Steve Landesberg, "Dietrich" on Barney Miller

[Rooster_Ties]

from Monday's New York Times...

Steve Landesberg, ‘Barney Miller’ Actor, Dies at 74

By HAMILTON BOARDMAN

Published: December 20, 2010

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.

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.

full-text of the Times obit HERE), and a search on his name at Youtube.

He was one of my all-time favorite comedic supporting actors. RIP.

Edited December 22, 2010 by Rooster_Ties

[GA Russell]

I saw him doing standup more than once on the Tonight Show and enjoyed him very much. Very laid back and easy going, and likeable.

[JSngry]

Not an original cast member, iirc, came in after starting to get hot as a standup, but settled in very nicely for the duration. A great role played equally great. RIP.

[MartyJazz]

All the obits I've seen state he was 65, not 74. One obit lists his DOB as Nov 23, 1945. In any event, I was upset to see he had passed away. I always liked his droll, low-key sense of humor and wit.

[Rooster_Ties]

All the obits I've seen state he was 65, not 74. One obit lists his DOB as Nov 23, 1945. In any event, I was upset to see he had passed away. I always liked his droll, low-key sense of humor and wit.

Near the bottom, the NYT obit clarifies that he was indeed 74 (despite other on-line sources claiming he was only 65). He got into show-biz a little late, and much like a few jazz musicians too -- he fibbed about his age.

[Neal Pomea]

I like the time he stood there and just patiently listened to some crazy arrested person go on an extreme rant then during a pause offered him a Milk Dud. That's Dietrich!

[JSngry]

Not an original cast member, iirc...

Didn't he come in to take Abe Vigoda's place when the Fish character got spun off into his own series?

[BERIGAN]

Not an original cast member, iirc...

Didn't he come in to take Abe Vigoda's place when the Fish character got spun off into his own series?

Doesn't look like it, as that show was a few years later...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072472/fullcredits#cast

I saw him doing standup more than once on the Tonight Show and enjoyed him very much. Very laid back and easy going, and likeable.

I remember him on Carson many times, very funny! I thought he should have gotten more juicy roles, and a bit surprised to see how much work he has had the last few decades, as I don't recall seeing him in years!!!

R.I.P.

[AllenLowe]

best episode was when he (along with the rest of the crew) takes a lie detector test.

[JSngry]

Not an original cast member, iirc...

Didn't he come in to take Abe Vigoda's place when the Fish character got spun off into his own series?

Doesn't look like it, as that show was a few years later...

http://www.imdb.com/...ullcredits#cast

Wikipedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Miller

Landesberg was first seen as a one-shot character, a priest, in Season 2. Later that year, he appeared in one episode as Dietrich, a transfer from the 33rd when budget cuts closed that precinct. He became a semi-regular in Season 3 and a full-time cast member from Season 4 onwards.

Vigoda was a regular for the first three seasons. Though still in the opening credits, he appeared in only about half of the episodes in the last half of Season 3. (The character was simultaneously seen on the spin-off show Fish at this same time.) Fish "retired" as of Season 4, Episode 2, though he returned for two guest appearances, one later in Season 4 and one in Season 7.

This is more or less as I remember it in terms of Landesberg becoming a regular, although the introduction of thee character was earlier than I remember it.

[Chuck Nessa]

I always thought of him as a replacement for Jack Soo. Guess I was wrong.

[JSngry]

I always thought of him as a replacement for Jack Soo. Guess I was wrong.

Yeah, that's part of it too. Soo had cancer, tight?

Wikipedia again:

A regular in Seasons 1 to 5. After Soo died on January 11, 1979 (midway through Season 5), a special memorial episode was aired, with the actors breaking character and recalling their favorite Yemana scenes. The episode ended with entire cast raising their coffee cups in tribute.

Edited December 23, 2010 by JSngry

[Jazzmoose]

Well, he was there a couple of seasons before Soo died; I think he was there to take up the slack when Vigoda had his Fish spinoff and cut back on the Barney Miller appearances at first. It's a shame that only the first three episodes are available on DVD. Most of the Landesberg episodes haven't been released yet (if ever). He was definitely my favorite of the series (although it's all good), so that's a disappointment.

[Rooster_Ties]

It's a shame that only the first three episodes seasons are available on DVD. Most of the Landesberg episodes haven't been released yet (if ever). He was definitely my favorite of the series (although it's all good), so that's a disappointment.

(Corrected to say it's the only the first three seasons that have come out on DVD.)

Feel totally the same way. I'd probably buy a couple season's worth, if they included Landesberg.

Edited December 23, 2010 by Rooster_Ties

[Jazzmoose]

Oops...thanks!

[AllenLowe]

that was a truly great show - other favorite episode (which was initially censored by the network and then allowed to run later in the season):

Wojo's girlfriend bakes pot-laced brownies. Fish eats them and jumps across a roof to catch a suspect - and says, at the end:

"What? You mean, this is the best I've felt in 30 years and it turns out to be illegal?"