Adam Schiff, his character from "Law & Order" (1990), was loosely based on the real former district attorney of New York, Robert Morgenthau, and it is reported that Morgenthau was a fan of the character.
After guest-starring on "Rawhide" (1959), producer Bruce Geller recruited him to play the lead role of what would become "Mission: Impossible" (1966), which was based on his character's squad.
Although he and Jerry Orbach appeared in 177 episodes of "Law & Order" (1990) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Entitled (#1.15)" (2000) together, they only appeared on screen together twice: during one brief scene in the "Law & Order: Corruption (#7.5)" (1996) and in the opening scene of the episode Refuge Pt. 2 (#9.24.
Before he returned to acting, he was working as a real estate agent.
Before he was a successful actor, he used to work in stage productions.
Began acting at age 24.
Best known by the public for his starring role as A.D.A. Adam Schiff on "Law & Order" (1990).
Good friends with: Julie Harris, Sydney Pollack, Anne Bancroft, Albert Paulsen, Lee Grant, Sam Waterston and Marlon Brando.
Graduated from West Seattle High School in Seattle, Washington, in 1940.
Had appeared in each and every episode of "Law & Order" (1990), for the first ten seasons, until his retirement in 2000.
Has 9 children.
Has appeared with Roscoe Lee Browne in two different, completely unrelated productions in which he played the New York County District Attorney: Legal Eagles (1986) and "Law & Order" (1990).
He rarely shared any scenes with any of the actors who played cops on "Law & Order" (1990).
He was a founding member of Lee Strasberg's Actor's Studio
His son-in-law is a high school teacher in Manhattan, New York City.
Is an alumnus of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity.
Is one of the few current Orthodox Jewish actors working today.
Left acting from 1967 to 1978.
Left the cast of "Mission: Impossible" (1966) after one season because, as an Orthodox Jew, he was unwilling to abide by the show's production schedule. (That would have required him to work on the Jewish Sabbath.)