Philip Baker Hall appeared as the hilarious Lt. Joe Bookman in two episodes of fantastic guest stars on Seinfeld over its 9 seasons, and with such a groundbreakingly hilarious show where each of the main characters could carry an entire episode on their own, it would always take a special performance to make sure you weren't buried underneath the comedic weight surrounding you. An actor of Philip Baker Hall's stature probably did not have to worry about that.

An actor in over 180 TV shows and movies, including Boogie Nights, Midnight Run, Zodiac, and Cheers between 1960 and his death in 2022 at the age of 90, Hall was a quintessential character actor. He could play just about anyone as long as they were a bit eccentric, or unusual, or maybe even dangerous. Lt. Joe Bookman is the perfect example of his intense characters who are dry and witty under the surface. A "library cop", Joe Bookman hounds Jerry for an overdue book, and Hall based the character on another famous TV personality.

Philip Baker Hall Based Lt. Bookman On Sergeant Joe Friday In Dragnet

Joe Friday Was A No Nonsense Type Of Detective

Lt. Joe Bookman is clearly based on a character from Dragnet, Sergeant Joe Friday, played by Jack Webb in the famed crime series. Friday was a detective for the LAPD and was famous for his no-nonsense way of policing, culminating in his oft-repeated line, "All we want are the facts, ma'am." Friday was also known to speak in a quick, monotone way, firing off questions just as quickly as someone could answer them. Bookman is the same way, asking Jerry a series of questions about his overdue library book, barely giving Jerry time enough to answer.

Jerry Seinfeld Said The Lt. Bookman Scene Was The Hardest To Film Without Laughing

The Scene In Jerry's Apartment Is Composed Of Many Takes Because He Was Laughing So Much

According to Jerry Seinfeld, in an interview for guest in Seinfeld for one episode, season 3, episode 5, "The Library" (though he reappears briefly in the finale with other guest stars from the series). In the episode, Bookman is sent after Jerry when he finds out he has an overdue library book, Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller.

At first amused by such a thing as a "book cop" and then even more pleased to hear the man's name is "Bookman", Jerry quickly realizes how seriously this book cop takes his job. The scenes of the two asking and answering questions about a library book are right out of a black-and-white crime thriller, except with only a couple cents on the line. It's hilarious. Seinfeld said about the scene in the apartment,

"It was just so ridiculous that he was interrogating me in my own apartment about a book. I just kept cracking up. So that scene you see is made up of about eight different times we shot it, and we took the pieces that worked and put it together. 'Cause I messed that one up a ton."

It's an utterly ridiculous scene, and the way that Seinfeld slips into the very same cadence as Bookman, as in a show like Dragnet, makes it all the more absurd and funny. It's as if the very presence of Bookman makes the world a 1950's crime serial.

The New York Public Library Wished Lt. Bookman A Happy Retirement When They Eliminated Late Fines

The NYPL's Satirical Letter Thanked Bookman For His Many Years Of Service

As tough as Lt. Bookman is, his tactics get results and any library would likely be happy to have him on hand if it meant they no longer had to harangue visitors themselves to pay up when a book is due. In honor of such a fun and thematic character, the New York Public Library system wished Lt. Bookman a happy retirement when they announced they were elimating late fees (via NYPL). The way they saw it, without any late fees to collect, detectives like Bookman were essentially out of a job. The tongue-in-cheek post said,

"Lieutenant Joe Bookman, the library cop once profiled on a show about nothing, is closing the book on a stellar 50-year career at The New York Public Library, pounding the pavement collecting fines from funny, flashy joy-boys who didn't bring back their borrowed books.

Bookman's storied career ended this week, when The New York Public Library decided to eliminate all late fines moving forward, relegating his job to the history section."

While the Seinfeld creators have never commented on such a retirement announcement, Lt. Bookman does name drop the New York Public Library in his episode, so it's only the fair the NYPL gets their turn to do the same. Philip Baker Hall made Lt. Bookman as memorable as he was with his Dragnet impersonation, but Seinfeld fans have taken the torch since, making sure the scowling late fee detective is not soon forgotten.