Steven Hill
He's worked with Burt Lancaster, Hedy Lamarr, and Sidney Poitier, but he is mainly known for his work on television.
Frist, as Dan Briggs in Mission Impossible. Although popular with fans, Hill found his Orthodox Judaism conflicted with the scheduling requirements and left the series. After MI, he developed a portfolio as a subtle character actor; The Slender Thread, Rich & Famous, Yentl, Teachers, Garbo Talks, Legal Eagles, Heartburn, Running on Empty, White Palace, and The Firm.
But his most famous role was that of the world weary D.A. Adam Schiff in Law & Order. For over a decade, he gave realistic and often cynical advice to his sometimes "Hang 'Em High" prosecutors.
He retired in 2000, and spent the last years on his farm in Monsey with his family. He passed in 2016.
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | September 5, 2025 4:23 AM
|
The Memorable, Dry Wit of Adam Schiff
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | September 3, 2025 1:51 AM
|
"This office doesn't play patty-cake with serial killers."
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | September 3, 2025 1:51 AM
|
He was fantastic in Running on Empty. That’s the kind of small part, very well played, that needs to earn supporting Oscar nominations, rather than leads and co-leads.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | September 3, 2025 1:56 AM
|
I only know him from Mission Impossible - didn't know he did all those other things.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | September 3, 2025 1:56 AM
|
R4 You never watched Law & Order?
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | September 3, 2025 2:01 AM
|
"With a leap like that, they'll put you in a Nike commercial."
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | September 3, 2025 2:02 AM
|
He was Jill Clayburgh's daddy in It's My Turn She tries to give him a haircut.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | September 3, 2025 2:09 AM
|
He took time off to become a rabbi. That's why he left Mission Impossible.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | September 3, 2025 2:17 AM
|
He embraced his faith and lived to be 94.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | September 3, 2025 2:21 AM
|
Both he and Christine Lahti were magnificent in that scene in RUNNING ON EMPTY. Absolutely heartbreaking.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | September 3, 2025 2:22 AM
|
Steven Hill was born Solomon Krakovsky to Russian Jewish immigrants. He was a founding member of the Actors Studio and was said to be a chief acting rival of Marlon Brando, and perhaps was even better than Brando. However, being a practicing Orthodox Jew, Hill strictly observed Shabbat, which meant he could not work Friday nights and Saturday matinees. This either limited or hampered his career prospects on the NY stage and in future acting roles.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | September 3, 2025 2:23 AM
|
Dick Wolf respected him so much that he hired a car service to drive Hill to his country home in Monsey every weekend.
Hill never asked for it and tried to pay Wolf for the fare.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | September 3, 2025 2:26 AM
|
He was in The Goddess too.
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | September 3, 2025 2:27 AM
|
Is that Rep. Mike Johnson behind the bride @R15?
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | September 3, 2025 2:33 AM
|
Handsome as hell on Mossion Impossible. Ugly old man on Law & Order
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | September 3, 2025 2:42 AM
|
R17 he had charm in L&O though.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | September 3, 2025 2:43 AM
|
He was gone before Dana was on, r20.
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | September 3, 2025 4:54 AM
|
I think he was a voice in An American Tail, which is about Russian Jewish mice in the 1800's.
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | September 3, 2025 9:44 PM
|
He was Anne Bancroft's husband in The Slender Thread. The one that made her so unhappy and made her turn to Sidney Poitier.
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | September 3, 2025 10:01 PM
|
With Gena Rowlands in A Child is Waiting directed by John Cassavetes
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | September 3, 2025 10:16 PM
|
Did Adam Schiff even like his job?
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | September 4, 2025 5:19 PM
|
He played Michael's father on thirtysomething. He left the family for a younger woman then gets cancer.
| by Anonymous | reply 27 | September 4, 2025 5:49 PM
|
A very religious man, plowed a lot of his money into property in upstate NY for other ultra-Orthodox Jews.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | September 5, 2025 12:34 AM
|
I actually think he got handsomer and sexier as he grew older. He was a hot daddy on L&O!
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | September 5, 2025 12:40 AM
|
Op he is dead. He WORKED with.
| by Anonymous | reply 32 | September 5, 2025 2:09 AM
|
He's already been dead for nine years.
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | September 5, 2025 2:19 AM
|
"You want monogamy, marry a swan"
Steven Hill in "Heartburn"
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | September 5, 2025 4:23 AM
|
