RIP

[Kobi]

Ron Glass, the actor best known for his work on “Barney Miller” and “Firefly,” died Friday, November 26. He was 71.

Glass played the intellectual Det. Ron Harris on the sitcom “Barney Miller” from 1975 – 1982. The show was hailed by critics and police officers for its realistic depiction of police work while also delivering consistent laughs. Much of the humor for his character stemmed from his dapper fashion sense and dreams of becoming a writer. He was nominated for an Emmy for supporting actor in 1982.

Years later he was part of another ensemble show, the sci-fi adventure series “Firefly” (2002). Although the series lasted less than one season it developed a cult following and a film, “Serenity” was released in 2005. Glass played Shepherd Derrial Book, a spiritual leader and moral guide to the rest of the crew of the spaceship Serenity. However, there are frequent references to the character’s less wholesome past.

Glass was born July 10, 1945 in Evansville, Indiana. He studied Drama and Literature at the University of Evansville and made his stage debut at the famed Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. He then moved to Los Angeles where he made his first television appearance in an episode of “Sanford and Son” in 1972.

After “Barney Miller” Glass was tapped in 1982 to play neat-freak Felix Unger in an updated version of “The Odd Couple” called “The New Odd Couple.” The series featured an African-American cast and often re-used scripts from earlier Tony Randall/Jack Klugman series. It lasted for one season.

Glass worked consistently in film and television and was a frequent guest star on many popular shows. He played Ross Geller’s divorce lawyer, Russell, on “Friends” and made recent appearances on “CSI” and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”