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Hal Linden (born March 20, 1931) is an American stage and television actor and television director, best known for his role in the television comedy series Barney Miller and as presenter on the ABC educational series Animals, Animals, Animals. Linden was born Harold Lipshitz in New York City, the son of Frances (née Rosen) and Charles Lipshitz, a printer. Linden graduated from Manhattan's School of Performing Arts. He began his career as a clarinetist and dance band singer. He and his violinist brother Bernie chose their stage names after spotting a gas storage tank in Linden, New Jersey... MORE

Hal Linden (born March 20, 1931) is an American stage and television actor and television director, best known for his role in the television comedy series Barney Miller and as presenter on the ABC educational series Animals, Animals, Animals. Linden was born Harold Lipshitz in New York City, the son of Frances (née Rosen) and Charles Lipshitz, a printer. Linden graduated from Manhattan's School of Performing Arts. He began his career as a clarinetist and dance band singer. He and his violinist brother Bernie chose their stage names after spotting a gas storage tank in Linden, New Jersey written in huge letters. His breakthrough on the New York stage came in 1962 when he was cast as Billy Crocker in the revival of Cole Porter's Anything Goes. He went on to a highly successful stage career, winning a Tony Award for his performance in the musical The Rothschilds. In 1984 Hal carried the Olympic Torch and ran a portion of the Los Angeles segment. A close friend of the late Alan Jay Lerner, Linden performed in a tribute concert of his works in 1988, singing, among other Lerner songs, "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore" and "One More Walk Around the Garden". He is currently the national LESS