Steve Landesberg

A wry, observational comedian with a distinctively deep voice, Steve Landesburg rose to fame in the mid-1970s as Arthur Dietrich, the supernaturally intelligent detective on "Barney Miller" (ABC, 1975-1982). Meditatively calm, but never without a half-smile playing across his face, Dietrich served as the 12th Precinct's resident information resource. No matter how obscure the subject, he had at least a working knowledge, if not a complete understanding, of its intricacies. Landesburg earned three Emmy nominations for his turn on "Barney," which led to a lengthy career on the small screen in guest shots and as a voiceover artist for cartoons and commercials. A television favorite for over three decades and an admired cerebral wit among his fellow comics, his premature death in 2010 robbed the entertainment community of an original talent.