Michael Conrad

 Michael Conrad (October 16, 1925 – November 22, 1983)

Conrad had a long acting career in television from the 1950s to the 1980s. In 1962 he appeared in the television series Car 54, Where Are You? in an uncredited part as a construction worker. In 1963 he played Felton Grimes, the title character and murder victim in the Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Bigamous Spouse." He played Michael Stivic's Uncle Casimir on All in the Family, and gave bigoted Archie Bunker as good as he got. In 1972 he appeared together with Richard Crenna and Alain Delon in the French language film Un_flic, directed by Jean-Pierre_Melville. He also had a memorable role in the 1974 film, The Longest Yard, playing Nate Scarboro, a retired NFL tight end (New York Giants) who was also the head coach for the Mean Machine, the team of prisoners put together by Burt Reynolds' character Paul Crewe to play the team of guards (Reynolds himself would later play the role of Scarboro in the 2005 remake starring Adam Sandler). During the 1976–1977 season of Delvecchio, Conrad was a regular, as he played the role of Lt. Macavan. Conrad may be best known for his portrayal of veteran cop Sgt. Phil Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues, in which he ended the introductory roll call to each week's show with "Let's be careful out there". He won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in Hill Street Blues in 1981 and 1982. Conrad died from urethral cancer in November 1983 during the fourth season of Hill Street Blues. The show's writers wrote his death into the show.