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BARNEY MILLER began in 1975, originally centered around Hal Linden's title character juggling his work and home life.   Barbara Barrie, cast as his wife "Liz," was meant to have a far bigger role than it eventually turned out to be.   By the middle of the first season, it was obvious the big laughs were coming from the squad room and not the home setting.  Barries' role was significantly reduced, and even though her name would still appear in the credits until the end of the second season, she was not in that many episodes.  At the beginning of the third season, she is off of the credit roll but would make some memorable appearances in the squad room.   

The ensemble cast soon became Hal Linden with Max Gail, Abe Vigoda, Ron Glass, Jack Soo, and Gregory Sierra.  From time to time, James Gregory would appear in early episodes as "Inspector Lugar."  His role became more important as the series continued.  

The show had trouble trying to introduce a female detective into the mix.   Linda Lavin was cast as "Det. Janice Wentworth" but lasted only five episodes before getting her own television show "Alice."    They tried again with a very talented actress Mari Gorman appearing as "Det. Rosslyn Licouri."  The chemistry was just not there; after three episodes, she was gone.  She had appeared as another character in an earlier episode.  It was not just women. They tried adding another male detective Paul Lieber as "Det. Sgt. Eric Dorsey."  Dorsey played a former vice cop who naturally assumed Barney and his men were all corrupt.  Like Gorman, he had been in a previous episode and only lasted three as Dorsey.  Of the main cast, only Linden was in all 171 episodes, with Max Gail being in all but the pilot episode.  

The main cast of Barney Miller was:

Hal Linden  (Capt. Barney Miller)

Abe Vigoda (Det. Sgt. Phil Fish)

Max Gail (Det./Det. Sgt. Stanley Wojciehowicz)

Ron Glass (Det. Sgt. Ron Harris)

Steve Landesberg (Det. Sgt. Arthur Dietrich)

Jack Soo (Det. Sgt. Nick Yemana)

James Gregory (Inspector Frank Luger)

Ron Carey (Officer Carl Levitt)

Barbara Barrie (Elizabeth "Liz" Miller)

Below is a signed still by Hal Linden.

Tags: Barney, Gail, Gregory, Hal, Jack, James, Landesberg, Lavin, Linda, Linden, More…Max, Miller, Soo, Steve

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Great topic, Scott! Barney Miller was a terrific comedy and sadly overlooked these days. Interesting to see these signatures. James Gregory and Abe Vigoda were both generous through the mail signers. Are they difficult to find in Barney Miller poses?

Come to think of it, I think I have a Vigoda signed pic in the Fish role. I gotta dig through my books. Got it TTM back in the 90s if I recall correctly.

I also got James Gregory TTM, but it was a POTA pose, which I imagine most collectors sent him. He was an awesome signer and always sent you back extras. Class act.

Keep them coming. I enjoy seeing this kind of topic.

Signed pics of Murdock and/or Dullaghan?

Gregory Sierra is on the those character actor fixtures that was seemingly everywhere in the 70s. Nice!

I'm watching it now on the Cozi channel.

Most of the stars seem on and off again signers. Most I got in early 2000s. I got Hal Linden in early 2000s but haven't seen successes on the ttm sites since then. I got Ron Carey and James Gregory were great. I got a Barney photo from Ron that I sent out or got star autographs via collector shows from friends. Gregory Sierra also sent a Barney photo which I got some other autos on. Only complete photo I have is one with just Max, Hal and Abe. Only living actor I'm missing on the large cast photos is Max who I got ttm but he seems on and off so I won't risk the major photos ttm.

Very good thread, Scott. Thanks for doing this. It's refreshing to see some autographs that are not of the "usual suspects!" :-)

Oh yeah... Henry Jones was definitely one of those "That guy" character actors. In a ton of westerns, TV shows... Alfred Hitchcock presents... and on and on.

Hi Steve,

Yes, I remember Henry Jones as "Leroy" in The Bad Seed and as Michael Caine's lawyer in Deathtrap - awesome character man.

Eric

Great thread and this is my meager contribution. Abe Vigoda SP as Detective Fish. Obtained TTM many years ago.

Rest in peace, Mr. Vigoda. He was a class act and one-of-a-kind.

Yes, he was unique. I recall being stuck in an elevator with him. Great times! I have met a share of people, but only a very few literally stop the city just by stepping onto the street.

Eric

what a wonderful project you have undertaken! i'm such a TV nut, but never thought to do something like this myself. thanks so much for sharing!

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