# The day the snarky died: Steve Landesberg, RIP **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917 "2010-12-21T03:27:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/21 "2010-12-21T16:51:43Z")
I was able to get a DVD with all the 3rd season episodes of “Barney Miller” on it. I had forgotten just how good that show was. Nothing close to it now. Why did all the literate TV writers have to die off 20 or so years ago? ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/22 "2010-12-21T17:20:59Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Great character. My mother had a serious crush on him. > > Dietrich: Begging. The world’s oldest profession > Wojo: I thought that was prostitution > Dietrich: Somebody had to ask for it. **I** had a crush on him as a kid. Now I feel old. ☹ RIP, Steve. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/23 "2010-12-21T17:27:43Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Lt. Dietrich was one of the three fictional characters on whom I based my adult personality. I must know. Who are the other two? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/24 "2010-12-21T17:28:26Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > And yet [Abe Vigoda](http://www.abevigoda.com/) still lives. You can’t seriously think that Abe Vigoda is going to die before everybody else does. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/25 "2010-12-21T17:34:59Z")
I have to admit I’ve picked up some personality traits based on Dietrich. This is the first I’m hearing of this; very sad. mmm ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/26 "2010-12-21T17:39:05Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > You can’t seriously think that Abe Vigoda is going to die before everybody else does. And he’s going to dance on everybody else’s graves. 🙂 So long, Steve. R.I.P. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/27 "2010-12-21T18:09:31Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I must know. Who are the other two? I was going to be coy in answering this, then I remembered that [I’ve already on on record here with it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9355393&postcount=47). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/28 "2010-12-21T18:24:50Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I was going to be coy in answering this, then I remembered that [I’ve already on on record here with it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9355393&postcount=47). Fine choices. I’d add a dash of Frank Furillo, too, but only if the Counselor is part of the deal… ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/29 "2010-12-21T22:09:59Z")
From the final episode: Barney: “The building has been sold to a dance studio.” Dietrich: “Well, that’s taps for us.” ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/30 "2010-12-21T22:29:15Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I am amazed he was only 65. I don’t recall when I last saw him, but do recall that I thought he was looking pretty old. According to [this article,](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/arts/television/21landesberg.html) from the New York Times, he was actually 74. I loved him in Barney Miller, and was always glad to see him whenever he turned up in something else. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/31 "2010-12-22T00:27:15Z")
Count me in as someone who had a crush on him. What a sexy voice he had! Too bad. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/32 "2010-12-22T00:34:58Z")
Damn. When they had the guy who claimed to be a time traveller, who didn’t encounter Dietrich until the end of the show. “Wait! You’re Arthur Dietrich! Of course, the (whatever) precinct.” And after they take the guy away, Dietrich just turns to the group and says “I would never have been able to do it without you.” What delivery he had. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/33 "2010-12-22T02:10:41Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Count me in as someone who had a crush on him. What a sexy voice he had! [Dietrich as Cary Grant]Beverly…is busy.[/Dietrich as Cary Grant] ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/34 "2010-12-22T02:15:59Z")
> [@Monstera\_deliciosa](#): > > According to [this article,](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/arts/television/21landesberg.html) from the New York Times, he was actually 74. Can’t access the NYT without an account. According to the [Dead people Server,](http://www.dpsinfo.com/dps/2010.html#slandesberg) he was born in 1945, which would make him closer to 65. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/35 "2010-12-22T02:39:52Z")
From the end of the article: > [@](#): > > Initial reports of Mr. Landesberg’s death, relying on numerous biographical sources, said he was 65. In acknowledging that he was actually nine years older, his daughter said he had provided varying birth dates over the years. “He got kind of a late start in show business,” she explained, “so he tried to straddle the generations. He fooled the whole world. People were surprised to think he was even 65.” > > \ ***Correction: December 21, 2010** > > An earlier version misstated Mr. Landesberg’s age and the year of his birth. He was 74, not 65, and he was born in 1936, not 1945.\* ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/36 "2010-12-22T04:05:01Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Can’t access the NYT without an account. > > According to the [Dead people Server,](http://www.dpsinfo.com/dps/2010.html#slandesberg) he was born in 1945, which would make him closer to 65. Really? I don’t have an account. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/37 "2010-12-22T04:28:36Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Damn. > > When they had the guy who claimed to be a time traveller, who didn’t encounter Dietrich until the end of the show. “Wait! You’re Arthur Dietrich! Of course, the (whatever) precinct.” > > And after they take the guy away, Dietrich just turns to the group and says “I would never have been able to do it without you.” What delivery he had. Nah, nah; it was “Hey – I couldn’t’ve done it without youse.” The joke being that neither he, nor anybody else there, had any idea what he was supposed to be famous for. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/38 "2010-12-22T17:58:41Z")
I remember an episode where Landsberg did a dead-on impersonation of Gregory Peck. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/39 "2010-12-22T18:01:56Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I remember an episode where Landsberg did a dead-on impersonation of Gregory Peck. [Dietrich as Gregory Peck]Beverly…is busy.[/Dietrich as Gregory Peck] Dietrich was at Fish’s home and Beverly, Fish’s daughter, didn’t want to see someone who came to the door. My earlier quote mis-attributed his impersonation to Cary Grant. Strange no one caught that. We should be fighting ignorance a little harder. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917/40 "2010-12-22T18:11:21Z")
Whoopsie. I only did a Ctrl+F search for “Peck,” who was one of my mother’s other crushes. She was in heaven on that day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-the-snarky-died-steve-landesberg-rip/564917.md?page=3)