Harry Hamlin revealed that he created a running gag for his L.A. Law character by improvising eating during conference room scenes. The habit began in the 1986 pilot episode when the actor ate a sandwich that was not intended for consumption.
Hamlin played attorney Michael Kuzak on the NBC legal drama. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he described reaching for the sandwich at the end of the first conference room scene.
The actor decided to repeat the action in later episodes. He noted a plate of croissants in another scene and told the prop department that eating would become a regular element.
L.A. Law ran for eight seasons and 172 episodes. Hamlin remained a main cast member for the first five seasons and received three consecutive Golden Globe nominations for the role.
He later appeared in the 2002 television film L.A. Law: The Movie but was not part of an ABC reboot that has since been canceled.
