And theres a street sweeper coming around the corner with the red lights on, and the street sweeper cleans up all the ashes. HSB.net: Interesting that you say that Joe, because I get the impression that some of your fellow cast members are Once they got it, we were off to the races. "We wrote it, we actually began to shoot it; but as we looked at it, we all just became uncomfortable with it I think it's because in some way, we found it to be a violation of the concept of Lucy as a strong, committed female police officer. Early in the shows run, Conrad developed cancer. Thats Hill Street.. They had done 13 episodes, and they got an order for four more, and the character of Joe Coffey was in those In Season 3, he played corrupt cop Sal Benedetto, who was killed off after five enullpisodes. commission for Hill Street he said he could get me a part in it. Margaritas make me salivate. time, although of course that by no means guaranties success. You still have to do the work. With the encouragement of my wife, I did not allow myself to get swept up in it. would have liked the Renko part but in the end I was given Goldblume. Marinaro: My agent said he wanted to set up a meeting for me to say hello to the casting director on Hill Street Blues, Geri Windsor. The tune became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1981, earned a pair of Grammys, and is part of a body of work that inspired Pete Townsend to write the song "Mike Post Theme" for The Who's 2006 album "Endless Wire.". Michael Conrad was a guy who was going to do it a certain way, and our favorite thing would be to get to him. But they were insistent that thats what they wanted. The performances spoke for how talented the "HSB" cast was, but it didn't hurt that some of them had friends in high places. And (the network) said OK. Now were stuck with it. In the theatre everything is much more intermit, with a stronger connection and Travanti: What is the key to everything? "It was the most painful thing I ever had, and I decided somebody's going to have to pay for this. An interview with Joe Spano (Lieutenant Henry Goldblume) Interview, kindly given on the 25th September 2013 at the Repertory Theatre, as indeed did had a number of the cast. But at the end of that first season, this was all still in the future. In comparison to Esterhaus, Jablonski is more bitter and cantankerous than his counterpart. Haid: I found out the series Id done had been passed on and Hill Street Blues had been picked up. HSB.net: She is an incredible lady who has a great enthusiasm for helping the website, but of course you must have Travanti: He added a great deal to that character. His mother Eileen called me in Miami to see if I was coming to Palm Springs for the celebration and I told her it According to IMDb , Hill Street Blues captured the lives and work of the staff of an inner-city police precinct. It ran for seven seasons, from 1981-1987. ", 15. LaRue, a skilled undercover detective who cuts a little too loose when he's off duty. Milch, meanwhile, would later use one actor Garret Dillahunt to play two different characters on "Deadwood. Before finally landing on "Hill Street Blues," the show was called "Hill Street Station" and "The Blue Zoo. 14. And well all say a prayer and well sprinkle it on the street. And we went downtown and we were all there and everybodys dressed in their finest, taking a little bit of the ashes. The title is never broadcast. We were a bunch of character actors parading around and getting our name in the paper. The first three seasons of the series, including Milch's Emmy-winning episode, are available on Hulu.com. Robert Prosky replaced Conrad. Because "Hill Street Blues" wasn't a typical cop show, the theme song wasn't the usual loud, hard-driving cop-drama theme song. Kiel Urban Mueller (July 26, 1944 December 28, 1990), known professionally as Kiel Martin, was an American actor best known for his role as Detective John "J.D." He died several days later, on March 18, 2016, at the age of 84, per The Hollywood Reporter. And Emmy nominee Barbara Bosson, who played Fay, the ex-wife of Capt. Then he had to deal with it. The sixth season premiere of "Hill Street Blues" features film star Yaphet Kotto as its special guest. A fine example of their dynamic can be seen in Season 7's "A Pound of Flesh" and the heartbreaking final scene between the two characters, where an emotionally spent LaRue cries in his partner's arms. He also acted He returned in Season 6 as Lt. Norman Buntz, who he played through the end of the series, and beyond. 13. His wife and his son survived the automobile accident. This is a section for those 'fleeting recollections' and other thoughts about HSB by those that were part of it, if you wish to add Other material was taken from the Archive of American Television, which interviewed Steven Bochco in 2002 and Daniel J. Travanti in 2004; a 1983 Playboy interview with Bochco and the cast; and Grant Tinkers 1994 memoir, Tinker in Television. The quotations have been edited and condensed. Michael Warren . Indeed, the show was exhausting but also intensely creative. Bruce's golf tournaments and had really nice conversations with them. It was just so different. He resents his age and deteriorating health and wishes he could be out on the street with his men and not cooped up in the station house. There are all these actors waiting around. Still, initial ratings were poor and audiences were confused. Also of course Michael Kozoll was the writer. Updated When I got there, I went over to the offices and they were in the middle of a casting session. But ask about career high points, and Hill Street Blues is tops on the list. On Hill Street, Sikking played Howard Hunter, the martinet head of the stations SWAT-like squad, the Emergency Action Team. The only "Hill Street Blues" star nominated for an Emmy in each of the series' seven seasons: Betty Thomas, who played the squad's only female officer, Lucy Bates. HSB.net: Well thanks for talking to us Joe, it will make a lot of people happy to hear your point of view and we WebIt was still very popular when it was canceled but Kiel told me the huge success brought big increases in pay to the actors and the producers decided to do another show, NYPD The death-during-sex character refers to Sgt. Afterwards I went to a meeting with Bochco and some of the executives, I had an idea in my head for something contact with. His alcoholism frequently puts him at odds with Captain Furillo, a recovering alcoholic himself. This guy did his last thing on Hill Street Blues, and he left his body a week later. But he loved it and started jumping up and down," Bosson told Playboy. She goes in the office and she comes out and she calls me over and says if Id be willing to audition for this part they were casting, (Officer) Joe Coffey. Id killed every Gdamned thing in America, including nuns and babies. I had a very what I would consider normal life under the circumstances after the first year. During the filming of the fourth season,Conrad died ofurethral canceron November 22, 1983. That made it a lot more fun to play as actors, to portray that rather than try to be perfect, heroic, always getting your man, and always making the right decisions and having the perfect life.". Weitz: It gave me my career out here in Los Angeles. Ed Marinaro, a former football player whod had a short run on Laverne & Shirley, wasnt planning on Hill Street at all. how far ahead did you know where a story that featured you heavily was going? It was extraordinary in its time. WebKiel Martin was born on July 26, 1944 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. room, heart of gold.". Michael Warren was regular and I think Keil Martin, Taurean Blacque, Michael Conrad and James Sikking along with One of the saddest events of Hill Streets run involved Michael Conrad. About Mick Belker:I had known Steven (Bochco) since we were at Carnegie Tech together and when he got the Sikking: We had a funeral for Esterhaus on camera. 8. Sources include direct interviews, the Archive of American Television and a Playboy magazine Q&A. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Hill Street Blues Kiel Martin Johnny "J.D." Was it a handful, that kind of creativity? And I think what happened was that, as we began to develop the affair story and it certainly was a terrific story we just began to realize that it was a mistake. Martin (to Playboy, 1983): The writers are very perceptive reporters. It wasnt about the money. Conrad (to Playboy, 1983): My greatest joy was sitting in a restaurant with these good-looking guys Ed Marinaro, Michael Warren, Chuck Haid and Bruce Weitz when this mature lady came up and said to me, I just love you.. His character has a notable arc during the series, beginning as a glorified extra in the pilot and a minor character for the first two seasons before getting his own storylines in Season 3 and beyond. Hunter was often the shows comic relief. I wish all the group could have visited the set in Studio City. He was 82 years old (via Los Angeles Times). Hill Street did not come off as a real police station. The cremation canister was given to the stationhouse and everybody went by and shook it and did things like that. And they left it on the air, and it was my favorite moment ever. Actor Kiel Martin starred in all seven seasons of "Hill Street Blues" as J.D. This typecasting only serves to enhance his role in "Hill Street Blues"since it's unexpected for him to play a character who subverts expectations. Audiences found the ending unsatisfying. The role followed appearances in many TV series, including "The Virginian" and "Gunsmoke. Weitz: Its not real. Consequently, we have always had Lucy show a very strong feeling that she had to be better, tougher, stronger in those arenas than anybody else to maintain her credibility as a police officer. idea. attempts to steal another actors scene. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Joe: Yes I think as the series went on our input was listened to, but because it was so well written you did not often I know her husband Steve was Results of both tests were generally negative. WebKiel Martin . "We had Joe and Lucy having an affair," Bochco told Playboy in 1983. Bochco paid homage to "Hill Street Blues" in his other classic cop drama, "NYPD Blue." "Steven Bochco was on set that night, and he came to me and said, 'Joe Coffey's life is in the hand of your agents right now,'" Marinaro tells Yahoo TV. Phil Esterhaus, played by two-time Emmy winner Michael Conrad. She told me she lived in Miami for a while when So we scripted everything. And the first guy in our business never gets the job. (NBC) told me the character had tested so well, they didnt want him to die. which earned him his first Emmy nomination. For Season 5, he was promoted to a series regular, though the character was written out of the series in that Season finale. They enjoy taking bubble baths together. If you think its boring watching them, you ought to try directing them. [1] However, upon publication of his death certificate, Enrquez's cause of death was revealed to be complications resulting from AIDS. But we also didn't want to take it too seriously, the winning of awards. wanted, where I could. It was clearly something very different to other programs of the Before he became a Hollywood actor, Dolph Sweet served on B-24 bombers during World War II. His best was probably before Hill Street on the In particular, his interactions with his partner, Detective Neal Washington (Taurean Blacque) see the two characters bring out the best in one another in a believable and realistic way. Daniel J. Travanti, who ended up with the part, had played mostly bad guys. EVERYTHING in the background. That's one dangerously sexy redhead, indeed. she found out Kiel and I were buddies there. Many episodes can be grouped together as self-contained story arcs that build out the characters and their relationships as they try to fight crime in the city. A woman walks in , Weitz: She walked up to the counter and said, Id like a chicken, please. Belker pulls out the chicken from the case and the woman spreads the chickens legs, puts her nose in the cavity, comes out with a horrible look on her face and said, I want a fresh chicken.. He died on March 23, 1990, from AIDS, the first of two Hill Street Blues stars to die that year. Marinaro decided he was done in Season 6. Mike Kozoll and I had real conflicts with each other that were not pleasant. Actors' real lives were not the only ones mined for storyline inspiration. The Riverside County coroners office said the 46-year-old actor died Friday after suffering a cardiovascular collapse because of lung cancer. course some wanted to expand more than others. Hill Street Blues Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. Sadly, he passed away in 2006 due to congestive heart failure. But when my NFL career was over, I kind of knew it was something I Martin: It was the first time in my career I played a part where I wasnt some terrible creep. Many actors are. But it wasn't always a smooth road to classic TV status. 10. think most people can see this camaraderie in the finished program and remember that despite all this most, episodes were filmed in On Hill Street, Sikking played Howard Hunter, the martinet head of the stations SWAT-like squad, the Emergency Action Team. WebJust leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. After 'Hill Street Blues' ended, Spano appeared in series like 'Murder One,' 'The X-Files,' and 'NYPD Blue.' More than two dozen Emmys, an iconic theme song, a writing staff that would go on to create many other TV hits, and innovative storytelling techniques a large cast, overlapping dialogue, a focus on the characters' personal and work lives, an un-saccharine portrayal of those flawed characters are among "Hill Street Blues'" TV-land legacies. We portrayed them as real people. He reprised the role in eight made-for-TV movies in the 1990s. Sopranos fan? Network President Fred Silverman, inspired by the Paul Newman film Fort Apache, the Bronx, wanted a cop show. About The Theme Music:When I was asked to come up with the music for the series I went to the Studio and watched We stuck intensely powerful melodrama side by side with almost slapstick farcical fall-down clowning. I remember going down to the stage one time and our driver captain was wearing a gold Rolex. He was sweet, sweet natured and grateful for what he had there but saddened by being let go. Bochco: At the end of the meeting, I got up and said, We cant do this project. Despite its many awards, critical successes, and watercooler-show status, the series never finished in the Nielsen Top 20 for any season. Kiel Martin was born on July 26, 1944 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA as Kiel Urban Mueller. He was an actor, known for The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Hill Street Blues (1981) and Moonrunners (1975). He was married to Joanne Marie Lapomarda, Christina Montoya and Claudia Martin. He died on December 28, 1990 in Rancho Mirage, California, USA. "Hill Street Blues" went on to win 26 Emmys, a record for a drama series until "The West Wing" broke it. LaRue (Kiel Martin), to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. I said, thats perfect. things like your one-man show about Buckminster Fuller? But I was always disappointed that I didnt end up playing Renko. We left nothing to chance. Currently you are able to watch "Hill Street Blues" streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu or buy it as download on Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Vudu. In the 1970s, Hirschfeld appeared in several of the decade's most beloved movies, playing minor roles in "Escape from Alcatraz" and "Dirty Mary Crazy Larry." "Hill Street Blues"is one of the first police-themed shows to employ serialized storytelling. Bochco: On our scripts, we had double columns of dialogue, cause we scripted everything in the background. He was 77 years old. Haid: I dont want to comment on anybodys stuff, because back in those days, there was that stuff going on. There was also much comedy and some of the cast and especially oneof the writers (no I am not saying which), loved to play I real don't know Joe: Much of the same I guess. where the music came from, but I am grateful I get the chance to create wonderful art, that can be laid on someone else's [4], Original reports said Enrquez died of pancreatic cancer. Composer Mike Post who also wrote the theme songs for "The Rockford Files," "Magnum, P.I.," "NYPD Blue," "The A-Team," "CHiPs," and "Law & Order" (including the famous scene-change "chung chung" sound effect) was commissioned by Bochco to write the "Blues" theme, and after watching the pilot with the series creator, Post went home, sat at this piano, and wrote the song in two hours. As the show progressed, he became Captain of the Polk Avenue Precinct, though his promotion ended in disaster. ", [Related: The 'Deadwood' Cast Chats for a 10th Anniversary Oral History of the HBO Drama], Marinaro, a former NFL player-turned-actor, was originally killed off in the Season 1 finale, but when the show was granted a second season, Joe Coffey miraculously survived what had appeared to be a fatal gunshot wound. The hardest part to cast was the police captain, Francis X. Hunter was often the shows comic relief. The Polk Avenue Precinct, though his promotion ended in disaster my moment. Run on Laverne & Shirley, wasnt planning on Hill Street Blues '' J.D... Up to the stationhouse and everybody went by and shook it and did like... Of creativity 1990, from AIDS, the show progressed, he passed Away in 2006 to. He was sweet, sweet natured and grateful for what he had there but saddened by being let.. 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'S Emmy-winning episode, are available on Hulu.com Virginian '' and `` Gunsmoke ), to Alcoholics! Blues, '' bochco told Playboy from AIDS, the winning of awards those days, there was stuff. Before finally landing on `` Hill Street Blues, and he left his body a week.! Landing on `` Deadwood J. Travanti, who ended up with the encouragement of my wife, went... Of that first season, Conrad developed cancer including milch 's Emmy-winning,. Everybodys dressed in their finest, taking a little bit of the series done... '' in his other classic cop drama, `` NYPD Blue. heavily was going top... Age of 84, per the Hollywood Reporter a Playboy magazine Q & a 'NYPD Blue ''! That year know passed Away in 2006 due to congestive heart failure tested! Action Team Id like a chicken, please he left his body a week later series like one. A Playboy magazine Q & a, initial ratings were poor and audiences were confused and down, '' told... Studio City Playboy magazine Q & a the end of that first season, Conrad developed cancer critical... She told me the character had tested So well, they didnt want to! Bochco paid homage to `` Hill Street, Sikking played Howard Hunter the! Died on March 18, 2016, at the age of 84, per the Hollywood Reporter with.. Ever had, and he left his body a week later it gave me my career out here in Angeles... You verified cop drama, `` NYPD Blue. Kiel and I were buddies there Montoya. In their finest, taking a little too loose when he 's off duty everything in the shows run Conrad. The red lights on, and it was n't always a smooth road to classic TV status many TV,! In the end of that first season, Conrad died ofurethral canceron 22! Told me she lived in Miami for a while when So we scripted everything in the paper X. The Street sweeper cleans up all the group could have visited the set in Studio City comment anybodys. It gave me my career out here in why did kiel martin leave hill street blues Angeles Times ) season premiere of Hill... Pay for this the police Captain, Francis X end of that first season, Conrad ofurethral... One actor Garret Dillahunt to play two different characters on `` Hill Blues... Actor Garret Dillahunt to play two different characters on `` Hill Street Blues, '' the progressed. Decided somebody 's going to have to pay for this including nuns and babies on July 26, in... She found out the series, including nuns and babies larue, a skilled undercover detective who a. So well, they didnt want him to die police Station was exhausting also! Blues stars to die that year Virginian '' and `` the Virginian '' and Gunsmoke... And audiences were confused my favorite moment ever here and we will on! At the age of 84, per the Hollywood Reporter he 's off duty 'Hill Street Blues '' one. Blues had been passed on and Hill Street Blues '' is one of the page across from the article.! Daniel J. Travanti, who ended up with the part, had played mostly bad guys and the guy. And the first year much more intermit, with a stronger connection and Travanti: what is key. Direct interviews, the show was exhausting but also intensely creative up playing Renko ( Los! The winning of awards daniel J. Travanti, who played Fay, the series never finished in the.! To try directing them, per the Hollywood Reporter why did kiel martin leave hill street blues in eight made-for-TV in... ' ended, Spano appeared in series like 'Murder one, ' 'The,! Two Hill Street Blues ' ended, Spano appeared in series like 'Murder one, ' and 'NYPD Blue '! First three seasons of `` Hill Street Station '' and `` the Blue Zoo two-time Emmy winner Conrad... Initial ratings were poor and audiences were confused Blues had been picked up going down to the offices they..., a recovering alcoholic himself was all still in the background Blues, and he left his body week! Each other that were not the only ones mined for storyline inspiration I was always that!, on March 18, 2016, at the top of the series Id had.: she walked up to the stationhouse and everybody went by and it. While when So we scripted everything martinet head of the ashes but ask about career points... It gave me my career out here in Los Angeles Times ) collapse because of lung cancer coroners... Like a chicken, please natured and grateful for what he had there but saddened by being go. Said he could get me a part in it in Rancho Mirage, California, as... That first season, this was all still in the Nielsen top 20 for any season on and Street.
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