Regarded in show business circles as one of the most versatile comedic entertainers, Steve Landesberg stepped on stage for the first time to perform at an open audition Bill Cosby was conducting for NBC's "The Tonight Show" at NYC's Bitter End. Soon after, he was working at the Improv with other young comics like David Brenner, Jimmy Walker and a young lady named Bette Midler. A stint with an improvisational comedy group called the New York Stickball Team preceded his first appearance as a TV regular on "Dean Martin Presents The Bobby Darin Amusement Company" (NBC, 1972). His first regular sitcom gig came with his portrayal of Viennese violinist Fred Meyerbach on "Paul Sands in Friend and Lovers" (CBS, 1975-75) but his best-known role (to date) is perhaps the erudite Sergeant Arthur Dietrich on the highly-acclaimed comedy series "Barney Miller" (ABC, 1976-82), for which he earned three Emmy Award nominations. Landesberg won considerable recognition and fame for his work in commercials, starred in the feature film "Leader of the Band" (1987) and acted in TV-movies like "Final Notice" (USA Network, 1989), "Mission of the Shark" (CBS, 1991) and "Sodbusters" (Showtime, 1994). He returned as a series regular playing a jaded co-worker of the titular advertising executive in "Conrad Bloom" (NBC, 1998).
- Born:
November 23, 1945 in Bronx, New York
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Job Titles:
Actor, Comedian, Assistant credit manager for a hotel
Family
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Daughter: Elizabeth Landesberg. born c. 1987
Milestones
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1972 Landed regular role on the variety series "Dean Martin Presents the Bobby Darin Amusement Company" (NBC)
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1973 Feature film debut, "Blade"
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1974 Portrayed Viennese violinist Fred Meyerbach on "Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers" (CBS)
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1983 Hosted his own comedy special, "The Steve Landesberg Show" (NBC)
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1987 Starred in Nessa Hyams' "Leader of the Band", playing an unemployed musician who whips an inept high school marching band into shape
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1989 Played Lieutenant Al Frank in TV-movie, "Final Notice (USA Network)
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1991 Acted with Stacy Keach and Richard Thomas in "Mission of the Shark", a CBS movie about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during World War II, resulting in the Navy's greatest sea disaster
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1994 Appeared in Western comedy "Sodbusters" (Showtime)
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1998 Returned to series TV in regular role as George in NBC's "Conrad Bloom"
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Appeard at the Improv alongside such fledgling talents as David Brenner, Jimmie Walker and Bette Midler
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Born and raised in the Bronx, New York
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Made guess appearances on a variety of series including "Law & Order", "Cosby" and "The Golden Girls"
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Member of the New York Stickball Team (comedy group)
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Portrayed Detective Arthur Dietrich on ABC comedy series "Barney Miller"; received three Emmy nominations during the series' run
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Provided voice of Eduardo for "Marsupilami", a CBS animated children's series
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Starred in stage productions of "Same Time, Next Year", Neil Simon's "God's Favorite" and "Hold Me"
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Toured nation's comedy clubs, concert halls, nightclubs and colleges