24 years as a cop; recently widdowed; plans to retire but just can't quite do it

Best known for his seven seasons as Lt. Arthur Fancy on ABC's landmark police drama, "NYPD Blue," James McDaniel's versatile acting talents have earned him acclaim for numerous TV, film and stage performances.

The one-time veterinary medicine major at the University of Pennsylvania garnered a 1996 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor for a Drama Series in recognition of his standout role on "NYPD Blue." He has scored an Emmy and a Peabody Award for his work in "Edge of America," a Showtime movie, as well as an Emmy nomination for "Storytime" on public television. McDaniel also received a Screen Actors Guild Award as a member of the ensemble cast of "NYPD Blue."

Other TV credits span "The Good Wife," "Civil Wars," "LA Law," "Las Vegas," "Cop Rock," "Gabriel's Fire," "Law & Order," "Taken," "A Man Called Hawk," "Crime Story" and "Kate and Allie." He has appeared in such broadcast and cable TV movies and miniseries as "Common Ground," "Out of Time," Love Kills," "The Old Man and the Sea," "Murder in Black and White," "Internal Affairs" and "The Road to Galveston," opposite Cicely Tyson. One of his early television roles was a militant cop on the hit series "Hill Street Blues."

From a first job in a soft-drink commercial, McDaniel has gone on to receive the prestigious Obie Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination for his portrayal of Wendall in the New York stage production of "Before It Hits Home." In addition, he has been honored with the Clarence Derwent Award for his portrayal of Paul Portier in the Tony Award-winning Broadway play, "Six Degrees of Separation." Other noteworthy stage performances include "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me," "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," "Balm and Gilead" and "A Soldier's Play."

Among McDaniel's diverse feature film credits are Spike Lee's critically acclaimed "Malcolm X," Woody Allen's "Alice," "The Battle for Bunker Hill," "Sunshine State," "War Eagle," "El Cortez," "Truth or Consequences," "Living Hell," "Strictly Business," "Rocket Gibraltar," "Crack in the Mirror," "Bonzai" and "Risky Business."

McDaniel and his wife, Hannelore, have two sons.

The Character

Jesse Longford loves Detroit. A year away from retirement, he's busy learning a foreign language preparing for a new life in Italy. Living there has always been a dream he shared with his deceased wife. He's conflicted between the retired life and a commitment to the unit and the city he's always called home.

'Long Haul' has lived through so many changes in Detroit. He says, "I been a cop in Detroit so long, when I started, half the suspects was white." He's committed to seeing his hometown become a great city again. He feels a responsibility to share his wisdom with his fellow cops as well as a strong desire to drive his partner, Vickram Mahajan, crazy. It's one of the perks of the job.