One of Yulin's most memorable roles was playing corrupt Miami police detective Mel Bernstein in Brian De Palma's 1983 gangster classic "Scarface."123 As Bernstein, Yulin portrayed a sleazy, greedy cop on Frank Lopez's payroll who later attempts to extort money from Al Pacino's Tony Montana.14 The character meets a violent end when Montana shoots him after Bernstein tries to shake him down.5 The role became so iconic that for many years, fans would follow Yulin down the street reciting his lines from the film, though Yulin himself admitted he only saw "Scarface" once while some fans had watched it hundreds of times.6

In 1996, Yulin received his sole Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Jerome Belasco in the NBC sitcom "Frasier."12 His memorable performance came in the episode "A Word to the Wiseguy," where he played a crime boss who helps Frasier resolve an issue with a traffic ticket, only to later demand a favor in return.34 Though Yulin didn't win the award, this nomination highlighted his versatility as an actor who could seamlessly transition between dramatic film roles and comedic television appearances.

Yulin's guest spot on "Frasier" stands as one of his most recognized television performances in a career that included appearances on numerous popular shows including "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "24," and later in his career, Netflix series like "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and "Ozark."15 His ability to create memorable characters in limited screen time made him a sought-after guest actor throughout his television career.

Yulin made his Broadway debut in 1980's "Watch on the Rhine," portraying the villainous Teck de Brancovis1. His distinguished Broadway career included performances in "A Lesson from Aloes" alongside James Earl Jones, "The Visit," "The Diary of Anne Frank," "The Price," and "Hedda Gabler" as Judge Brack23. His theatrical talents earned him multiple Drama Desk Award nominations, including nods for his performances in "The Price" (1999) and "The Diary of Anne Frank" (2001)41.

Beyond Broadway, Yulin demonstrated remarkable range in classical theater, particularly in Shakespearean works. He played Hamlet three times off-Broadway5 and took on the role of Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman" at Dublin's Gate Theatre in 20102. As a director, he helmed acclaimed off-Broadway productions including "The Trip to Bountiful," which won four Lucille Lortel Awards, and "Baba Goya"67. Throughout his career, Yulin maintained deep connections to regional theaters across America, establishing himself as one of theater's most versatile and respected performers.