Detective Sargeant Dietrech

Steve Landesberg, an actor and comedian with a friendly and often deadpan manner who was best known for his role on the long-running sitcom “Barney Miller,”  died on Monday in Los Angeles. He was 74.

ABC, via Photofest-Steve Landesberg, right, with Hal Linden on “Barney Miller.”

On  “Barney Miller,”  which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1982, Mr. Landesberg played Sgt. Arthur P. Dietrich,  an intellectual detective with a quiet manner who seemed to have an unrivaled knowledge of practically any topic that arose, much to the bemusement of his fellow detectives. He was also given to odd, unexpected pronouncements. In one 1980 episode he tells his boss, Captain Miller, that he is working on a case that dates to 1973. Miller says: “That was seven years ago! Nixon was president!” Dietrich’s typically low-key response: “No, he’s got an airtight alibi for this one.''

Mr. Landesberg received three Emmy Award nominations for that role.

Loved that show.


Set in a New York City police station, “Barney Miller” portrayed a group of wisecracking detectives and the oddball characters who ended up there. Some police officers said the show, in which most of the action was in the squad room rather than the street, often represented the real life of rank-and-file officers better than many television detective dramas.


Found a YouTube link that has a video excerpt from the show: