Barney Miller

This past Sunday, as I exited the P.F. Chang's in Sherman Oaks, I brushed past actor Hal Linden.

At 92, Linden remains instantly recognizable. His fame, due largely to his portrayal of Barney Miller, the title character of a sitcom of the same name, is enduring. Linden won seven Emmy awards for his work on the series, a juggernaut for ABC during its run from 1975-82.

Unlike most cop shows, nearly every scene was set in the detectives' squad room. No car chases. No gunfire. No garish crime scenes to distract the viewer. Instead the audience was drawn in by a gaggle of likable actors with impeccable comedic timing. Linden, the star of this talented ensemble cast, relentlessly honed his craft. Which is why, even all these years later, it was a thrill for me just to share a doorway.

"The best part of acting is the rehearsal, because that's where the real discovery comes." - Hal Linden