+------------------------------+-------------------+------------------+
|                              | # Office          | ## Wash          |
|                              | of Public Affairs | ington, DC 20420 |
|                              |                   |                  |
|                              | # Media Relations | **(202)          |
|                              |                   | 273-5700**       |
|                              |                   |                  |
|                              |                   | **www.va.gov**   |
+------------------------------+-------------------+------------------+
| **Department of**            | ### 2001 Nation   |                  |
|                              | al Salute to Hosp |                  |
| **Veterans Affairs**         | italized Veterans |                  |
+------------------------------+-------------------+------------------+

###### Hal Linden

![](media/image1.png){width="2.158333333333333in" height="2.625in"}
Celebrated actor Hal Linden -- TV's popular "Barney Miller" -- is
chairman of the Department of Veterans Affairs 2001 National Salute to
Hospitalized Veterans.

As chairman, Army veteran Linden will lead VA's annual patient
recognition program, inviting the public to visit and honor hospitalized
veterans across the country, particularly during the week of Feb. 11-17,
and throughout the year. Linden also will serve as a national
spokesperson for the 105,000 volunteers who serve veterans in VA
facilities.

The multi-talented actor, singer and musician has moved effortlessly
between stage, film, television and concert performances for over 40
years and earned two television Emmys and a Tony, Broadway's highest
honor.

A native New Yorker, Linden began his show business career as a clarinet
player and then toured as a singer with several bands. As a member of
the U.S. Army band, he became involved with Army revues, which piqued
his acting career. After discharge from the Army, he studied at New
York's American Theatre Wing and worked steadily at improving his acting
for six years.

Linden's first major break came in 1958 when he was named understudy to
the lead role in the Broadway play "Bells Are Ringing." He became the
lead within five days, starring opposite Judy Holliday on Broadway and
in the national tour.

The play is one of 18 Broadway plays in which Linden has appeared,
including "On A Clear Day," the revival of "Pajama Game," "Three Men On
A Horse," and "The Rothchilds," for which he received his Tony and
notices leading to his signature TV role as "Barney Miller."

Last fall, Linden was featured as a villain in the USA Network movie,
"The Colony." Recent stage credits include "The Sisters Rosensweig" and
"I'm Not Rappaport" on Broadway. He also starred in a number of TV
series and specials, completed the 19-week "Hal Linden Tour" and
performed with the Dallas Symphony, playing Mozart on clarinet. Linden
maintains a heavy schedule of nightclub and concert dates in venues
ranging from symphony orchestra halls to intimate cabarets.

He served as national chairman of the March of Dimes for several years,
helping raise some \$75 million as host of its national telethon. In
1988, the March of Dimes inaugurated the Hal Linden Celebrity Golf
Tournament.