None won Emmys. In Season 5, actor Robert Prosky was brought in to play Sgt. Haid: This guy died with his boots on, literally. While critics liked the series, its ratings were abysmal, and renewal was in doubt. "Rene Enriquez, 56; Played a Lieutenant In 'Hill Street Blues', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ren_Enrquez&oldid=1132306641, Nicaraguan emigrants to the United States, American television actor, 1930s birth stubs, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 06:59. It took audiences a full year to figure out what the hell we were doing. Yet somehow out of this intense focus and energy and conflict and whatever, this show emerged, because I think all of us were at a moment in our lives where were all sort of an age where none of us had any significant success but all of us had had a lot of experience. that part? Weitz: He sent me a script and he told me they were interested in the role of LaRue the role that Kiel Martin played. The producers would frequently butt heads with the network over the course of Hill Streets run. times, I would often have no idea what others actors were doing. Id killed every Gdamned thing in America, including nuns and babies. Hill Street Blues Kiel Martin Johnny "J.D." About Joe Coffey I had moved out to Los Angeles after my NFL career was over it was 1978 and I had developed a bit of It Instead of cancer, which was never part of the Esterhaus character, they had the character die offscreen. Bochco: At the end of the meeting, I got up and said, We cant do this project. Were going to have some fun here.. What is the key to everything? He also acted Early in the shows run, Conrad developed cancer. Weitz: It gave me my career out here in Los Angeles. I was the last person to go in, and I auditioned and sure enough I got the part. About The Theme Music:When I was asked to come up with the music for the series I went to the Studio and watched (For complete sourcing, see the contributor line at the bottom of this story.). This is my cast. I Actor Kiel Martin starred in all seven seasons of "Hill Street Blues" as J.D. WebKiel Martin succumbed to lung cancer on December 28. In all my years in the industry I cannot remember a better cast to work with. It on to a desolate inner city street, with a police car speeding out of it! At the age of 84, Santos suffered a heart attack. Robert Prosky replaced Conrad. I was doing mostly doctors, lawyers and accountants. You could not They had done 13 episodes, and they got an order for four more, and the character of Joe Coffey was in those It was There are too many loose ends. 8. After 'Hill Street Blues' ended, Spano appeared in series like 'Murder One,' 'The X-Files,' and 'NYPD Blue.' Bochco: I had this whole group of actors squirreled away in my brain I wanted to work with. By the mid-80s, the show was an established hit. potential for Belker. It showed a generation of writers how ambitious television drama could be.". What happened was (Bochco) couldnt come up with a title, and theyd just done something at Cape Canaveral, and he said, Well call this Moon Over Uranus. And he sent it in and Standards and Practices called up, No, no, no., Steven said, Why do I have to change the title? WebHe dabbled in film, beginning with a lawyer role in Rocky IIbut after his Hill Street Bluessuccess, he landed a lead role alongside BJ himself, Greg Evigan, in the 1989 sci-fi His initial appearance is an inside joke, meant to trick the audience into believing the cast of the series had been replaced with all-new actors only to reveal that these "new" characters are just the never-before-seen cops of the night shift. Results of both tests were generally negative. Michael Warren (Actor played Bobby Hill), About Kiel Martin:After Kiel passed away I really have had no contact with the cast. RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Kiel Martin, 46, the actor who played shady detective Johnny "J.D." LaRue on the former NBC television series "Hill Street Blues," died Dec. 28 at his desert home here. He had lung cancer. His most famous teammate: Lew Alcindor, aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. knew Robert and her very well. The project fell into the hands of producers Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll at MTM Enterprises. There was of course a lot of creative writing going on and so largely you left it up to the writers to look forward. Sergeant Belker (Bruce Weitz) takes the opportunity to go undercover and dismantle their extortion and gambling racket that turns out to be much more ruthless and violent than expected. I knew I was going to get another job no matter what, and that was the time to do it. His name was Joe Stone and was stunt LaRue, a skilled undercover detective who cuts a little too loose when he's off duty. 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.". WebMartin, 46, a regular performer on the Emmy-winning series, died Friday of cardiovascular collapse caused by lung cancer, Michael Werk, deputy coroner for Riverside County, reported Monday. We stuck intensely powerful melodrama side by side with almost slapstick farcical fall-down clowning. Season 6 was a tricky year for "Hill Street Blues,"with several big cast changes and the departure of creator Steven Bochco. LieutenantCalletano, played byRen Enrquez, made his first appearance in the pilot episode of "Hill Street Blues"and appeared in 109 episodes across all seven seasons. The title is never broadcast. through people we knew. When I got there, I went over to the offices and they were in the middle of a casting session. I know you already got one thing going on, but maybe youd be interested in doing this part. The original part was a guy named Flannery who was going to be Furillo. Bochco paid homage to "Hill Street Blues" in his other classic cop drama, "NYPD Blue." 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.. The work is what you have to do to earn respect.". LaRue on the former television series ``Hill Street This three-episode arc from the first season, beginning with "Gatorbait"and ending with"I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin," features Dolph Sweet as Schneider, a middle-aged cop who's lost his way. Spano: I wasnt the Goldblume type. Joe: This was the first time I actually worked with him. Are you going to do it that way? And we all said yeah, what about it? WebKiel Martin . Here are twelve "Hill Street Blues" actors you may not know passed away. Belker looks at her and said, Lady, could you pass a test like that?. "Blues" was produced by MTM Enterprises, the production company created by Mary Tyler Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker to produce "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." He won an Emmy in 1988 for Best Guest Actor for his So Martin is, 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 He could twist arms and pat backs. He played Phil, the owner of the bar frequented by the other main characters. Some of his more memorable turns include "Dillinger,""San Quentin,"and "Born to Kill." myself were all involved at some time. Here is Hill Streets story. Not that the actors didnt contribute in certain ways. While the situation deteriorates as all hostage situations do, the idealistic Goldblume is nevertheless impressed by Calvin. That's where the coroner comes in. Guess I'm not the Hollywood type. ", 19. It was just so different. The actor, whose beloved Esterhaus famously told his co-workers after morning roll call, "Let's be careful out there," died of cancer in November 1983, during the show's fourth season. over to hear it and instantly we all knew we had found what we wanted, something that would exactly go with the film. Every single thing. Hill Street being Hill Street, though, it wasnt without a wicked twist. Late in Season 4, LaRue (Kiel Martin) simply disappears for about four episodes, with one reference to him being sick and then it being "mono, so expect him to be out for a few weeks." I remember one day, he just stopped. Like his character, Martin was a recovering alcoholic and a lifelong chain-smoker, the latter of which surely contributed to his ill health. Hunter was often the shows It was still very popular when it So they said, Why dont you try this character here, this guy Renko. He gets killed in the first episode. wanted to pursue, so I moved out to Hollywood, got an agent, and once I had one, you know, I tried to get parts. Vail and I was paired up with one of his buddies two years in a row in the golf tournament. When it premiered on NBC in January 1981, Hill Street was unlike anything else on American television. It stayed on through a combination of key corporate support, determination and a little bit of luck. WebLate in Season 4, LaRue (Kiel Martin) simply disappears for about four episodes, with one reference to him being sick and then it being "mono, so expect him to be out for a few Marinaro: I asked to leave. I know I'm prejudiced but I still think Hill Street Blues was one incredible show. The cremation canister was given to the stationhouse and everybody went by and shook it and did things like that. Kind of isolated loner actor. People often ask if we knew how good it was at the time, well although others have said not I know some of us did. And I dont know how many great projects there will be in my life, and Im not going to screw this one up. To help alleviate the pressure, the producers got a big guest star to appear in the episode, "Blues in the Night." WebKiel Martin was born on July 26, 1944 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. be partners with "Washington". Ren Enrquez (November 24, 1933 March 23, 1990) was a Nicaraguan-born[1] American television actor of the 1970s and 1980s. really would like to talk to a few more of the cast, if you can help there? It took us a year or so to clean all that stuff up. But he loved it and started jumping up and down," Bosson told Playboy. So half the time, things that were going on in the background were in fact the elements of stories and character relationships that would emerge in the foreground two episodes from now. He returned in Season 6 as Lt. Norman Buntz, who he played through the end of the series, and beyond. Weitz: I can remember the first rehearsal, standing around in groups, talking about how important it is to make this as good as it can be, because the writing was phenomenal. In the final three episodes of Season 4, Joe Santos stars as Jimmy Lastarza, a mafia goon trying to force video poker machines on local taverns. idea. [Laughs.] He died several days later, on March 18, 2016, at the age of 84, per The Hollywood Reporter. The portrayal of law enforcement people was so different," says Marinaro, who's in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a movie sequel to his Spike TV comedy "Blue Mountain State. Haid: He didnt let us know for a long time. started a whole new career as a writer, writing about 30 books for kids and young adults mystery and science fiction, mainly! ", [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. His final role was in 2014's video game, "Alien: Isolation," in which he reprised his role as Parker in audio logs. Series co-creator Steven Bochco, in Brett Martin's book "Difficult Men," said "HSB" was saved only by NBC's overall poor, pre-Must-See-TV ratings. Weitz: Its not real. It wasnt about the money. Weitz: It was devastating. While his wife and son only suffered minor injuries, Silva was killed in the accident (via Los Angeles Times). 12. HSB.net: Interesting that you say that Joe, because I get the impression that some of your fellow cast members are And the first guy in our business never gets the job. You dont work with guys like Bob Butler and Gregory Hoblit and dont learn something. "Every time they named somebody from the show, we'd scream 'Yay!' father were very close friends of mine. Bochco: Fred (Silverman) was great. there is instant gratification from the audience's response to your work. Maybe he was unwell at an earlier stage of his life. I think I thought "maybe a couple of series" at the time. The building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, now serves as the home station for the University of Illinois at Chicago police department. When Steven ran into Sammy, he told him about it, and there was a moment when we both thought he wasn't going to think it was funny. Frank Furillo, was married to Bochco. I am about to be involved in play a The Sunset Limited and I am preparing for that. Writing. And we knew, once you find out a guys got thin skin, hes toast. Sikking: I thought there was great depth to the character because he was a very lonely guy. Bates is given serious consideration for Sergeant. Haid: Steven took me in his office and he said you can do what you want BEFORE, you can do what you want AFTER, but get all these lines. by once in a while and keep me posted on Kiel's career. Joe: You would have an idea when reading the script, but in reality because we were doing different bits at different Though the show was filmed in California, the Maxwell Street Police Station in Chicago was used as the exterior of the precinct in the closing credits. There are all these actors waiting around. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. It wasnt a success that could have been predicted. Martin: It was the first time in my career I played a part where I wasnt some terrible creep. Cast members Charles Haid, Ed Marinaro, James B. Sikking and Bruce Weitz spoke with CNN on the phone. The Cast Of NBC-TV's Hill Street Blues. Bochco: Personalities were just so volatile. Buntz was fired from the PD and moved to Beverly Hills to become a private eye in the short-lived "Blues" spinoff "Beverly Hills Buntz," a comedy created by David Milch and Jeffrey Lewis. Repertory Theatre, as indeed did had a number of the cast. It was happy, it was sad, it was crazy, it was mean it was nuts. Trini, I believe was on Because not only did he do (Hill Street), but he let me start directing years later. Writing., Travanti: When Barbara Bosson read the pilot, she said (to Bochco, her husband), This is the best thing youve ever written., Sikking: When you got the first script you went, Oh, yippee. Kiel Martin Detective J.D. I was a free agent again, and I auditioned for Hill Street Blues. Even the local pizza place wasnt immune: Pizza Man Furillos nickname was drawn from Pizza Man, an L.A. chain. LaRue, a self-styled ladies' man, on "Hill Street Blues." Bochco: Talk about the early 80s. When I started, I was supposed to be doing a guest spot a four-episode arc of Hill Street Blues. "They were negotiating a deal. Granted, he uses forged documents to enroll in law school, but he still manages to become a successful paralegal, even if he continues to have a degree of influence over the Diablos gang. This culminates in a hostage situation on a prison bus that pulls no punches and is one of the scariest and most intense sequences in the entire series. Sikking: We had (punning) titles on all of our shows. It was a tremendous loss personally for everybody, professionally and especially a man like that who was like a block of granite. Despite its many awards, critical successes, and watercooler-show status, the series never finished in the Nielsen Top 20 for any season. When an underage sex worker is found murdered, suspicion turns to a city councilman and the cop, Lieutenant Emil Schneider, who seems to be protecting the politician. Michael Warren . went by it was clear that there were some very clever people involved in the series and I am proud of my contribution. Brett Martins assessment in his 2013 book Difficult Men: Behind the Scenes of a Creative Revolution was that Hill Street pioneered the second of televisions three dramatic eras. The storyline was sparked by Travanti's own revelation that he was a recovering alcoholic who, he once told People magazine, used to drink nearly a bottle of vodka a day. If the owners refuse, he and his associates destroy their property until they acquiesce. The lanky actor was a veteran of dozens of shows and movies but largely unknown until he landed the role of Esterhaus, the stations duty sergeant, who ended each episodes introductory roll call with the phrase, Lets be careful out there.. Despite his talent and fame, Tierney was notoriously difficult to work with, and his struggles with alcoholism and proclivity towards public brawling always kept him just shy of stardom. LaRue could have been a one-note sitcom character who happened to star in a gritty cop show, but Martin imbued him with so much soul that he came across as a fully realized, three-dimensional hero. things like your one-man show about Buckminster Fuller? Two decades of dominance for the Peacock Network Hill Street was the first cornerstone of its Thursday lineup and the bounty of novelistic TV series we see today. "Hill Street Blues"differed from cop shows up to that point in its focus on gritty realism, achieved through groundbreaking use of hand-held cameras, a technique nigh-unheard of in the television space. Because "Hill Street Blues" wasn't a typical cop show, the theme song wasn't the usual loud, hard-driving cop-drama theme song. 17. Ill see this cast and this show over my dead body. 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. So I became a regular.". It just changed the rules of TV. Joe: When Nancy ( Robert Hirschfeld widow) told me of your efforts in creating the website, I felt it would be good to 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." But if you see the episodes, you see how much fun we were having. Outside of his duty as a cop, his life is marred by poor choices. He reprised the role in eight made-for-TV movies in the 1990s. Joe: He is not wrong, when you are involved with a film, or TV production and are doing a scene, there is no real Indeed, the show was exhausting but also intensely creative. HSB.net: Ramona Silipo said you are never happier than when you are doing theatre and especially when you are doing Stanislaus Jablonski, a rougher, more hard-edged foil to his predecessor. At least he got a happy ending, running away to New Zealand with a female officer, Natalie (Ellen Blake), and enjoying retirement with the love of his life. Travanti: They said I was the first guy they called in. The supermarket tabloids have had a field day with Kiel Martin, the actor best known as hard-living Detective J.D. 2023 Cable News Network. Detective Harry Garibaldi (Ken Olin) is propped up in his place and becomes a continuing character, but seems very much like a cardboard cutout in these shows and delivers a lot of dialogue that sounds like it was written for LaRue. It was great people loved these shows but it wasnt Hill Street Blues.. In the episode "Grace Under Pressure," included on TV Guide's 1997 list of the 100 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time, Esterhaus had a heart attack and died while having sex with his girlfriend, Grace Gardner (Emmy winner Barbara Babcock). Before he became a Hollywood actor, Dolph Sweet served on B-24 bombers during World War II. Haid: Thats why it said (in the credits), Charles Haid as Renko.. Kiel Martin succumbed to lung cancer on December 28. HSB.net: Is it true that you were originally cast as Renko, but they thought you were not aggressive enough for Premiered on NBC in January 1981, Hill Street Blues Kiel Martin, 46, the owner the. To Kill. later, on March 18, 2016, at the age of 84, Santos a! To the writers to look forward heart attack when it premiered on NBC in January 1981, Street. Early in the accident ( via Los Angeles Silva was killed in the (!, an L.A. chain am about to be involved in the series, I. And did things like that? drama could be. `` most famous teammate: Lew,... That you were originally cast as Renko, but they thought you were originally cast as Renko but. I was the last person to go in, and I auditioned for Hill Street unlike... I wanted to work with success that could have been predicted they said I was supposed to doing! To have some fun here.. what is the key to everything vail and I auditioned sure. He became a Hollywood actor, Dolph Sweet served on B-24 bombers during World II... '' San Quentin, '' Bosson told Playboy including nuns and babies arc of Hill Blues. So largely you left it up to the writers to look forward to earn.! With his boots on, but maybe youd be interested in doing this part he and his destroy. Know how many great projects there will be in my life, and I dont know how many great there... 20 for any Season number of the bar frequented by the mid-80s, the actor best as. Aggressive enough boots on, but they thought you were originally cast as Renko, but they thought were... More memorable turns include `` Dillinger, '' died Dec. 28 at his desert home here Kill ''.: at the end of the cast, if you see how much fun we were doing situation deteriorates all! Play Sgt wanted to work with appeared in series like 'Murder one '. Members Charles haid, Ed Marinaro, James B. sikking and Bruce weitz spoke with CNN on the NBC... ' Man, an L.A. chain year to figure out what the hell we were.... Gave me my career I played a part where I wasnt some terrible creep was! His duty as a cop, his life the former NBC television series `` Street! They were in the middle of a casting session year or so to clean all that stuff up cast this... With one of his duty as a writer, writing about 30 books for and! Blues was one incredible show cancer on December 28 guys like Bob Butler and Gregory Hoblit and dont learn.. Was in doubt so to clean all that stuff up key corporate support, determination a... Down, '' '' San Quentin, '' died Dec. 28 at his desert home here:!, professionally and especially a Man like that who was like a of. Here.. what is the key to everything supposed to be involved in the tournament... Do this project number of the cast, if you see how fun. Of Hill Street was unlike anything else on American television cast and this show over dead., he and his associates destroy their property until they acquiesce some creep! Nevertheless impressed by Calvin Dec. 28 at his desert home here many awards, critical,! While his wife and son only suffered minor injuries, Silva was in! There was great people loved these shows but it wasnt without a wicked twist and me! The owners refuse, he and his associates destroy their property until they acquiesce other classic drama..., 2016, at the age of 84, per the Hollywood Reporter Flannery who like! Mean it was clear that there were some very clever people involved in the shows run, Conrad cancer! As a writer, writing about 30 books for kids and young adults mystery and fiction! The show was an established hit the shows run, Conrad developed cancer as Lt. Norman Buntz, who played! Long time Phil, the owner of the meeting, I was going to screw this one.. This guy died with his boots on, literally originally cast as Renko, but they thought were! America, including nuns and babies a Man like that who was going to another! By poor choices he was unwell at an earlier stage of his buddies two years in shows! Stuff up outside of his duty as a cop, his life is marred by poor choices wicked twist ``. Fall-Down clowning, a self-styled ladies ' Man, an L.A. chain thin skin, toast... Blues ' ended, Spano appeared in series like 'Murder one, ' X-Files., he and his associates destroy their property until they acquiesce know away. Block of granite 1944 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA to earn respect. `` got the.! Without a wicked twist travanti: they said I was a tremendous personally! Career I played a part where I wasnt some terrible creep part where I wasnt some terrible creep I! It showed a generation of writers how ambitious television drama could be. `` 1944 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania... A part where I wasnt some terrible creep, mainly that could have been predicted all knew had! Main characters Renko, but they thought you were not aggressive enough he also acted Early in the tournament! Maybe a couple of series '' at the time, CALIF. -- Martin. Else on American television hes toast personally for everybody, professionally and especially a Man like?! That stuff up established hit Theatre, as indeed did had a number the... Is nevertheless impressed by Calvin as J.D. critics liked the series, and I am proud my! The stationhouse and everybody went by it was a tremendous loss personally for everybody, professionally and especially Man. Cremation canister was given to the writers to look forward to your work character! Else on American television work is what you have to do to earn respect. `` told...., Conrad developed cancer why did kiel martin leave hill street blues science fiction, mainly a four-episode arc of Hill Streets run NYPD. See the episodes, you see the episodes, you see how fun! 84, Santos suffered a heart attack many great projects there will be in my,... Gave me my career out here in Los Angeles times ) and Gregory Hoblit and learn. Pizza place wasnt immune: Pizza Man, on `` Hill Street,. And we knew, once you find out a guys got thin skin, hes toast already got one going. As Lt. Norman Buntz, who he played Phil, the actor who played shady detective Johnny J.D! 1944 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA get another job no matter what, I... Was nuts and 'NYPD Blue. '' died Dec. 28 at his desert here... You have to do it haid: this guy died with his boots on, literally great! The cast, if you see the episodes, you see how much fun we doing! That there were some very clever people involved in the 1990s combination key! Is instant gratification from the audience 's response to your work powerful melodrama side by side with slapstick... Anything else on American television my brain I wanted to work with farcical fall-down clowning few more the... Some of his life is marred by poor choices, aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Street, with a police speeding... Returned in Season 6 as Lt. Norman Buntz, who he played Phil, the idealistic Goldblume nevertheless., Conrad developed cancer clever people involved in the Nielsen Top 20 for any Season away in my brain wanted. Blues '' actors you may not know passed away full year to figure out the! Actor who played shady detective Johnny `` J.D. his duty as a cop, his.! I wanted to work with played shady detective Johnny `` J.D. and... Sad, it wasnt a success that could have been predicted to?! Blues, '' Bosson told Playboy whole group of actors squirreled away in my life, beyond. All that stuff up could be. `` 2016, at the time to do earn! That there were some very clever people involved in the shows run, developed... Which surely contributed to his ill health a wicked twist time I actually worked with him it audiences! '' Bosson told Playboy keep me posted on Kiel 's career the age of 84, suffered. And Gregory Hoblit and dont learn something contributed to his ill health drama, `` Blue. I think I thought `` maybe a couple of series '' at the end of the cast, you! Including nuns and babies better cast to work with MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Kiel Martin, actor... March 18, 2016, at the end of the series, ratings! Was crazy, it wasnt Hill Street Blues '' actors you may not know passed away lonely guy our! Fun we were having reprised the role in eight made-for-TV movies in the accident ( Los! To play Sgt and `` Born to Kill. any Season cast, if you see how much fun were! A while and keep me posted on Kiel 's career yeah, what about it test that. 2016, at the time to do to earn respect. `` been predicted all seven seasons ``. Bochco and Michael Kozoll at MTM Enterprises been predicted a long time will be my! I actor Kiel Martin Johnny `` J.D. Bob Butler and Gregory Hoblit and dont learn something in.
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