Trivia

Although he and Jerry Orbach appeared in 177 episodes of Law & Order (1990) and Entitled (2000) together, they only appeared on screen together twice: during one brief scene in the Corruption (1996) and in the opening scene of the episode Refuge Pt. 2 (#9.24.

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.

Served 4 years in the Naval Reserve.

Before he returned to acting, he was working as a real estate agent.

Was a founding member of the Actor's Studio and, as such, knew and worked with Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and Gene Hackman before they became famous.

After his retirement from acting in 2000, he did voice-overs.

Made a comeback with the television series at 68.

Was a spokesperson for T.D. Waterhouse, alongside his Law & Order (1990), co-star Sam Waterston, in the 1990s.

He had nine children.

Appeared in every episode of Law & Order (1990), for the first ten seasons, except one, until his retirement in 2000. The series pilot, Everybody's Favorite Bagman (1990), was filmed in 1988 and starred Roy Thinnes as the district attorney. It was neither aired nor picked up for a series at that time. It first aired as episode 6 in the first season.

When he departed from his role on Law & Order (1990), he was the longest-running cast member.

Hill disappeared from the cast of Mission: Impossible (1966) after one season because, as an Orthodox Jew, he was unable to participate in any scenes filmed during the Sabbath (between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday). According to the 1991 book "The Complete Mission: Impossible Dossier" by Patrick J. White, this arrangement had been written into Hill's contract at the time he accepted the role, but the producers had simply had not understood what had been agreed to.

Acting mentor and friends of Jill Hennessy and Benjamin Bratt.

He was one of the few Orthodox Jewish actors working for much of his career.

He rarely shared any scenes with any of the actors who played cops on Law & Order (1990).

Began acting at age 24.

He died less than a month before the 50th anniversary of Mission: Impossible (1966), in which he originally starred as the protagonist Dan Briggs.

Left acting from 1967 to 1978.

Good friends with Julie Harris, Sydney Pollack, Anne Bancroft, Albert Paulsen, Lee Grant, Sam Waterston and Marlon Brando.

Re-enlisted in the Navy between 1952 and 1954, before he seriously returned to acting.

Met Martin Landau at the Actors' Studio (when he studied there). Martin Landau eventually landed a role opposite Hill on Mission: Impossible (1966), where he played Rollin Hand for 3 seasons.

Graduated from West Seattle High School in Seattle, Washington, in 1940.

Moved to a religious community in Rockland County, New York, in 1967.

He was a founding member of Lee Strasberg's Actor's Studio

Best known by the public for his starring role as D.A. Adam Schiff on Law & Order (1990).

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).

Played the Manhattan District Attorney in both Legal Eagles (1986) and Law & Order (1990).

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.

Was considered for the role of Dr.Sam Loomis in Halloween (1978).

His grandson is the well-known Jewish singer Ari Hill.

Was stricken with a virus the night of a sold out performance for the Masters Children's Center of Dobbs Ferry. As a result, the producers decided to cancel the performance just as the curtain was about to go up. [12 April 1961].

Appeared with future Law & Order (1990) replacement, Dianne Wiest, in It's My Turn (1980).

When he was a little boy he was interested in the theater, after his sister entered a talent contest.

He was a lifelong liberal Democrat.

Of Russian immigrants.

His son-in-law is a high school teacher in Manhattan, New York City.

Before he was a successful actor, he used to work in stage productions.

Despite some physical resemblance, he is not related to actor Arthur Hill.

Is an alumnus of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity.