Taurean Blacque

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Taurean Blacque
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.[1]
OccupationActor
Years active1976–2018
Spouse
Shelby
​
​
(m. 1966, divorced)​
[2]
Children12 (10 adopted)

Taurean Blacque (born Herbert 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 series Hill Street Blues. He stated that he chose the name "Taurean" because his astrological sign was Taurus.[3] He was at one time a national spokesman for adoptive services.[4] Blacque was a Christian, and his faith influenced his desire to be involved with adoption.[5]

Early life and career

Blacque was born Herbert Middleton Jr. on May 10, 1940, in Newark, New Jersey.[1] Before appearing on television, Blacque trained and performed at the New Federal Theatre in 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 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.[7]

In 1981 he joined the cast of the police drama

Beverly Hills.[10]

After Hill Street ended, Blacque moved to

Disney's animated film Oliver & Company as the voice of Roscoe.[14]
In 1989, he portrayed Henry Marshall on
Generations. His film work in this period included a lead role in the 1989 science-fiction film DeepStar Six
.

As adoptive parent

Blacque initially was asked to serve as spokesman for the

County of Los Angeles Adoption 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 President George H. W. Bush to serve as a national spokesman for adoption.[4]

Death

His death, at age 82, in Atlanta, 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

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

  1. ^ a b c d Burton, Carson (July 21, 2022). "Taurean Blacque, Detective Neal Washington on 'Hill Street Blues,' Dies at 82". Variety. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "Taurean Blacque Dead, Cause of Death, Obituary, Age, Biography, Wife, Movies and TV Shows, Net Worth, Was He Married". July 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "Actor Chose Moniker." Mobile (AL) Register, April 11, 1981, p. S-4.
  4. ^
    National Public Radio
    , June 16, 2006.
  5. ^ Michael E. Hill. "Blacque Happy to be Sharing 'Generations' On TV and Off." Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 27, 1989, p. 4-D.
  6. ^ "History," New Federal Theater Newsletter, 2004.
  7. ^ Harry Harris. "Reid's into music on and off the screen," The Philadelphia Inquirer (PA), May 24, 1981, TV Seek section, page 4.
  8. ^ UPI. "'Hill Street', 'Fame' dominate Emmy nominations," The Miami Herald (FL), August 6, 1982, Comics/TV section, page 4B.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "'Stepping Into Tomorrow' to benefit Black Actors Theatre," The Orange County Register, September 1, 1987, Accent section, page E8.
  12. ^ Tom Jacobs. "'Ceremonies' still vivid, absorbing," Daily News of Los Angeles (CA), February 9, 1988, L.A. Life section, page L19.
  13. ^ Joan Hanauer, United Press International, Wire services. "The blues and their brews," The Record (New Jersey) – August 16, 1988, page D14.
  14. ^ Jim Gordon. "Take the gang to see 'Oliver & Company'," Post-Tribune (IN), November 18, 1988, Lifestyles/Weekend section, page 12.

External links

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