Taurean Blacque obit

 

Taurean Blacque, Detective Neal Washington on ‘Hill Street Blues,’ Dies at 82

 

He was not on the list.

Taurean Blacque, beloved for his role of Detective Neal Washington on “Hill Street Blues,” has died. He was 82 years old.

Blacque died Thursday according to his son Rodney’s Facebook post. He died in Atlanta following a brief illness, according to reports.

For all seven seasons of the popular NBC cop show, Blacque starred alongside Michael Warren, Daniel J. Travanti, Charles Haid, Michael Conrad and Bruce Weitz in “Hill Street Blues.” The show ran from 1981-1987 and garnered Blacque an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series in 1982. In fact, the category that year was owned by “Hill Street Blues,” which saw all five nominees coming from the show created by Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll. The other four nominees were Warren, Haid, Conrad and Weitz.

Blacque’s character of Detective Neal Washington was a respected yet stern veteran cop known from his trademark toothpick and cap. Blacque was one of 10 of the show’s regulars who remained on the series for its entire run.

The actor was born Herbert Middleton Jr. in Newark, New Jersey, on May 10, 1940. He got his start in the mid-1970s at the New York-based Negro Ensemble Company, where he gained ground as a stage actor. Soon, Blacque landed guest roles on TV series such as “Sanford and Son,” “Good Times,” “What’s Happening,” “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Taxi.” He also played another cop in 1996 for two seasons of “Savannah.”

 Blacque began making guest appearances in sitcoms such as What's Happening!!, Sanford and Son, The Bob Newhart Show, The Tony Randall Show, Good Times, and Taxi, and auditioned for permanent roles on others, including Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati, eventually played by Tim Reid

Blacque, who changed his name from his birth name due to his astrological sign (Taurus) and his race, continued his acting in television, including a stint from 1989-90 as Henry Marshall on the NBC soap opera “Generations” with Vivica A. Fox, Later becoming a long-time resident of Atlanta, Georgia, Blacque performed in several productions at the Alliance Theatre of Atlanta. Among his notable performances have been in the James Baldwin play “The Amen Corner” opposite Carol Mitchell-Leon, Elizabeth Omilami and Crystal Fox.

He was at one time a national spokesman for adoptive services. Blacque was a Christian, and his faith influenced his desire to be involved with adoption.

Blacque is survived by 12 children, many of whom he adopted, 18 grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Actor (45 credits)

 2018 Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (TV Series)

Older Man

- Caught White-Handed (2018) ... Older Man

 2015 Things Not Forgotten (Short)

Clayton Benjamin

 2011/I Step Off

Blue

 2008 The Stick Up Kids (Video)

Noble

 2002 Nowhere Road

 2002 The Kudzu Christmas (Video)

Mr. Wiggins

 2001 Tara (Video)

Souilliez

 1996-1997 Savannah (TV Series)

Detective Wheeler

- I Don't (1997) ... Detective Wheeler

- Oh No, Mr. Bill (1997) ... Detective Wheeler

- Where There's a Will... (1997) ... Detective Wheeler

- The Morning After (1997) ... Detective Wheeler

- Every Picture Tells a Story (1997) ... Detective Wheeler

Show all 24 episodes

 1996 Fled

Les

 1995 Soul Survivors (TV Movie)

Eddie

 1995 The Client (TV Series)

Chief Ray Trimble

- Pilot (1995) ... Chief Ray Trimble

 1994 Dream On (TV Series)

Policeman

- The Taking of Pablum 1-2-3: Part II (1994) ... Policeman

- The Taking of Pablum 1-2-3: Part I (1994) ... Policeman

 1994 In the Heat of the Night (TV Series)

Victor Dufoxe

- Poor Relations (1994) ... Victor Dufoxe

 1992 True Colors (TV Series)

Warren McCloud

- In a Flash (1992) ... Warren McCloud

 1992 Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story (TV Movie)

Jonah Perry Sr.

 1991 She Stood Alone (TV Movie)

William Harris

 1991 Gabriel's Fire (TV Series)

Walter Pinkay

- Truth and Consequences (1991) ... Walter Pinkay (as Taurean Blaque)

 1989-1990 Generations (TV Series)

Henry Marshall #1

- Episode #1.363 (1990) ... Henry Marshall #1 (credit only)

- Episode #1.362 (1990) ... Henry Marshall #1 (credit only)

- Episode #1.356 (1990) ... Henry Marshall #1 (credit only)

- Episode #1.353 (1990) ... Henry Marshall #1

- Episode #1.270 (1990) ... Henry Marshall #1 (credit only)

Show all 102 episodes

 1989 DeepStar Six

Laidlaw

 1988 Oliver & Company

Roscoe (voice)

 1988 CBS Summer Playhouse (TV Series)

Carl Sebastian

- Off Duty (1988) ... Carl Sebastian

 1988 Growing Pains (TV Series)

Announcer

- Dance Fever: Part 2 (1988) ... Announcer (voice, uncredited)

 1981-1987 Hill Street Blues (TV Series)

Det. Neal Washington

- It Ain't Over Till It's Over (1987) ... Det. Neal Washington

- A Pound of Flesh (1987) ... Det. Neal Washington

- The Runner Falls on His Kisser (1987) ... Det. Neal Washington

- Days of Swine and Roses (1987) ... Det. Neal Washington

- Dogsbreath Afternoon (1987) ... Det. Neal Washington

Show all 144 episodes

 1980 The Night the City Screamed (TV Movie)

Oscar

 1980 The Hunter

Hustler

 1980 Alex and the Doberman Gang (TV Movie)

Barney

 1980 The $5.20 an Hour Dream (TV Movie)

Jive

 1980 The Love Boat (TV Series)

Mike

- Rent a Romeo/Matchmaker, Matchmaker/Y' Gotta Have Heart (1980) ... Mike

 1979 The White Shadow (TV Series)

Calvin Lewis

- Delores, of Course (1979) ... Calvin Lewis

 1979 Paris (TV Series)

Lewis Daytona

- Dear John (1979) ... Lewis Daytona

 1979 Beyond Death's Door

 1979 Rocky II

Lawyer

 1978 Frankie & Annette: The Second Time Around (TV Movie)

 1978 Taxi (TV Series)

Policeman

- Bobby's Acting Career (1978) ... Policeman

 1978 Kaz (TV Series)

Willie White

- Kaz (Pilot episode) (1978) ... Willie White

 1978 House Calls

Levi

 1977-1978 Good Times (TV Series)

John Dunbar Jr. / Chopper

- The Boarder (1978) ... John Dunbar Jr.

- Breaker, Breaker (1977) ... Chopper (voice)

 1977-1978 The Bob Newhart Show (TV Series)

Arthur Tatum

- Son of an Ex-Con Job (1978) ... Arthur Tatum

- Ex-Con Job (1977) ... Arthur Tatum

 1978 Charlie's Angels (TV Series)

Dr. Stevens

- Hours of Desperation (1978) ... Dr. Stevens

 1977 The Tony Randall Show (TV Series)

Officer

- The Taking of Reubner 1-2-3 (1977) ... Officer

 1977 The Krofft Supershow (TV Series)

O.J. (segment: Wonderbug)

- Episode #2.3 (1977) ... O.J. (segment: Wonderbug)

 1977 Wonderbug (TV Series)

- Dirty Larry, Crazy Barry (1977)

 1977 Sanford and Son (TV Series)

Honest Hank

- Fred the Activist (1977) ... Honest Hank

 1976 Snip (TV Series)

Willie

- Daffney Comes Home (1976) ... Willie

 1976 What's Happening!! (TV Series)

Mr. Donovan

- Saturday's Hero (1976) ... Mr. Donovan