Born on March 15, 1935, Hirsch studied at the City College of New York where he majored in engineering and physics. While studying physics, a subject completely unrelated to acting, Hirsch developed a fascination in the theater. So he decided to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts while working at a Colorado stock company.

In 1966, Hirsch made his Broadway debut in the romantic comedy by Neil Simon, Barefoot in the Park. For a few years after that Hirsch worked with New York ’s Circle Repertory Company, a theater company co-founded by playwright Lanford Wilson.

Here he appeared in Wilson’s first-ever produced play, The Hot L Baltimore, a drama set in a seedy hotel full of prostitutes, hustler, and indigents. The film won the 1973 New York Drama Critics Circle Award.

In 1974, Hirsch started landed television and TV-movie roles appearing in The Law, and as a police detective for one season (1976-1977) of the cop drama Delvechhio.

Hirsch landed the biggest role of his career to date in the early 1980s when he performed for several years on the television series Taxi. Hirsch won the Emmy Award for Lead Actor in a Comedy series twice for his performances on the show: once in 1981 and again in 1983. The show included stars Danny Devito, Marilu Henner, Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman, and Christopher Lloyd.

While filming Taxi, Hirsch also continued to act off-Broadway. In 1979 he won an Obie Award for his role in Talley’s Folly. He later went on to win two Tony Awards for his roles in the Broadway films I’m Not Rappaport and Herb Gardner’s Conversations With My Father. In 1989 Hirsch won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series in a Comedy or Musical for his role as John Lacey in the 1980s sitcom Dear John. Later he teamed up with Bob Newhart in the short-lived comedy George and Leo.

Hirsch has also appeared in many films. He starred in Ordinary People in 1980, directed by Robert Redford and co-starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, and Timothy Hutton. Hirsch received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 1996 he played the father of Jeff Goldblum’s character in Independence Day and in 2001 he appeared in A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly.

In 1997, Hirsch starred as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman when it was performed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Two years later he starred in a Yasmina Reza play Art on Broadway, opposite George Wendt and Joe Morton.

Recently Hirsch has appeared on the pilot episode on the 2006 NBC series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Hirsch has been married twice. He married his first wife Elissa Hirsch in 1956 and divorced her in 1958. He and his second wife, Bonnie Chalkin, married on December 24, 1992. The couple has two children together and is still married.

YUDDY