Barbara Basson, best known for starring in Hill Street Blues as Fay Furillo and Murder One as Miriam Grasso, has died at the age of 83.
Sad news today as it has been reported that Barbara Basson died on Saturday at the age of 83. The actress is best known for playing Fay Furillo on Hill Street Blues, which was co-created by her then-husband, Steven Bochco. Basson’s son, Jesse Bochco, announced her death on social media. “More spirit and zest than you could shake a stick at,” Bochco wrote. “When she loved you, you felt it without a doubt. If she didn’t, you may well have also known that too. Forever in our hearts. I love you Mama.“
Barbara Basson appeared in many of her husband’s productions, including Capt. Celeste “C.Z.” Stern, the divorced boss of John Ritter’s police inspector, in Hooperman, as Los Angeles mayor Louise Plank in Cop Rock, and as prosecutor Miriam Grasso in Murder One. Basson also appeared in TV shows such as Mannix, Emergency!, McMillan & Wife, Richie Brockelman, Private Eye, L.A. Law, Murder, She Wrote, Civil Wars, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, NYPD Blue, Lois & Cark: The New Adventures of Superman, and more. Her role in Hill Street Blues was easily her most acclaimed, with Basson receiving an Emmy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress five years in a role.
The character of Fay Furillo was the needy ex-wife of Daniel Travanti’s character, Captain Francis Xavier Furillo, but Barbara Basson fought with Steve Bochco to develop the character more. “The whole time I played Fay I agitated with Steve to make Fay something beside a whining kvetch,” Basson said in a 1985 interview. “It took two years to convince him Fay should be a victim’s advocate. She was a victim herself.”
When Bochco was fired from Hill Street Blues after the fifth season, Basson stayed on the series for several episodes before quitting as well. “I have asked for my release,″ Basson said at the time. “I’m very sad about what they’re doing with Fay. The new producers don’t like the character. 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.” Barbara and Steven divorced in 1997, and Steven died in 2018. In addition to her television career, Basson also appeared in movies such as Bullitt, Capricorn One, and The Last Starfighter. Our thoughts go out to the family, friends, and fans of Barbara Basson.