Steven Hill  Steven Hill (born Solomon Krakovsky; ; February 24, 1922 – August 23, 2016) was an American actor. His two better-known roles are district attorney Adam Schiff on the NBC television drama series "Law & Order", whom he portrayed for 10 seasons (1990–2000), and , the original team leader of the Impossible Missions Force on the CBS television series "", whom he portrayed in the initial season of the show (1966–1967). Though highly esteemed by his peers, Hill's career was hampered by a strict adherence to Orthodox Judaism, which he adopted after becoming an established actor. Hill was born Solomon Krakovskyin Seattle, Washington, to Russian Jewish immigrants. His father owned a furniture store. He decided to become an actor at age six when he played the lead in "The Pied Piper of Hamelin". After graduating from West Seattle High School in 1940, Hill attended the University of Washington and served four years in the United States Navy during World War II. He graduated from the University of Washington and moved first to Chicago and then New York City to pursue an acting career. Hill made his first Broadway stage appearance in Ben Hecht's "A Flag Is Born" in 1946, which also featured a young Marlon Brando. Hill said that his big break came when he landed a small part in the hit Broadway show "Mister Roberts". "The director, Joshua Logan, thought I had some ability, and he let me create one of the scenes," said Hill. "So, I improvised dialog and it went in the show. That was my first endorsement. It gave me tremendous encouragement to stay in the business." Hill said this was a thrilling time in his life when, fresh out of the Navy, he played the hapless sailor Stefanowski. "You could almost smell it from the very first reading that took place; this is going to be an overwhelming hit," said Hill. "We all felt it and experienced it and were convinced of it, and we were riding the crest of a wave from the very first day of rehearsals." In 1947, Hill joined Brando, Montgomery Clift, and Julie Harris, among others, as one of the 50 applicants (out of about 700 interviewed) to be accepted by the newly created Actors Studio. Hill made his film debut in 1950 in "A Lady Without Passport". He then re-enlisted in the Navy in 1952 for two years and, when he completed his service, resumed his acting in earnest. Strasberg later said, "Steven Hill is considered one of the finest actors America has ever produced."