Hal Linden (born Harold Lipshitz,[1] March 20, 1931) is an American stage and screen actor, television director and musician.

After a stint in the United States Army, he began an acting career, first working in summer stock and off-Broadway productions.

In 1974, Linden landed his best-known role as the title character in the television comedy series Barney Miller.

Before embarking on a career in music, he decided to change his name, stating, "'Swing and Sway with Harold Lipshitz' just didn't parse."

While he was in Fort Belvoir, a friend recommended that he see the touring production of Guys and Dolls playing in Washington, D.C. After seeing the show, Linden decided to become an actor.

[8] He made a further breakthrough on the New York City stage in 1962 when he was cast as Billy Crocker in the revival of Cole Porter's Anything Goes.

During this time, he dubbed English dialogue for various foreign films, did voiceover work for commercials and sang jingles,[10] and performed in industrial musicals such as Diesel Dazzle (1966).

Linden is tied with Matt LeBlanc and John Goodman for the most Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy Award nominations without ever winning.

In 1991 he guest-starred in an episode of “The Golden Girls” in the part of John Neretti, Bea Arthur’s character’s love interest.

In the series, Linden portrayed Jack Evans, a retired jazz musician who ran a restaurant that was frequented by patrons who learned lessons about love.

In 1995, Linden won his third Daytime Emmy Award for his 1994 guest-starring role as Rabbi Markovitz on CBS Schoolbreak Special.

[17] In 1996, Linden had a supporting role in the television film The Colony, opposite John Ritter and June Lockhart.

The role was a departure for Linden as he played the villainous head of a home owner's association of a gated community.

He continued his career in the late 1990s and 2000s with guest roles on Touched by an Angel, The King of Queens, Gilmore Girls, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Hot in Cleveland.

He also narrated episodes of Biography and The American Experience, and voiced Dr. Selig on the animated series The Zeta Project.

In 2015, he appeared at the Old Globe Theatre in the West Coast premiere of The Twenty Seventh Man starring as Yevgeny Zunser.

In his act, Linden played the clarinet, performed pop and Broadway standards backed by a big band, and discussed his life and career.

The album features a collection of jazz, Broadway and pop standards that Linden began recording around the time he was touring in the early 1980s.

[21] In 1984, Linden narrated a short film on former President Harry S. Truman, which was shown during that year's Democratic National Convention.