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R.I.P. Steve Landesberg, Barney Miller actor
A.V. Club ^ | December 20, 2010 | A.V. Club

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).

(Excerpt) Read more at avclub.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: barneymiller; dietrich; stevelandesberg
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To: John W

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).


21 posted on 12/20/2010 5:33:11 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: John W

His character was hilarious, even in the culturally dead 1970s...I liked him a lot.


22 posted on 12/20/2010 5:35:08 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat
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To: John W

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.


23 posted on 12/20/2010 5:36:55 PM PST by Feckless (I was trained by the US Government to Kill Commies. Now ain't that irOnic?)
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To: John W; Impy; Clintonfatigued; Clemenza; GOPsterinMA; Perdogg; AuH2ORepublican; BillyBoy

Aww... :-( Enjoyed his work on “Barney Miller.” RIP.


24 posted on 12/20/2010 5:37:19 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
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To: blackdog

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?”


25 posted on 12/20/2010 5:37:26 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Lancey Howard
I remember the atom bomb episode. Steve was so deadpan it was hilarious. And the kid who built it got the info if I remember correctly, from the LIBRARY. Today you'd just Google the info.

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.

26 posted on 12/20/2010 5:44:28 PM PST by boop ("Let's just say they'll be satisfied with LESS"... Ming the Merciless)
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To: John W

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.


27 posted on 12/20/2010 5:48:55 PM PST by appleharvey
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To: John W

That was one of my favorite shows. Would laugh histerically while watching that show.


28 posted on 12/20/2010 5:51:40 PM PST by fkabuckeyesrule
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To: John W

Barney Miller and Night Court. Oh, those were the days!


29 posted on 12/20/2010 5:51:56 PM PST by dforest
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To: Huck

I saw him live here in Buffalo at Canisius College after the show was over

He was my favorite on that show.


30 posted on 12/20/2010 5:56:07 PM PST by Mr. K ('Profiling' you is worse than grabbing your balls)
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To: John W

Wow, I thought he passed years ago.

Rest in Peace, you knew it all...


31 posted on 12/20/2010 6:00:24 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously..... You won't live through it anyway.)
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To: John W

Funny guy. R.I.P.


32 posted on 12/20/2010 6:04:34 PM PST by rbosque (12 year Freeper!!! Combat Economist.)
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To: boop; blackdog
One of the best episodes, I was just telling a co-worker the story.

The German scientist who came to take it apart reminising about "if we developed it first"

"we did"

"Sure now we did, but then..."

33 posted on 12/20/2010 6:04:54 PM PST by par4
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To: John W
This is the scene I always first think of, thinking of that character.
34 posted on 12/20/2010 6:10:52 PM PST by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: indylindy

Same great comedic mind, Rheinhold Weege.


35 posted on 12/20/2010 6:13:18 PM PST by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
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To: ArmstedFragg

I miss those shows. I loved the sarcastic humor.

I miss old Bull.


36 posted on 12/20/2010 6:15:56 PM PST by dforest
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To: John W

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


37 posted on 12/20/2010 6:18:52 PM PST by LibFreeOrDie (Obama promised a gold mine, but will give us the shaft.)
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To: ArmstedFragg
Same great comedic mind, Rheinhold Weege

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.

38 posted on 12/20/2010 6:20:31 PM PST by AzSteven ("War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." Jean Dutourd)
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To: AzSteven

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.


39 posted on 12/20/2010 6:32:34 PM PST by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
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To: NonValueAdded

My favorite episode.


40 posted on 12/20/2010 6:35:59 PM PST by magslinger (Samuel Colt, feminist. Making women equal to men for over 150 years.)
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