Hal Linden

Hal Linden born Harold Lipshitz March 20 1931 is an American stage and screen actor television director and musician His bestknown role was as the title character in the television comedy series Barney Miller for which he earned seven Primetime Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations Born in the Bronx Linden was the son of Charles Lipshitz and Frances Rosen His older brother would become a future professor of music at Bowling Green State University Ohio Similarly musical Hal took up classical clarinet in his late teens and played regularly with symphony orchestras After graduating from the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan he studied music at Queens College moving later to City College to pursue business Hal also played in dance bands and was asked to join Sammy Kaye on tour before being drafted into the Army where he sang and provided entertainment for the troops This sparked an interest in acting and upon receiving his discharge he enrolled at New Yorks American Theatre Wing where he trained in voice and drama In 1955 Hal met Frances Martin a dancer They married three years later and she gave up her career to raise a family Hals first Broadway show was in Bells Are Ringing where he understudied lead Jeff Moss During the 1960s Hal accumulated more musical credits in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Subways Are for Sleeping The Apple Tree and The Pajama Game He won the 1971 Tony award for his role in The Rothschilds This particular stage success led to a TV career that culminated in the title role on the popular Barney Miller 1974 sitcom Emmynominated every year the program aired Hal became a household name Since that time he has appeared in other lesser TV series including Blackes Magic 1986 and Jacks Place 1992 He has held a secondary presence in such films as A New Life 1988 and Out to Sea 1997 More musical leads such as I Do I Do and The Pajama Game came his way along with dramatic pursuits in Im Not Rappaport and The Sisters Rosenzweig Hal has also undertaken musical tours in his continuing role as clarinetist He and wife Frances are avid golfers during their spare time