Hal Linden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hal Linden
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Publicity photo for FYI (1981)
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| Born |
Harold Lipshitz
March 20, 1931 The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
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| Education | High School of Music & Art |
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| Occupation | Actor, television director, musician |
| Years active | 1956–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Frances Martin
(m. 1958; died 2010) |
| Children | 4 |
Hal Linden (born Harold Lipshitz, March 20, 1931) is an American actor, TV director, and musician. He is well-known for his work on stage and screen.
Linden started his career in the 1950s as a musician and singer in big bands. After serving in the United States Army, he began acting. He performed in summer theater and off-Broadway shows. Hal Linden became famous on Broadway when he took over a role in the musical Bells Are Ringing. In 1962, he starred in the musical Anything Goes. In 1971, he won a Tony Award for his role in The Rothschilds.
In 1974, Linden got his most famous role. He played the main character in the TV comedy Barney Miller. This role earned him many nominations for Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. While on Barney Miller, Linden also hosted two educational shows. These were Animals, Animals, Animals and FYI. He won two Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on FYI. In 1995, he won another Daytime Emmy for a guest role on CBS Schoolbreak Special. Hal Linden has continued to act on stage, in movies, and on TV. In 2011, he released his first music album, It's Never Too Late.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Hal Linden was born on March 20, 1931. His birth name was Harold Lipshitz. He grew up in The Bronx, New York City, New York. He was the youngest son of Frances and Charles Lipshitz. His father was a Lithuanian Jew who came to the U.S. in 1910. Charles owned a printing shop. Hal's older brother, Bernard, became a music professor.
Linden went to Herman Ridder Junior High School. He also attended the High School of Music and Art. He then studied music at Queens College, City University of New York. Later, he earned a degree in business from City College of New York.
When he was young, Linden dreamed of being a big band singer. He wanted to lead his own band. Before starting his music career, he changed his name. He felt "Swing and Sway with Harold Lipshitz" did not sound right. While on a bus, he saw the town of Linden, New Jersey. He liked the name and changed his own to Hal Linden. In the 1950s, he toured with famous big bands. He played the saxophone and clarinet. He also sang.
In 1952, he joined the United States Army. He played in the United States Army Band. While in the Army, a friend suggested he see the musical Guys and Dolls. After watching the show, Linden decided he wanted to be an actor. He left the Army in 1954.
Becoming a Star Actor
Linden began his acting career on Broadway. In 1958, he took over a role in Bells Are Ringing. He became even more known in 1962. He starred as Billy Crocker in a new version of Anything Goes.
In the 1960s, Linden's acting work slowed down. During this time, he did voice work for foreign films and commercials. He also sang jingles. His career picked up again in the 1970s. He was cast as Mayer Rothschild in the 1971 musical The Rothschilds. This role won him a Tony Award. In 1973, he appeared in the TV movie Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside. This movie was meant to become a TV series, but it did not.
Barney Miller Success
In 1974, Linden got the main role in the TV show Barney Miller. This was a police comedy on ABC. He played Captain Barney Miller, who led a police precinct in Greenwich Village, New York City. He received seven Emmy Award nominations for this role. He also earned four Golden Globe Award nominations. The show ran from 1975 to 1982. Linden later said that leaving Broadway for Barney Miller was a big risk. But it turned out to be one of his best choices.
While working on Barney Miller, Linden hosted children's shows. He was the narrator for Animals, Animals, Animals. He also hosted FYI. He won two Daytime Emmys for his hosting work on FYI in 1984 and 1985.
Later Acting Roles
After Barney Miller ended in 1982, Linden acted in several TV movies. These included I Do! I Do! (1982) and Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983). In 1982, he was offered a main role in the show St. Elsewhere. But he turned it down because he wanted a break from TV.
In 1984, he co-starred in the TV movie Second Edition. This film was also planned as a series but was not picked up. The next year, Linden played studio boss Jack L. Warner in the TV movie My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn.
In 1986, Linden returned to TV in the NBC series Blacke's Magic. He played Alexander Blacke, a magician who solved mysteries. His father, played by Harry Morgan, helped him. The show was canceled after 13 episodes. In 1988, he appeared in the movie A New Life. In 1991, he was a guest star on “The Golden Girls”. He played a love interest for Bea Arthur’s character.
In 1992, Linden tried TV again with Jack's Place. He played Jack Evans, a retired jazz musician. Jack ran a restaurant where people learned about love. The show was compared to The Love Boat because it had different guest stars each week. The show started well, but viewership dropped. ABC canceled it in 1993. The next year, Linden was in the CBS sitcom The Boys Are Back. This show also had low ratings and was canceled. In 1995, Linden won his third Daytime Emmy Award. This was for his guest role as Rabbi Markovitz on CBS Schoolbreak Special.
In 1996, Linden had a supporting role in the TV movie The Colony. He played a villain, which was a different kind of role for him. In 1999, he was in the last The Rockford Files TV movie. In 1997, he played Ebeneezer Scrooge in a stage production of A Christmas Carol. In the late 1990s and 2000s, he had guest roles on many shows. These included Touched by an Angel, The King of Queens, Gilmore Girls, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He also narrated episodes of Biography and The American Experience. In 2002, Linden received a Golden Palm Star. This is on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars.
Hal Linden continues to have an active stage career. In 2008, he played Arvide Abernathy in Guys and Dolls. He appeared in the Toronto production of Tuesdays with Morrie in 2009. In 2011, he starred in On Golden Pond. He also starred in Under My Skin in 2012. In 2013, Linden guest-starred in Supernatural as a rabbi. He also played a role in The Scottsboro Boys. In 2014, Linden guest-starred in 2 Broke Girls. In 2015, he appeared in The Twenty Seventh Man.
Music Career Revival
After the success of Barney Miller, Linden decided to restart his music career. He created a nightclub act. In his show, Linden played the clarinet. He performed pop and Broadway songs with a big band. He also shared stories about his life and career. In March 2011, he began touring with his show An Evening with Hal Linden: I'm Old Fashioned. This show was later released on DVD. In April 2011, Linden released his first album, It's Never Too Late. The album features jazz, Broadway, and pop songs. He had started recording these songs in the early 1980s. He decided to finish the album after advice from his tour booker.
Personal Life
Hal Linden is the spokesperson for the Jewish National Fund. He has held this position since 1997.
Linden met dancer Fran Martin in 1955. They were doing summer theater together. They got married in 1958 and had four children. Fran Martin passed away in 2010.
In 1984, Linden narrated a short film about former President Harry S. Truman. This film was shown at the Democratic National Convention that year.
Awards and Recognition
Hal Linden has received several important awards for his work:
- 1971: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for The Rothschilds.
- 1983: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement as a Performer for FYI.
- 1984: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement as a Performer for FYI.
- 1995: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special for CBS Schoolbreak Special.
See also
In Spanish: Hal Linden para niños
