Hal Linden (born Harold Lipshitz, March 20, 1931) is an American stage and screen actor, television director and musician. His best-known role was as the title character in the television comedy series Barney Miller, for which he earned seven Primetime Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations. Born in the Bronx, Linden was the son of Charles Lipshitz and Frances Rosen. His older brother would become a future professor of music at Bowling Green State University, Ohio. Similarly musical, Hal took up classical clarinet in his late teens and played regularly with symphony orchestras. After graduating from the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan, he studied music at Queens College, moving later to City College to pursue business. Hal also played in dance bands and was asked to join Sammy Kaye on tour before being drafted into the Army, where he sang and provided entertainment for the troops. This sparked an interest in acting, and, upon receiving his discharge, he enrolled at New York's American Theatre Wing where he trained in voice and drama. In 1955, Hal met Frances Martin, a dancer. They married three years later, and she gave up her career to raise a family. Hal's first Broadway show was in "Bells Are Ringing" where he understudied lead Jeff Moss. During the 1960s, Hal accumulated more musical credits in "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," "Subways Are for Sleeping," "The Apple Tree" and "The Pajama Game." He won the 1971 Tony award for his role in "The Rothschilds." This particular stage success led to a TV career that culminated in the title role on the popular Barney Miller (1974) sitcom. Emmy-nominated every year the program aired, Hal became a household name. Since that time, he has appeared in other lesser TV series including Blacke's Magic (1986), and Jack's Place (1992). He has held a secondary presence in such films as A New Life (1988) and Out to Sea (1997). More musical leads such as "I Do! I Do!" and "The Pajama Game" came his way, along with dramatic pursuits in "I'm Not Rappaport" and "The Sisters Rosenzweig." Hal has also undertaken musical tours in his continuing role as clarinetist. He and wife Frances are avid golfers during their spare time.
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Biography from TMDB.
- March 20, 1931 (95)
- New York City, New York, USA
- Actor, also producer
- 37 on MovieCove · 60 credits in all
What are Hal Linden's films like?
Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 12
Light 8 · Serious 3 · Dark 1
Grounded 11 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0
A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 5 · Intense 1
Steady 10 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1
Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 3
Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0
Casual 9 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1
Easy watch 6 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 1
Resolved 12 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
Usually the Ally: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.
Show the 8 rolesHide the roles
- Allyas Det. Lou Isaacs in Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside (1973)
- Heroas Barney Miller in Barney Miller (1975)
- Allyas Tony Bartlett in How to Break Up a Happy Divorce (1976)
- Mentoras Josh Gilliam in Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
- Threshold guardianas Jack Warner in My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn (1985)
- Allyas Mel Arons in A New Life (1988)
- Mentoras Arthur Wright in A Kiss at Midnight (2008)
- Mentoras Samuel in The Samuel Project (2018)
Moods and endings
- Happy8
- Bittersweet4
- Ambiguous1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Hal Linden's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (8).
Subscription and free streaming for Hal Linden's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
60 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 26 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Micro Budget(2024)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
Merv (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
You People(2023)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Off Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Hacks(2021)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
Grand-Daddy Day Care(2019)
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
The Samuel Project(2018)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
American Housewife(2016)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
The Mindy Project(2012)
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows
2 Broke Girls(2011)
Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows
Hot in Cleveland(2010)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows
A Kiss at Midnight(2008)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Light Years Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Supernatural(2005)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
Living with Fran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Grey's Anatomy(2005)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
Time Changer(2002)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Dumb Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
The Glow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
The Zeta Project(2001)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows
Gilmore Girls(2000)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Jump (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Killers in the House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
The King of Queens(1998)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
Will & Grace(1998)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows
Rude Awakening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Out to Sea(1997)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
The Colony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
The Drew Carey Show(1995)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows
Nowhere Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Touched by an Angel(1994)
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
The Boys Are Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
America and the Holocaust: Deceit and Indifference (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
The Nanny(1993)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
Jack's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Dream Breakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
American Experience(1988)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows
A New Life(1988)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
Blacke's Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
The Golden Girls(1985)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
The Ray Bradbury Theater(1985)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
I Do! I Do! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
The Other Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
Father Figure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Battle of the Network Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Love Boat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Barney Miller(1975)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Nova(1974)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside(1973)
Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Ghost Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
That Man from Rio(1964)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Bells Are Ringing(1960)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Career shape
Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 59 titles from 1960 to 2026; peak year 2002.
Film career
Peak 2002 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.
- 1960Screen debut· Bells Are Ringing
Billing
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.
How do Hal Linden's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up15
- 50th to 74th10
- 25th to 49th8
- Below 25th4
Shape of the crowd
14 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved8
- Divisive1
- Cult Classic2
- Crowd Pleaser14
- Broadly Agreed2
- Mixed10
Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 36. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Hal Linden work with?
People who share at least 2 of Hal Linden's MovieCove titles; Dyan Cannon shares the most, 2.
- Dyan CannonShared titles: A Kiss at Midnight (2008), Out to Sea (1997)See all 2 shared titles with Dyan Cannon
- Nelson RiddleShared titles: All-Star Party for Frank Sinatra (1983), How to Break Up a Happy Divorce (1976)See all 2 shared titles with Nelson Riddle
