Posted on 12/20/2010 5:15:13 PM PST by John W
Steve Landesberg, a comic actor known for playing wry, bookish types and most widely recognized as Barney Miller’s Arthur P. Dietrich, has died of cancer, according to TMZ. He was 65. Landesberg joined the cast of Barney Miller full time in its second season, playing the highly intellectual, unflappably deadpan detective, the breadth of whose impressive knowledge on a wide variety of obscure subjects both amazes and baffles his fellow officers. Dietrich was a mainstay of the show throughout its run, even making an appearance on Fish, the spinoff starring Abe Vigoda (who is still alive).
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I consider Barney Miller one of the top ten sitcoms of all time. Love that show, and loved Landesberg’s character. I was fortunate to get to see Steve’s standup show at Valley Forge Music Fair back in the ‘80s (post Barney).
His character was hilarious, even in the culturally dead 1970s...I liked him a lot.
I’ll never forget his deadpan Barry White routine... “Baby, Baby, Baby...... I’ll run around the house three times and you jump off on my......” well, you get the idea.
Aww... :-( Enjoyed his work on “Barney Miller.” RIP.
Barney Miller was my personal favorite sitcom of all time. It was syndicated even as new episodes were airing. My family watched two episodes every night before dinner for years.
My favorite Dietrich line: (While walking into the squad room, munching on a hot dog) “Hey, where’d you get the atom bomb?”
I always loved the Dietrich character. He was like Spock, he knew EVERYTHING. When a suspect called him a "honkey", he gave the etymology of the word.
So sad to hear the news of his death. I saw him in concert back in 1980. It was a great show. The same dry wit as his character in Barney Miller. During the question and answer session after the show, he related a couple of hilarious stories about the late Jack Soo. RIP funnyman.
That was one of my favorite shows. Would laugh histerically while watching that show.
Barney Miller and Night Court. Oh, those were the days!
I saw him live here in Buffalo at Canisius College after the show was over
He was my favorite on that show.
Wow, I thought he passed years ago.
Rest in Peace, you knew it all...
Funny guy. R.I.P.
The German scientist who came to take it apart reminising about "if we developed it first"
"we did"
"Sure now we did, but then..."
Same great comedic mind, Rheinhold Weege.
I miss those shows. I loved the sarcastic humor.
I miss old Bull.
Landesberg’s first appearance on “Barney Miller” as Dietrich on the “Fish” episode:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/47959/barney-miller-fish#x-0,vepisode,1,0
You know, when you come into the world with a name like Rheinhold Weege, chances are pretty good God intended you for a life in comedy.
That’s what he says, too.
One of my favorite NC moments was the discovery that Dan Fielding’s birth name was Reinhold Weege. His dad attended every show (he’s the laugh in the closing credits). You could usually hear him in the audience, and when the reveal of Dan’s name occurred you can hear him choking. Fun moment.
My favorite episode.
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