(This was posted on Max’s Facebook page in January of this year)

Today we remember Ron Carey, who we lost on this day 16 years ago, just a month after his 71st birthday.

Whether you loved to hate him or hated that you loved him, Carl E. Levitt made an indelible mark on the 12th. Ron had actually appeared earlier in the series as a burglar that Wojo was forced to chase through the city sewer system, but on September 30, 1976, in the 2-part episode “Quarantine” Carl Levitt arrived at the 12th, looking for sandwiches and being dismayed at the heights of all the detectives (Ron stood a good 8 inches shorter than all the other men of the 12th!). Soon we’d see his trademark exit, his frustration at Lugar constantly calling him “Levine”, and how desperately he wanted to be one of the guys-and Barney’s approval.

He calmed an angry dog, acted as a sign language interpreter for a deaf prostitute, shared the pain and worry of the others when Wojo disappeared in the East River, and when he was buried alive in a tunnel collapse. He was even lauded as a hero for rescuing two kids from a crane in a construction yard, getting seriously injured in the process.

And who could forget how he managed to pull off a dramatic and emotional speech while being dressed in drag for mugging duty?

“You never treated me as anything but a joke!” he exclaimed, his pain evident after the squad finds out he was acting as an informant to internal affairs in a well-meaning but misguided attempt to protect them.

“Yeah well..” Wojo rages in response, then his anger suddenly fades. “…you’re right.” he admits.

We saw him get closer and closer to his dream of being one of the detectives, until finally…

“Barney, here’s your official orders for your men,” said Inspector Lugar as he and all the men prepared to leave the 12th for the last time, “and this is for you, Levine.”

Fed up, Levitt rises. “For the last time Inspector Lugar, it’s LEVITT. Carl E. Levitt!”

Lugar grins and reaches out to Polish his badge.

“SERGEANT Carl E. Levitt.” he corrects him.

And just like that he got all he ever wanted. He was a detective and the old inspector finally got his name right! You have to wonder if it was a little bittersweet for him though, knowing he wouldn’t be working with Barney and the guys.

They congratulated him with genuine happiness and affection, even calling him Carl for the first time. As everyone says their final goodbyes, he struggles to find the words to express how he’s feeling but gives up in tears. Barney responds as the big brother figure he was to all of them by giving him a warm and reassuring hug. It was one of the most touching moments of the series.

Ron made people laugh off-camera too. Max tells me that Ron never hesitated to break into some kind of funny skit or routine between takes. He was the life of the set, and he had a special bond with Steve Landesberg. If you pay close attention to the episodes you can often see the two of them off to the side desperately trying not to crack each other up (and usually failing!).

Ron left us too young and too soon, but the legacy he left as Levitt lives on. Barney Miller is still seen daily on multiple TV stations despite being close to celebrating its 50th anniversary, and is just as beloved as it was when it was on the air, and he’s still making people laugh all over the world.

Here’s to you, Ron.