A BELOVED actress known for her iconic role in the acclaimed NBC police drama Hill Street Blues has passed away.
Barbara Bosson, who earned Emmy nominations five years in a row for playing anxious divorcee Fay Furillo, died on Saturday, according to her family. She was 83.
Her cause of death is unclear at this time.
Bosson starred in the NBC drama that was co-created by her husband Steven Bochco from 1981 to 1985.
She also worked on three ABC drama series throughout her career: Hooperman from 1987 to 1989; Cop Rock in 1990; and Murder One from 1995 to 1997.
R&B star Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters dies aged 74
These shows were also created by her TV writer husband who passed away in 2018 from cancer.
The two met at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh in the 1960s and were married in 1970 until their 1997 divorce.
They enjoyed shared success in the television world but hit their stride in the first five seasons of MTM Productions' Hill Street Blues from 1981 to 1985.
Speaking on her character Fay, Bosson recounted playing a pivotal role in adding some depth to the emotionally needy ex-wife.
Her character constantly nagged main character Captain Frank Furillo about child care, alimony, and their problematic son Frank Junior, making her one of the less popular figures to viewers.
"The whole time I played Fay I agitated with Steve to make Fay something besides a whining kvetch," she told United Press International in 1985.
"It took two years to convince him Fay should be a victim's advocate. She was a victim herself."
She continued with the character for five seasons until her husband was kicked off for refusing to reduce costs and trim down his storylines.
The actress started filming for season six but eventually decided to step away.
Bosson's career, which relied heavily on her husband's influence, sparked controversy among critics who felt her relationship solely got her roles.
Celtic icon Frank McGarvey dies aged 66 as tributes paid to hero after cancer fight
However, she maintained that they tried to keep their work separate, and her decision to leave Hill Street Blues was mainly due to the mistreatment of her character.
“I’m very sad about what they’re doing with Fay. The new producers don’t like the character,” she said in a different interview in 1985.
“Before, my husband always wrote her scenes. I stayed on after he left because I wanted my career to be separate from his.
"People have always made snide remarks that I was on the show because of Steven.”
Bosson is survived by her daughter Melissa and two grandchildren.
