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Barbara Bosson

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Barbara Bosson
Bosson in 1985
Born(1939-11-01)November 1, 1939
DiedFebruary 18, 2023(2023-02-18) (aged 83)
OccupationActress
Years active1967–1998
Known forHill Street Blues
Spouse
(m. 1970; div. 1997)
Children2

Barbara Bosson (November 1, 1939 – February 18, 2023) was an American actress and writer. She is best known for her roles in the television series Hill Street Blues (1981–1986) and Murder One (1995–1997), for both of which she received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Early life

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Bosson was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, to a tennis coach father, and raised in the nearby coal-mining town of Belle Vernon. She and her family moved to Florida, and she graduated from Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport in 1957.[1] She later moved to New York and worked as a secretary for the American Conservatory Theater and as a Playboy Bunny while taking acting classes with Herbert Berghof and Milton Katselas. When she was 26 years old, Bosson was enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University.[1]

Career

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Bosson made her screen debut with a minor part in the 1968 crime thriller film Bullitt. During 1970s, Bosson made guest appearances on many series, including Mannix, Emergency!, Ironside and McMillan & Wife. She was a member of the improvisation group The Committee, appearing in the comedy series The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from 1968 to 1969, and the comedy film Where It's At.[2] In 1978 she was regular cast member in the short-lived detective drama series, Richie Brockelman, Private Eye.[3] She also had supporting roles in films Mame (1974), Capricorn One (1978), and The Last Starfighter (1984).

Bosson starred as Fay Furillo in the NBC police drama series Hill Street Blues during the series' first six seasons from 1981 to 1986. She received five Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in series.[3] Following the fifth season, Bochco was fired by MTM Enterprises after he refused to cut costs and pare storylines. Bosson soon would exit Hill Street Blues as well, quitting after filming three episodes for season six.[1] She later guest-starred on L.A. Law, Mike Hammer, Private Eye, Hotel and Murder, She Wrote.

From 1987 to 1989, Bosson was regular cast member in the ABC comedy-drama series, Hooperman. In 1990 she starred in the short-lived ABC musical procedural Cop Rock, TV Guide Magazine ranked it #8 on its List of the 50 Worst TV Shows of All Time list in 2002.[4] She later had a recurring role in the legal drama Civil Wars and guest-starred on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (in episode "Rivals" as Roana), and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. From 1995 to 1997, Bosson starred as a tough prosecutor Miriam Grasso in the ABC legal drama series, Murder One, which earned her an additional Emmy Award nomination.[3]

Steven Bochco and Bosson in 1994

Personal life

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In 1970, Bosson married writer-producer Steven Bochco, who created several of the series in which she starred, including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Murder One, and Cop Rock. The couple had two children before divorcing in 1997.[1]

Bosson died in Los Angeles on February 18, 2023, at the age of 83.[5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1968 Bullitt Nurse Uncredited
1969 The Love God? Minor Uncredited
1969 Where It's At The Committee
1969 A Session with the Committee[6] The Committee Also writer
1974 Mame Emily
1978 Capricorn One Alva Leacock
1978 Operating Room Unknown Television movie
1983 Imps* Pam
1984 Calendar Girl Murders Nancy Television movie
1984 The Last Starfighter Jane Rogan
1985 Hostage Flight Roberta Spooner Television movie
1986 The Education of Allison Tate Lisa Stubbs
1989 Little Sweetheart Mrs. Davies
1998 Scattering Dad Writer, Television movie

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1969 Mannix Miss Riley S3-Episode 05: "A Question of Midnight"
1972 Longstreet Unknown Episode: "The Sound of Money Talking"
1972 Emergency! Mrs. Collins Episode: "Saddled"
1972 Alias Smith and Jones Mrs. Schwedes Episode: "The Ten Days That Shook Kid Curry"
1973 Griff Zena Episode: "Countdown to Terror"
1974 McMillan & Wife Della Wheatley Episode: "Downshift to Danger"
1975 Sunshine Mrs. Cox Episode: "Father Nature"
1976 McMillan & Wife Nurse Roz Beach Episode: "The Deadly Cure"
1976 Delvecchio Nancy Travis Episode: "Board of Rights"
1978 Richie Brockelman, Private Eye Sharon Diederson 6 episodes
1981–1985 Hill Street Blues Fay Furillo 100 episodes
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1981–85)
1986 Crazy Like a Fox Unknown Episode: "A Fox at the Races"
1986 L.A. Law Stacey Gill 2 episodes
1986 The New Mike Hammer Mrs. Wayne Episode: "Requiem for Billy"
1987 ABC Afterschool Special Donna Crandall Episode: "Supermom's Daughter"
1987–1989 Hooperman Captain C.Z. Stern 42 episodes
1988 Hotel Sydney Page Episode: "Contest of Wills"
1988 Murder, She Wrote Diane Raymond Episode: "Wearing of the Green"
1990 Cop Rock Mayor Louise Plank 10 episodes
1992–1993 Civil Wars Judge Babyak 3 episodes
1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Roana Episode: "Rivals"
1994 NYPD Blue Miriam Davis Episode: "Simone Says"
1995–1997 Murder One Miriam Grasso 41 episodes
Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Dr. Friskin 2 episodes
1997 Total Security Pamela Chapin Episode: "Evasion of the Body Snatchers"

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Notes
1981 33rd Primetime Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Hill Street Blues Nominated
1982 34th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominated
1983 35th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominated
1984 36th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominated
1985 37th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominated
1996 48th Primetime Emmy Awards Murder One Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series Won
1997 Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Barnes, Mike (February 20, 2023). "Barbara Bosson, Emmy-Nominated Actress on 'Hill Street Blues,' Dies at 83".
  2. ^ "When the Committee Was in Session - FoundSF". www.foundsf.org.
  3. ^ a b c "Barbara Bosson". Television Academy.
  4. ^ Cosgrove-Mather, Bootie (July 12, 2002). "The Worst TV Shows Ever". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  5. ^ MacCary, Julia. "Barbara Bosson, 'Hill Street Blues' Star, Dies at 83". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  6. ^ Greenspun, Roger (August 12, 1969). "' A Session With the Committee' Convenes Here" – via NYTimes.com.
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