In Memory of Groundbreaking Actor Ron Glass ('Barney Miller'): 8 Years After His Tragic Death

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It’s been eight years since the tragic death of Emmy-nominated actor Ron Glass, best known for his groundbreaking performance as the sophisticated Detective (later Sergeant) Ron Nathan Harris on TV’s Barney Miller (ABC, 1975–1982). A devout Buddhist, Glass died from respiratory failure on November 25, 2016. He was only 71 years old, and this is his story.

A Closer Look

Raised in Evansville, Indiana, Glass received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Drama and Literature from the University of Evansville. After graduation, he relocated to Minneapolis where he worked in regional theater before arriving in Los Angeles to ignite what became an eclectic television and film career.

Beyond Barney Miller

Ron Glass was also an acclaimed voiceover artist for animated shows and video games. arris. Beyond Barney Miller, he appeared on several other TV shows including a 1980s African-American reboot of The Odd Couple (co-starring Demond Wilson, from Sanford and Son).

Glass earned a new fan base with his role as Shepherd Book on the Firefly sci-fi series, and its sequel film, Serenity. He also appeared in guest spot episodes of Friends, the 1980s rendition of Twilight Zone, Star Trek: Voyager, and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Marvel sci-fi superhero series.

Glass was on the board of directors for Los Angeles’ AL Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, an organization named for a man murdered in a gang-initiation drive-by shooting and dedicated to helping inner-city youth stay safe and receive an education.

Lasting Impression

With elegance and class, Ron Glass made an indelible mark in the world of entertainment and the world in general.