Taurean Blacque
Taurean Blacque | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | Herbert Middleton Jr. May 10, 1940 Newark, New Jersey,U.S. |
Died | July 21, 2022 Atlanta, Georgia,U.S.[1] | (aged 82)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1976–2018 |
Spouse |
Shelby
(m.1966, divorced) |
Children | 12 (10 adopted) |
Taurean Blacque(bornHerbert Middleton Jr.;May 10, 1940 – July 21, 2022)[1]was an American television and stage actor, best known for his role as Detective Neal Washington on the seriesHill Street Blues.He stated that he chose the name "Taurean" because his astrological sign wasTaurus.[3]He was at one time a national spokesman foradoptive services.[4]Blacque was a Christian, and his faith influenced his desire to be involved with adoption.[5]
Early life and career
[edit]Blacque was born Herbert Middleton Jr. on May 10, 1940, inNewark, New Jersey.[1]Before appearing on television, Blacque trained and performed at theNew Federal Theatrein New York City, a theater founded to provide opportunities to minorities and women.[6]Early in his acting career, Blacque began making guest appearances in sitcoms such asWhat's Happening!!,Sanford and Son,The Bob Newhart Show,The Tony Randall Show,Good Times,andTaxi,and auditioned for permanent roles on others, including Venus Flytrap onWKRP in Cincinnati,eventually played byTim Reid.[7]
In 1981 he joined the cast of the police dramaHill Street Blues,staying with the show throughout its run, which ended in 1987. While appearing on that show, he was nominated in 1982 for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series,but lost to fellowHill StreetactorMichael Conrad,in a year in which all the nominees in the category came from the same series.[8]His theatrical career continued during his run on the show, winning him anNAACPImage Awardfor Best Actor (Local) in 1985 for his role inAmen Corner.[9]In 1986 his stage roles included the male lead in the musicalDon't Get God Startedduring its initial six-week summer run inBeverly Hills.[10]
AfterHill Streetended, Blacque moved toAtlanta, Georgia,to provide a better home for his children. In Atlanta, he focused on theatrical work while making occasional guest appearances on television. Blacque's notable stage performances includedStepping Into TomorrowwithYolanda Kingin 1987[11]and a 1988 revival ofCeremonies in Dark Old Men.[12]His television work included a pilot,Off-Duty,forCBS,in which Blacque once again played a police officer; the show was not picked up by the network.[13]Blacque also had a small voice role inDisney's animated filmOliver & Companyas the voice of Roscoe.[14] In 1989, he portrayed Henry Marshall onNBC'sGenerations.His film work in this period included a lead role in the 1989 science-fiction filmDeepStar Six.
As adoptive parent
[edit]Blacque initially was asked to serve as spokesman for theCounty of Los AngelesAdoption Services office although he had no adoptive children at the time. Upon looking into the possibility of adoption, he claimed he was told that he was ineligible to adopt, as an unmarried man. He pressed on, however, eventually adopting ten children, in addition to his two sons from a marriage which ended in divorce in 1966. He apparently never remarried.[citation needed]
In 1989, he was asked by PresidentGeorge H. W. Bushto serve as a national spokesman for adoption.[4]
Death
[edit]His death, at age 82, inAtlanta, Georgia,following "a brief illness", was first announced on Facebook on July 21, 2022. He was survived by his 12 children, 18 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.[1]
Filmography
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | What's Happening!! | Mr. Donovan | Episode: "Saturday’s Hero" |
1977 | The Bob Newhart Show | Arthur Tatum | Episode: "Ex Con Job" |
1977 | Sanford and Son | Honest Hank | Fred the Activist S6E20 |
1977-1978 | Good Times | Chopper/John Dunbar Jr. | 2 episodes |
1978 | House Calls | Levi | |
1978 | Charlie's Angels | Dr. Stevens | 1 episode |
1978 | Taxi | Policeman | Bobby's Acting Career S1E4 |
1979 | Rocky II | Lawyer | |
1979 | Beyond Death's Door | ||
1980 | The Hunter | Hustler | |
1981–1987 | Hill Street Blues | Det. Neal Washington | 144 episodes |
1988 | Oliver & Company | Roscoe | Voice |
1989 | DeepStar Six | Laidlaw | |
1996 | Fled | Les | |
1996–1997 | Savannah | Det. Michael Wheeler | 24 episodes |
2002 | Nowhere Road | ||
2011 | Battle | Blue |
References
[edit]- ^abcdBurton, Carson (July 21, 2022)."Taurean Blacque, Detective Neal Washington on 'Hill Street Blues,' Dies at 82".Variety.RetrievedJuly 21,2022.
- ^"Taurean Blacque Dead, Cause of Death, Obituary, Age, Biography, Wife, Movies and TV Shows, Net Worth, Was He Married".July 22, 2022.
- ^"Actor Chose Moniker." Mobile (AL) Register, April 11, 1981, p. S-4.
- ^abS. Pearl Sharp."Giving respect to dads who adopt,"News & Notes,National Public Radio,June 16, 2006.
- ^Michael E. Hill. "Blacque Happy to be Sharing 'Generations' On TV and Off." Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 27, 1989, p. 4-D.
- ^"History,"New Federal Theater Newsletter,2004.
- ^Harry Harris. "Reid's into music on and off the screen,"The Philadelphia Inquirer(PA), May 24, 1981,TV Seeksection, page 4.
- ^UPI. "'Hill Street', 'Fame' dominate Emmy nominations,"The Miami Herald(FL), August 6, 1982, Comics/TV section, page 4B.
- ^Lorenzo Benet. "'Soldier's Story' wins top NAACP film award,"Daily News of Los Angeles(CA), December 10, 1985, L.A. Life section, page 15.
- ^Leonard W. Boasberg. "Rebirth of a musical: The playwright tells how 'Don't Get God Started' got started – the play opens tomorrow,"The Philadelphia Inquirer(PA), June 16, 1987, Features Daily Magazine, page E1.
- ^"'Stepping Into Tomorrow' to benefit Black Actors Theatre,"The Orange County Register,September 1, 1987, Accent section, page E8.
- ^Tom Jacobs. "'Ceremonies' still vivid, absorbing,"Daily News of Los Angeles(CA), February 9, 1988, L.A. Life section, page L19.
- ^Joan Hanauer, United Press International, Wire services. "The blues and their brews,"The Record(New Jersey) – August 16, 1988, page D14.
- ^Jim Gordon. "Take the gang to see 'Oliver & Company',"Post-Tribune(IN), November 18, 1988, Lifestyles/Weekend section, page 12.
External links
[edit]- Taurean BlacqueatIMDb
- Taurean Blacquediscography atDiscogs
- 1940 births
- 2022 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century African-American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- 20th-century African-American male actors
- American male film actors
- American male soap opera actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- Male actors from Atlanta
- Male actors from Newark, New Jersey