberg," his agent Jeffrey Leavitt said in a statement. "Working with Steve was an honor both personally and professionally. My heart goes out to his family. He will be missed."

Landesberg was born on November 23, 1945 in New York City. In addition to his role on 'Barney Miller,' he also appeared on many other TV shows including 'Harvey Birdman,' 'Cosby,' 'Law & Order,' 'The Golden Girls,' 'Everybody Hates Chris,' 'Seinfeld' and most recently, a recurring role on the Starz original comedy show, 'Head Case.'

He also starred in a couple movies including 'Blade,' 'Ladybugs' and most recently, 'Wild Hogs.'

I can't even imagine anyone else playing Dietrich - he was perfect. There's a reason why he got three Emmy nominations for the role (though it was a shame he never won).

:rip: Such a shock - and so, so sad!!! The role of Det. Arthur Dietrich fit him like a glove. I can't even imagine anyone else in the role. Not for nothing was Mr. Landesberg nominated for three Emmys playing the character. Oddly enough, I just checked S8 of Law & Order out of the library and he is a guest in one of the episodes - I have it on now!

I am both shocked and saddened at the news of Steve Landesberg's passing. Like Monika I can't imagine anyone but him playing Dietrich. :rip:

A very funny man! He will be missed. :(

A very funny man! He will be missed. :(

He's playing a defense attorney on the L&O episode I mentioned before. It's odd to see him in a straight dramatic role (since all I've seen him in are comedies). But he definitely held his own opposite the ADAs Sam Waterston and Carey Lowell. :cool:

It looks like Mr. Landesberg's agent can't get his facts straight. In my thread in the "Barney Miller" forum, He told The Hollywood Reporter that he passed on Friday at age 65 and now he's telling the LA Times that he passed early Monday. There's also some confusion as to his age.


L.A. Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-steve-landesberg-20101221,0,6445609.story)

Steve Landesberg, a comic actor who played the intellectual Det. Arthur Dietrich in the long-running ABC sitcom " Barney Miller," has died. He was believed to be 74.

Landesberg died early Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said his agent, Jeff Leavitt. No cause was given.

"Barney Miller" starred Hal Linden in the title role as a New York police captain managing his offbeat group of officers in a Greenwich Village police station.

The show, which ran from 1975 to 1982, included Abe Vigoda as Det. Phil Fish, Ron Glass as Det. Ron Harris and Max Gail as Det. Stanley "Wojo" Wojohowicz.

Landesberg joined the cast in 1976 as Dietrich, whom a Times reviewer once referred to as "infuriatingly cerebral."

"I'm not really much like Dietrich," he told the Washington Post in 1979. "He reads everything. Science, technology, economics. I have no interest in that stuff.… I try to play him as a cop. Intellectual and funny, but a good cop."

Landesberg said police officers "tell me they know guys like Dietrich … most cops never fire their guns. That's why they like our show."

Landesberg was born in New York on Nov. 23, 1936, according to public records. In the Washington Post profile, he wouldn't disclose his age. "Let's just say I started late," he said. "It hurts you with casting directors.… If you tell them your age — let's say you're middle-aged — and they've never heard of you, they figure you're no good, or else they would've heard of you already. I tell my friends not to tell their ages."

Landesberg said he was quiet growing up. " And when I was in the service I was quiet, but in the barracks I'd get crazy," he told the Alameda (Calif.) Times-Star in 2003. "And then one day I took it onstage."

He started doing stand-up comedy in New York clubs in 1969, working on the same stages as David Brenner and Jimmie Walker.

"Before that I worked in a lot of hotels, as an assistant credit manager," he told the Detroit Free Press in 1997. "That's part clerk, cop and manager. To check out scam artists and bad credit cards, that was my early police training to train for playing a fictional cop."

Landesberg made his first appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in the early 1970s and became a familiar face on television.

Before "Barney Miller," he also appeared on " Dean Martin Presents the Bobby Darin Amusement Co." in 1972 and "Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers" in 1974-75.

His had guest roles on "The Golden Girls" in 1991 and "That '70s Show" in 2007. His most recent film role was as pediatrician Dr. Rosenbaum in the 2008 comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," starring Jason Segel and Kristen Bell.

Landesberg also did commercials, including one for a truck company in 1985. During filming he met his wife, Nancy, a producer who survives him along with a daughter.

It's so sad. He was great on Barney Miller. I didn't even know he was sick. :(

Well I don't know about anyone else, but I feel like watching some old Barney Miller episodes right about now.

Well I don't know about anyone else, but I feel like watching some old Barney Miller episodes right about now.

Hey, I'm always up for watching Barney Miller. I already watched Dietrich's debut episode from S2, "Fish", with the infamous Gregory Peck imitation. :lol:

74??????? WHAT??????

It's so sad. He was great on Barney Miller. I didn't even know he was sick. :(

Neither did I. For his sake and that of his family's, I'm glad they were able to keep it quiet and that they had privacy.

74??????? WHAT??????

I thought 65 didn't sound quite right but not by that much.

I thought 65 didn't sound quite right but not by that much.

I never would've guessed 74. I know actors fudge their ages all the time but this one truly stimies me.

:lol:, that was a classic!

I haven't watched BM for a while; seems like a great time to go through the whole series again, from the beginning. I wish they'd air it here; but at some point I need to buy the sets, too. I don't do that too often, but BM is a special case.

My favorite Dietrich lines:

Clown: Who are you calling "clown"?
Dietrich: Well, if the shoe fits...

Dietrich: Swan Lake is one of the best ballets ever written. It's an artistic
milestone!
Marty: Have you seen it?
Dietrich: I had hockey tickets.

Dietrich: "Those 'Good news, Bad news' jokes kill me..."
Harris: (warily) "But you're not going to tell me one, are you?"
Dietrich: "No...that's the good news..."

When Dietrich is hooked up to a lie detector:

Test Administrator: "Where were you born?"
Dietrich: "It's hard to say, it was long, long ago... in a galaxy far, far away..."
(The lie detector registers that he's telling the truth!!)

Dietrich is booking a prisoner and typing his info, he asks the man's name and he responds "Klein"... unsure of the spelling, he asks, completely DEADPAN...:
Dietrich: "E - I?"
Man: "E - I."
Dietrich: "Oh!"

From the Season 4 opener "Goodbye Mr. Fish, Part I": everyone is worried that Fish hasn't shown up for his last day of work. Barney suggests that Fish just might be out for a walk:

Dietrich: I knew a guy who when he got depressed would just put on his coat, leave the house, and just start walking.
Barney (to Wojo): See?
Dietrich: Sometimes for hours on end. One time he was gone for almost a whole day.
Barney: Yeah, some people just like to be alone. He came back, didn't he?
Dietrich: Yeah.
Barney (to Wojo): See?
Dietrich: The tide brought him in. :lol: :lol: :lol:

And who could forget: "Howard, go away, Beverly is busy! We've made other plans, and they don't include you!" :lol: :lol: :lol:

My favorite Dietrich lines:

Clown: Who are you calling "clown"?
Dietrich: Well, if the shoe fits...

Dietrich: Swan Lake is one of the best ballets ever written. It's an artistic
milestone!
Marty: Have you seen it?
Dietrich: I had hockey tickets.

Dietrich: "Those 'Good news, Bad news' jokes kill me..."
Harris: (warily) "But you're not going to tell me one, are you?"
Dietrich: "No...that's the good news..."

When Dietrich is hooked up to a lie detector:

Test Administrator: "Where were you born?"
Dietrich: "It's hard to say, it was long, long ago... in a galaxy far, far away..."
(The lie detector registers that he's telling the truth!!)

Dietrich is booking a prisoner and typing his info, he asks the man's name and he responds "Klein"... unsure of the spelling, he asks, completely DEADPAN...:
Dietrich: "E - I?"
Man: "E - I."
Dietrich: "Oh!"

From the Season 4 opener "Goodbye Mr. Fish, Part I": everyone is worried that Fish hasn't shown up for his last day of work. Barney suggests that Fish just might be out for a walk:

Dietrich: I knew a guy who when he got depressed would just put on his coat, leave the house, and just start walking.
Barney (to Wojo): See?
Dietrich: Sometimes for hours on end. One time he was gone for almost a whole day.
Barney: Yeah, some people just like to be alone. He came back, didn't he?
Dietrich: Yeah.
Barney (to Wojo): See?
Dietrich: The tide brought him in. :lol: :lol: :lol:

And who could forget: "Howard, go away, Beverly is busy! We've made other plans, and they don't include you!" :lol: :lol: :lol:
Those are all great lines! Dietrich was a great character and Steve Landesberg played him brilliantly. His deadpan delivery was classic and made these funny lines into hilarious lines!

So sad to hear of Steve's passing... :(

Nooooooo! :eek: :crying: :rip:

:crying: So upset right now. :rip: Steve Landesberg. I think I will watch my favorite Dietrich episode Moonlighting today.

He really played that role well, with dry, deadpan delivery and timing. Very nuanced.

Very sad news.

According to the IMDb, he was born on November 23, 1945.

According to the IMDb, he was born on November 23, 1945.


IMDb isn't always a reliable source when it comes to this type of info.

IMDb isn't always a reliable source when it comes to this type of info.

Needless to say, neither is Wikipedia.

My favorite Dietrich lines:

Clown: Who are you calling "clown"?
Dietrich: Well, if the shoe fits...

Dietrich: Swan Lake is one of the best ballets ever written. It's an artistic
milestone!
Marty: Have you seen it?
Dietrich: I had hockey tickets.

Dietrich: "Those 'Good news, Bad news' jokes kill me..."
Harris: (warily) "But you're not going to tell me one, are you?"
Dietrich: "No...that's the good news..."

When Dietrich is hooked up to a lie detector:

Test Administrator: "Where were you born?"
Dietrich: "It's hard to say, it was long, long ago... in a galaxy far, far away..."
(The lie detector registers that he's telling the truth!!)

Dietrich is booking a prisoner and typing his info, he asks the man's name and he responds "Klein"... unsure of the spelling, he asks, completely DEADPAN...:
Dietrich: "E - I?"
Man: "E - I."
Dietrich: "Oh!"

From the Season 4 opener "Goodbye Mr. Fish, Part I": everyone is worried that Fish hasn't shown up for his last day of work. Barney suggests that Fish just might be out for a walk:

Dietrich: I knew a guy who when he got depressed would just put on his coat, leave the house, and just start walking.
Barney (to Wojo): See?
Dietrich: Sometimes for hours on end. One time he was gone for almost a whole day.
Barney: Yeah, some people just like to be alone. He came back, didn't he?
Dietrich: Yeah.
Barney (to Wojo): See?
Dietrich: The tide brought him in. :lol: :lol: :lol:

And who could forget: "Howard, go away, Beverly is busy! We've made other plans, and they don't include you!" :lol: :lol: :lol:

Those are great. There's another one where Dietrich, an avowed atheist, is asked by someone (I believe it's Barney) what he'll do if he was wrong all along and meets God once he dies. "What", the other character asks, "will you say then?"

Dietrich pauses, in his inimitable style, and says, "...Whoops?" :lol:

Those are great. There's another one where Dietrich, an avowed atheist, is asked by someone (I believe it's Barney) what he'll do if he was wrong all along and meets God once he dies. "What", the other character asks, "will you say then?"

Dietrich pauses, in his inimitable style, and says, "...Whoops?" :lol:

Actually, I think it was Yemana who asked him that question, but it's been years since I've seen that ep. Don't quote me on that one.

Rest in peace.

164054

Rest in peace.

Actually, I think it was Yemana who asked him that question, but it's been years since I've seen that ep. Don't quote me on that one.

You may well be right. It's interesting when two characters that I personally like don't get along, and there's some examples here. Fish and Nick really weren't too keen on Dietrich, and that made their interactions have a bit more edge (and humor) than they might have had otherwise.

Of course, the same could be said for Harris, who was never exactly President of the Arthur Dietrich fan club, either! :lol:

May he rest in peace. He made wonderful contributions to Barney Miller (as well as other roles).

Link (http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-steve-landesberg-20101221,0,6445609.story)

Steve Landesberg, a comic actor who played the intellectual Det. Arthur Dietrich in the long-running ABC sitcom "Barney Miller," has died. He was believed to be 74.

Landesberg died early Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said his agent, Jeff Leavitt. No cause was given.

"Barney Miller" starred Hal Linden in the title role as a New York police captain managing his offbeat group of officers in a Greenwich Village police station.

The show, which ran from 1975 to 1982, included Abe Vigoda as Det. Phil Fish, Ron Glass as Det. Ron Harris and Max Gail as Det. Stanley "Wojo" Wojohowicz.

Landesberg joined the cast in 1976 as Dietrich, whom a Times reviewer once referred to as "infuriatingly cerebral."

"I'm not really much like Dietrich," he told the Washington Post in 1979. "He reads everything. Science, technology, economics. I have no interest in that stuff.… I try to play him as a cop. Intellectual and funny, but a good cop."

Landesberg said police officers "tell me they know guys like Dietrich … most cops never fire their guns. That's why they like our show."

Landesberg was born in New York on Nov. 23, 1936, according to public records. In the Washington Post profile, he wouldn't disclose his age. "Let's just say I started late," he said. "It hurts you with casting directors.… If you tell them your age — let's say you're middle-aged — and they've never heard of you, they figure you're no good, or else they would've heard of you already. I tell my friends not to tell their ages."

Landesberg said he was quiet growing up. " And when I was in the service I was quiet, but in the barracks I'd get crazy," he told the Alameda (Calif.) Times-Star in 2003. "And then one day I took it onstage."

He started doing stand-up comedy in New York clubs in 1969, working on the same stages as David Brenner and Jimmie Walker.

"Before that I worked in a lot of hotels, as an assistant credit manager," he told the Detroit Free Press in 1997. "That's part clerk, cop and manager. To check out scam artists and bad credit cards, that was my early police training to train for playing a fictional cop."

Landesberg made his first appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in the early 1970s and became a familiar face on television.

Before "Barney Miller," he also appeared on "Dean Martin Presents the Bobby Darin Amusement Co." in 1972 and "Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers" in 1974-75.

He had guest roles on "The Golden Girls" in 1991 and "That '70s Show" in 2007. His most recent film role was as pediatrician Dr. Rosenbaum in the 2008 comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," starring Jason Segel and Kristen Bell.

Landesberg also did commercials, including one for a truck company in 1985. During filming he met his wife, Nancy, a producer who survives him along with a daughter.

I love Steve Landesberg playing the smart Cop known as Dietrich. What a great actor, I am going to order the first 3 seasons of Barney Miller now, to remember this great actor. A couple of weeks ago we lost Leslie Nielson, and now we lost another great character actor. R.I.P. Steve.

I love Steve Landesberg playing the smart Cop known as Dietrich. What a great actor, I am going to order the first 3 seasons of Barney Miller now, to remember this great actor. A couple of weeks ago we lost Leslie Nielson, and now we lost another great character actor. R.I.P. Steve.

Well, you won't see Steve in S1, you'll only see him once in S2 and in 9 episodes in S3. He didn't become a regular until S4, and lord only knows when/if seasons 4-8 will ever see the light of day on DVD. That's another subject for another time and another thread!

I love this picture!!! The Harris/Dietrich "frenemy" relationship was one of the best parts of the show in its later years. Dietrich really was Harris' best friend, although he'd never admit it (their relationship was like Jo/Blair on Facts of Life, although the bad feelings were entirely on Harris' side).

I love the look on Harris's face!

I love the look on Harris's face!

Me, too. They'd just gotten back from a overnight stakeout together, and Dietrich comes in whistling, saying to Harris, "long time, no see". The facial expression you see is the response Dietrich's remark got. :lol:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/arts/television/21landesberg.html

Steve Landesberg, ‘Barney Miller’ Actor, Dies at 74
By HAMILTON BOARDMAN
Published: December 20, 2010

Correction Appended

Steve Landesberg, an actor and comedian with a friendly and often deadpan manner who was best known for his role on the long-running sitcom “Barney Miller,” died in Los Angeles on Monday. He was 74.

The cause was colon cancer, his daughter, Elizabeth, said.

On “Barney Miller,” which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1982, Mr. Landesberg played Sgt. Arthur P. Dietrich, an intellectual detective with a quiet manner who seemed to have an unrivaled knowledge of practically any topic that arose, much to the bewilderment of his fellow detectives.

He was also given to odd, unexpected pronouncements. In one 1980 episode he tells his boss, Captain Miller, played by Hal Linden, that he is working on a case that dates to 1973. Miller says: “That was seven years ago! Nixon was president!” Dietrich’s low-key response: “No, he’s got an airtight alibi for this one.”

Mr. Landesberg received three Emmy Award nominations for that role.

Set in a New York City police station, where most of the action takes place, “Barney Miller” portrayed a group of wisecracking detectives and the oddball characters who ended up there. Some police officers said the show represented the real life of rank-and-file officers better than many television detective dramas.

After “Barney Miller” left the air, Mr. Landesberg appeared on “The Golden Girls,” “Law & Order,” “That ’70s Show” and “Everybody Hates Chris,” among other shows. He had a recurring role on the short-lived 1998 sitcom “Conrad Bloom.” Most recently he played Dr. Myron Finkelstein, a Freudian therapist, in “Head Case,” a comedy on the Starz cable channel.

In 2008 he played a pediatrician whose patient (played by Jason Segel, the film’s writer and star) is in his 20s in the hit movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” His other movies include “Wild Hogs” and “Leader of the Band.” His distinctively dry, deep voice was also heard in cartoons and commercials.

Stephen Landesberg was born on Nov. 23, 1936, in the Bronx. He began his career as a stand-up comic in the late 1960s and became known for his off-center observations and eccentric delivery. He performed in New York comedy clubs alongside comedians like Freddie Prinze and Jimmie Walker.

Mr. Landesberg appeared on “The Tonight Show” for the first time in 1971 and several times on “The Dean Martin Show” before landing his first recurring role, as a Viennese violinist, on the sitcom “Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers,” in 1974.

Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife, Nancy Ross Landesberg.

Initial reports of Mr. Landesberg’s death, relying on numerous biographical sources, said he was 65. In acknowledging that he was actually nine years older, his daughter said he had provided varying birth dates over the years. “He got kind of a late start in show business,” she explained, “so he tried to straddle the generations. He fooled the whole world. People were surprised to think he was even 65.”

Correction: December 21, 2010

An earlier version misstated Mr. Landesberg's age and the year of his birth. He was 74, not 65, and he was born in 1936, not 1945.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/arts/television/21landesberg.html

Steve Landesberg, ‘Barney Miller’ Actor, Dies at 74
By HAMILTON BOARDMAN
Published: December 20, 2010

Correction Appended

Steve Landesberg, an actor and comedian with a friendly and often deadpan manner who was best known for his role on the long-running sitcom “Barney Miller,” died in Los Angeles on Monday. He was 74.

The cause was colon cancer, his daughter, Elizabeth, said.

On “Barney Miller,” which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1982, Mr. Landesberg played Sgt. Arthur P. Dietrich, an intellectual detective with a quiet manner who seemed to have an unrivaled knowledge of practically any topic that arose, much to the bewilderment of his fellow detectives.

He was also given to odd, unexpected pronouncements. In one 1980 episode he tells his boss, Captain Miller, played by Hal Linden, that he is working on a case that dates to 1973. Miller says: “That was seven years ago! Nixon was president!” Dietrich’s low-key response: “No, he’s got an airtight alibi for this one.”

Mr. Landesberg received three Emmy Award nominations for that role.

Set in a New York City police station, where most of the action takes place, “Barney Miller” portrayed a group of wisecracking detectives and the oddball characters who ended up there. Some police officers said the show represented the real life of rank-and-file officers better than many television detective dramas.

After “Barney Miller” left the air, Mr. Landesberg appeared on “The Golden Girls,” “Law & Order,” “That ’70s Show” and “Everybody Hates Chris,” among other shows. He had a recurring role on the short-lived 1998 sitcom “Conrad Bloom.” Most recently he played Dr. Myron Finkelstein, a Freudian therapist, in “Head Case,” a comedy on the Starz cable channel.

In 2008 he played a pediatrician whose patient (played by Jason Segel, the film’s writer and star) is in his 20s in the hit movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” His other movies include “Wild Hogs” and “Leader of the Band.” His distinctively dry, deep voice was also heard in cartoons and commercials.

Stephen Landesberg was born on Nov. 23, 1936, in the Bronx. He began his career as a stand-up comic in the late 1960s and became known for his off-center observations and eccentric delivery. He performed in New York comedy clubs alongside comedians like Freddie Prinze and Jimmie Walker.

Mr. Landesberg appeared on “The Tonight Show” for the first time in 1971 and several times on “The Dean Martin Show” before landing his first recurring role, as a Viennese violinist, on the sitcom “Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers,” in 1974.

Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife, Nancy Ross Landesberg.

Initial reports of Mr. Landesberg’s death, relying on numerous biographical sources, said he was 65. In acknowledging that he was actually nine years older, his daughter said he had provided varying birth dates over the years. “He got kind of a late start in show business,” she explained, “so he tried to straddle the generations. He fooled the whole world. People were surprised to think he was even 65.”

Correction: December 21, 2010

An earlier version misstated Mr. Landesberg's age and the year of his birth. He was 74, not 65, and he was born in 1936, not 1945.

I've looked at various articles on the web of Mr. Landesberg's passing and have found no comments whatsoever by any of the other cast members or crew of Barney Miller. Most of the surviving cast members are still in show biz - you'd think someone would put out a statement. Just my opinion, of course. :confused:

I take it back - I found this:

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/steve-landesberg-was-a-comics-comic-says-max-gail_1190950

Steve Landesberg Was A Comic's Comic Says Max Gail
21 December 2010 20:00

STEVE LANDESBERG, the American comedy actor who has died at the age of 65, was a 'comic's comic', says his former co-star Max Gail. Landesberg and Gail both appeared in the long-running cop show 'Barney Miller', about the goings-on at a New York City police station in Greenwich Village.

67-year-old Gail, who played Stan 'Wojo' Wojciehowicz in the series, paid tribute to his friend Landesberg, recalling that the actor excelled in the comic craft. He told the Hollywood Reporter, "People were drawn to him, but comedians were really drawn to him. They recognized him as the real deal". Landesberg, who played the intellectual officer 'Arthur Dietrich' in the cop show, also starred in a number of feature films, most recently 'Wild Hogs', 'Leader of the Band', and 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall'. However, Gail said it was Landesberg's stand-up comedy that he most admired, adding, "If there's one image I have of Steve, it was a comedian doing a guest spot on the show who was trying to ask him about comedy while we're in the make-up room. And Steve's just going, don't analyze it. If it's funny, it's funny".

The actor's representative today confirmed that Landesberg had died after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Nancy and his daughter.

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/steve-landesberg-was-a-comics-comic-says-max-gail_1190950

Steve Landesberg Was A Comic's Comic Says Max Gail
21 December 2010 20:00

STEVE LANDESBERG, the American comedy actor who has died at the age of 65, was a 'comic's comic', says his former co-star Max Gail. Landesberg and Gail both appeared in the long-running cop show 'Barney Miller', about the goings-on at a New York City police station in Greenwich Village.

67-year-old Gail, who played Stan 'Wojo' Wojciehowicz in the series, paid tribute to his friend Landesberg, recalling that the actor excelled in the comic craft. He told the Hollywood Reporter, "People were drawn to him, but comedians were really drawn to him. They recognized him as the real deal". Landesberg, who played the intellectual officer 'Arthur Dietrich' in the cop show, also starred in a number of feature films, most recently 'Wild Hogs', 'Leader of the Band', and 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall'. However, Gail said it was Landesberg's stand-up comedy that he most admired, adding, "If there's one image I have of Steve, it was a comedian doing a guest spot on the show who was trying to ask him about comedy while we're in the make-up room. And Steve's just going, don't analyze it. If it's funny, it's funny".

The actor's representative today confirmed that Landesberg had died after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Nancy and his daughter.

Max and Steve in 2005:

Max and Steve in 2005:

RIP.

I've never seen the show Barney Miller

RIP.

I've never seen the show Barney Miller

Give it a try one of these days, Jenny - if you like humor that is dry, sarcastic, yet not mean-spirited, I think you'll like it. There are episodes on hulu and YouTube if you're interested.

I love how his daughter said he "fooled the whole world" about his age. Arthur Dietrich would admire that!

Leave it to the man who played Arthur Dietrich to get right to the point. "If it's funny, it's funny"!

I didn't know he was on Everybody Hates Chris and Seinfeld?

I didn't know he was on Everybody Hates Chris and Seinfeld?

He had an unbilled cameo in one of the best known Seinfeld eps: "The Chinese Restaurant"!! :cool: He also played a defense attorney on a 1997 episode of Law & Order.

I love how his daughter said he "fooled the whole world" about his age. Arthur Dietrich would admire that!

Sounds like something Dietrich himself would do!! :cool:

I find it highly ironic that he passed of colon cancer (which has taken the lives of several of my relatives and friends, not to mention Elizabeth Montgomery), since another Barney Miller cast member, Barbara Barrie (Elizabeth Miller), has suffered from the same disease. Last I heard, the 79-year-old Ms. Barrie has been in remission for quite some time, and wrote a book about her experience:

Give it a try one of these days, Jenny - if you like humor that is dry, sarcastic, yet not mean-spirited, I think you'll like it. There are episodes on hulu and YouTube if you're interested.

Here's Mr. Landesberg's debut as Det. Arthur Dietrich in the show's second season:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/47959/barney-miller-fish

I second your suggestion. Give it a whirl Jenny - you WON'T be sorry!

Well, you won't see Steve in S1, you'll only see him once in S2 and in 9 episodes in S3. He didn't become a regular until S4, and lord only knows when/if seasons 4-8 will ever see the light of day on DVD. That's another subject for another time and another thread!

Yes, I forgot that Steve was not in the first season, I was a big fan of this show in the 70s, but I do want to get all of the seasons of this show, because it was one of the best shows from my childhood. I hope that they release all 8 Seasons of this show. I know that WGN sometimes airs episodes late at night, but I do not know if they air them in any particular order, so it is difficult to see which season it is. A DVD Set would be much better.

Yes, I forgot that Steve was not in the first season, I was a big fan of this show in the 70s, but I do want to get all of the seasons of this show, because it was one of the best shows from my childhood. I hope that they release all 8 Seasons of this show. I know that WGN sometimes airs episodes late at night, but I do not know if they air them in any particular order, so it is difficult to see which season it is. A DVD Set would be much better.

Actually, I stand corrected. He was in 2 episodes in S2, just as different characters. He played a phony priest in the S2 opener, "Doomsday", before making his debut as Det. Arthur Dietrich several weeks later in the episode "Fish". My bad. :o :crazy: :lol:

So very sad to hear this!

Damn it...why couldn't they have had a Barney Miller reunion show? We've lost so many...

Rest in peace Steve...

This is such sad news.

Over the weekend I played some of my old Barney Miller tapes. It was nice to spend some time with favorite characters, like Sgt. Dietrich.

You'll be missed. Steve.

RIP Steve....not too many people my age know who you are, but you'll definitely be missed. I wished more of my friends would watch Barney Miller with me.

Just a side note, isn't ironic that Abe Vigoda has outlived many of the people that were on the show with him?

Just a side note, isn't ironic that Abe Vigoda has outlived many of the people that were on the show with him?
Yeah I thought of that too. He is probably going to end up out living everybody.

I went into shock when I found out that Steve Landesberg had passed away. God bless him, and my deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Yeah I thought of that too. He is probably going to end up out living everybody.

That's what I said!!! :crazy:

So very sad to hear this!

Damn it...why couldn't they have had a Barney Miller reunion show? We've lost so many...

Rest in peace Steve...

I'm angry that they never did a retrospective myself (a scripted movie would not work now - no way. Maybe 20 years ago it would've, but not now). These guys aren't getting any younger!!!!! :mad:

^ Maybe TV Land or Nick at Nite would do it; right now I doubt any of the other networks would be interested, unfortunately. Most of them seem increasingly geared toward pleasing a younger audience, and would assume that those folks wouldn't tune in. :(

^ Sad but true!! :(

Anyone else find it extremely creepy that Steve Landesberg and David Nelson died within weeks of each other of the same cause and at the same age? :eek: :eek: :eek:

I second your suggestion. Give it a whirl Jenny - you WON'T be sorry!i agree barney miller is a great show

I second your suggestion. Give it a whirl Jenny - you WON'T be sorry!

Let us know if you watch it, Jenny!! We'd love to know your thoughts and add another voice to the Barney Miller board!!

Anyone else find it extremely creepy that Steve Landesberg and David Nelson died within weeks of each other of the same cause and at the same age? :eek: :eek: :eek:
Maybe they got together and planned it?:eek: :eek:

Anyone else find it extremely creepy that Steve Landesberg and David Nelson died within weeks of each other of the same cause and at the same age? :eek: :eek: :eek:

Not really, it happens

Anyone else find it extremely creepy that Steve Landesberg and David Nelson died within weeks of each other of the same cause and at the same age? :eek: :eek: :eek:
I don't know if it's creepy but it certainly is sad. :(

I don't know if it's creepy but it certainly is sad. :(

That it is. :(

As I've said before, not for nothing did Steve Landesberg earn three Emmy nominations for the role of Dietrich. He was one of a kind!! :cool:

That's what made the show great -- it was an eclectic mix of interesting characters...!

There was never a show quite like Barney Miller, and still never has been. It was as unique and quirky as its characters. :cool: :D