Bill Hahn -
Memory is a tad (or more) fuzzy nearly 50 years on, but I seem to recall Bikel being interviewed by Mike Wallace on a show called PM East.
Wallace asked (and I'm paraphrasing the Q & A) him whether he was an
an Orthodox Jew (or perhaps Observant Jew); Bikel said he consider4ed himself observant, even though he did not alway follow what he was supposed to do, adding that when he did not follow rule or custom, he was aware he was not being observant, but that he did not try to rationalize or change the rules to suit himself.
I found that to be a satisfying answer. Even as a member of a Reform Congregation, today, I feel that way. It often results in some good debate at the monthly, Lunch and Learn with our Rabbi.

JotSC