Barbara Bosson, Emmy-nominated star of Hill Street Blues, dies at 83

Barbara Bosson, star of Hill Street Blues, dies at 83: Emmy-nominated actress’ death is announced by director son Jesse Bochco

Barbara Bosson has died at the age of 83. 

The Emmy-nominated actress was famous for her role as divorcee Fay Furillo on the acclaimed NBC drama Hill Street Blues, co-created by her then-husband Steven Bochco.

Her death was announced by her director son, Jesse Bochco, via social media on Monday. 

‘More spirit and zest than you could shake a stick at. When she loved you, you felt it without a doubt. If she didn’t, you may well have also known that too. Forever in our hearts. I love you Mama,’ Jesse wrote in an instagram tribute. 

Jesse also shared a touching photo of Barbara holding him as a baby. ‘Rest easy mom,’ he wrote in another post shared to his Stories.

Gone: Actress Barbara Bosson has died at the age of 83; Pictured 2005

Iconic role: The Emmy-nominated star was famous for her role as divorcee Fay Furillo on the acclaimed NBC drama Hill Street Blues, co-created by her then-husband Steven Bochco; Pictured in a still from Hill Street Blues

The actress was also known for her work on three famous ABC series: Hooperman, Cop Rock, and Murder One, all of which were co-created by Bochco as well.

Her role as prosecutor Miriam Grasso on ABC’s Murder One also earned her an Emmy nomination. 

Bosson was born on November 1, 1939, in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, and raised in Belle Vernon.

She moved to Florida with her family in 1957.

Though she was accepted into the drama department at Carnegie-Mellon, she couldn’t cover her tuition and decided to move to New York, where she worked as a secretary for the American Conservatory Theater and as a Playboy bunny all the while taking acting classes.

‘I put up with a lot of leering men to be able to study acting,’ Bosson told the St. Petersburg Times in 1990 as per The Hollywood Reporter. 

Barbara and Steven met while attending university in the 1960s.

The couple were married from 1970 until their divorce in 1997. Bochco died in April 2018 at age 74 after battling with leukemia.

Loving mom: Her death was announced by her director son, Jesse Bochco, via social media on Monday

Lovely tribute: Jesse also shared a touching photo of Barbara holding him as a baby. ‘Rest easy mom,’ he wrote in another post shared to his Stories

Career: The actress was also known for her work on three famous ABC series: Hooperman, Cop Rock, and Murder One, all of which were co-created by Bochco as well; Pictured in a still from Hill Street Blues

His muse: Barbara and Steven met at university in the 1960s. The couple were married from 1970 until their divorce in 1997. Bochco died in April 2018 at age 74; Pictured 1994

Bosson got her start in a Steve McQueen film Bullitt, and CBS detective series Mannix.

She later starred on NBC’s Richie Brockelman, Private Eye, before landing her most famous role as the needy ex-wife of Capt. Frank Furrillo (played by Daniel J. Travanti) on Hill Street Blues, which aired on NBC from 1981-87.

The series earned eight Emmys and 98 nominations during its run. She remained on the show from 1981-86.

Her last roles were in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Total Security, and Scattering Dad.

In a 1985 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Bosson admitted that she got her famous Hill Street Blues role because of her relationship with Bochco.

‘It hurts me to believe that maybe everything that was good was because of Steven,’ she said.

She is survived by son Jesse as well as her daughter with Bochco, Melissa, and two grandchildren.

Beloved: Besides her son Jesse she is also survived by her daughter with Bochco, Melissa, and two grandchildren

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