Taurean Blacque, ‘Hill Street Blues’ actor, dead at 82

Taurean Blacque, an Emmy-nominated actor and star of hit ’80s present “Hill Avenue Blues,” has died. He was 82. 

Blacque died following a quick battle with an undisclosed sickness, his household stated Thursday. 

Born and raised in New Jersey, Blacque started learning appearing in New York, the place his coaching helped him land small roles on many well-liked tv exhibits, together with “Sanford and Son,” “The Bob Newhart Present,” “Good Instances,” “Taxi” and “What’s Occurring!!”

Taurean Blacque had loads of visitor starring roles on a number of exhibits earlier than making it huge on “Hill Avenue Blues.”
(Photograph by: Herb Ball/NBCU Photograph Financial institution/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)

Whereas Blacque discovered success as a visitor star, his greatest tv position got here when he was solid as Detective Neal Washington on “Hill Avenue Blues.” Washington was a soccer participant who suffered a career-ending harm earlier than deciding to hitch the police drive. 

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Blacque portrayed the streetwise detective for seven seasons from 1981-1987, your complete run of the present. He was so profitable within the position, he earned an Emmy nomination in 1981, however ended up dropping out on the award to one in every of his co-stars who was additionally in his class.

Two years after the tip of “Hill Avenue Blues,” Blacque landed a job on one other profitable tv present. He starred as Henry Marshall on NBC’s cleaning soap opera “Generations” for 102 episodes from 1989-1991. 

Taurean Blacque was nominated for an Emmy for his position on “Hill Avenue Blues,” however misplaced out to one in every of his castmates.
(Photograph by: Margaret C. Norton/NBCU Photograph Financial institution/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)

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The present, which targeted on the mixing of a Black household and a white household, starred Vivica A. Fox and Kelly Rutherford. Round this time, Blacque additionally turned concerned with the Atlanta Black Theater Firm and the Black Theater Competition in North Carolina and began showing in stage exhibits.

Apart from his achievements in his profession, Blacque took delight in his kids. As a giant proponent for adoption, the actor had two organic sons after which adopted 11 kids, in a while changing into the spokesperson for the Los Angeles County adoption service. He was even requested by President George H.W. Bush to be the nationwide spokesman for adoption in 1989.

Apart from his position on “Hill Avenue Blues,” Blacque was a proud father to 2 organic sons and 11 adopted kids.
(Photograph by: Jack Hamilton/NBCU Photograph Financial institution/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)

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Blacque is survived by 12 kids, 18 grandchildren and two great-granchildren.

The Related Press contributed to this report.