Michael Conrad (October 16, 1925 – November 22, 1983) was an American actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of veteran cop Sgt. Phil Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues—a role for which he won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1981 and 1982. Among his other credits were the short-lived television series Delvecchio (1976–1977); and the films The War Lord (1965), They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), The Todd Killings (1971), and The Longest Yard (1974). (Via Wikipedia)