The Ladies

Barbara Babcock  
Barbara is most men's fantasy of a mature mistress. She was already in her mid forties, when she graced the Hill with her sensual presence.

She could still to be found on People magazine's '50 most beautiful people in the world' list, in 1994.

She now live near Cork in Ireland.

Grace Gardner
Wife of Chief of Detectives Sam Gardner (deceased). Came to the Hill as the official Police decorator.

Her legendry sex sessions with Sgt. Esterhaus were treats for the imagination, but ultimately caused his demise.

Barbara Bosson  
Married to Steven Bochco 1969 - 1997.

First film Bullitt (1968).

Later nominated for an Emmy for her role as  prosecutor Miriam Grasso, in Steven's Murder One

 Fay Furillo
Franks wife and mother to his son Frank Jr. She is convinced one day, her and Frank will get back together.

When he remarries however she accepts the inevitable and becomes stronger and independent, opening many conversations with "Hey Buster!".

Megan Gallagher  
Megan was keen to become an actor when she was a child and worked hard at it, until getting the break of a guest spot on HSB. This turned into a permanent part and made her name.

In the years that followed she has had a successful career both in the moves and in television

 Officer Tina Russo

Veronica Hamel   
Not surprisingly Veronica's public career, started as a Fashion Model. Interesting her first film role in the film Klute, was also playing a model.

In the seventies she turned down a star role in Charlie's Angels, the part being later taken by  Jaclyn Smith.

 Joyce Davenport
'Good enough to eat' Public Defender Joyce, was also Furillo's girlfriend (later wife) and often adversary. She later became a prosecutor as well.

It is Joyce who smartens up the police chief and who is responsible for his trade mark waistcoats, or vests

Mimi Kuzyk  

 Det. Patricia Mayo

Judith Hansen  

Celeste Patterson

Lisa Sutton  
After the Hill she has had small parts including one episode of LA Law.

However she is a qualified acupuncturists and can still be found behind the cameras keeping the actors healthy

Officer Robin Tataglia
Lisa played one of six new recruits joining the Hill, during the first season (she is the only one that lasts).

She becomes Belker's girlfriend and ends up getting pregnant.

Betty Thomas 
The tall (she says six foot one) comic actress, finally found fame with a drama part in HSB, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1985

Since leaving HSB she has become an accomplished Director / Producer in films like I Spy, Doctor Dolittle, The Brady Bunch Movie, the new Dallas and in 2009 will be on the new Chipmunk sequel.

Sgt. Lucille Bates
A tough street wise girl cop, who has a gentler sensitive side that sometimes slips out and later becomes a Sergeant.

Adopted a boy called Fabian when his 'Junky' mum could not look after him

Usually paired (in all senses) with Officer Joseph "Joe" Coffey.

The Gentlemen

Gerry Black  

Det Alf Chesley
Promoted to Lieutenant during the programs run, little is heard of him after the first series.

Taurean Blaque  
It seems very odd that this excellent actor has never made the 'big time'.

After HSB Taurean has been in the odd movie and has had supporting parts in TV series.

He is also active in the world of Theatre, but somehow has not yet had the big star role his talent deserves.

Det. Neal Washington
Played so brilliantly the partner and friend to J.D. LaRue.

A 'cool dude' and a joker, who could chew on a sliver of wood for hours. and was nearly always right about things.

However when he shoots an innocent man, he has a hard time adjusting to it, showing his sensitive side.

Robert Clohessy  

Officer Patrick Flaherty
Brought in for the last series as a new partner for  Sgt. Lucille Bates, after Joes death.

Michael Conrad
When Michael died from cancer in 1984, it was thought his role could not be filled by anyone and so a new duty Sergeant (Sgt. Jablonski), was cast to take his place.

Sgt. Phil (Freemason) Esterhaus
His 'roll call' was usually the start of each episode.

His catch phrase was "Let's be careful out there." The first time he said it is here 
 

Jon Cypher  

Chief Fletcher P. Daniels.
One of life's survivors

Rene Enriquez  
Passed away in March 1990 of Pancreatic Cancer

Capt. Ray Calletano
A fiery 'Latino' Lieutenant  he often crossed swords with his colleagues, but never fell out with them. He later became a police captain.

One of the highlights of the series is when he serves at work, some tea sent by a relative, that was mixed with marijuana. As a result most of the station gets high

Dennis Franz 
Later worked again with Bochco and Caruso in NYPD Blue 

Det. Sal Benedetto
Lt. Norman Buntz
Dennis played Sal Benedetto, in the first series. He was written out of the programme, but later returned playing Lt. Buntz (and we all pretended not to notice).

The character of Norman Buntz was kept alive after Hill Street stopped, in the spin off Beverly Hills Buntz 1987/8 In which Buntz becomes a Private Eye

Charles Haid  
Still acting, but also Producing and Directing TV Drama, including episodes of NYPD Blue.

Was booked for one episode but the executives at NBC had seen the strong connection with partner Michael Warren and decide there was a future for Hill and Renko. 

Officer Andy Renko
The tough 'red neck' officer sometimes let his temper, get him into trouble. Quick to judge a situation, he often got it wrong, but underneath the tough exterior was a gentle and caring man.

His relationship with partner Bobby Hill was explored through out the series and his catch phrase was "Lordy, Bobby Hill"

He went on to appear in a huge number of productions on both the big and little screen as well as stage.

He even had the 'honour' of being Carla's husband in Cheers!

He also sneaked back three years later for a single episode, to play a bum that is involved in a fight with Belker.

Robert Hirschfeld  
For 80+ episodes Robert played the lovable Leo Schnitz (the man that keeps the station house working).

After Hill Street. Robert has appeared in several TV series including Law & Order and the Sopranos.

He is also a published Food Critic

 Officer Leo Schnitz

Peter Jurasik

Sidney (The Snitch) Thurston
Lt. Norman Buntz's top informant and sometimes friend.

Famously said "I am a snitch .... it's what I do"   

Vincent Lucchesi  

Capt. Jerry Fuchs
Friend and confidant to Capt. Frank Furillo

Ed Marinaro  
'Big' Ed was a former Minnesota Vikings Running Back before going into Television.

He was only supposed to last four episodes before perishing, but his chemistry with Betty Thomas allowed him to last five seasons.

He went on to appear in Falcon Crest, Dynasty and Monk.

Officer Joe Coffey
Big Ed was often teamed with  Lucille Bates and their friendship sometimes threatened to get in the way of the job, but never did.

During the series we find out he is a compulsive gambler and he finally loses his life when he stumbles on a robbery

Kiel Martin
Some say he did not act in HSB, just played himself. It is true that just like JD Kiel was a recovering alcoholic and he was married 3 times (including to Dean Martins Daughter), but they all ended in divorce after a couple of years.

He sadly died in 1990 of Lung Cancer, aged just 46 and was working to the end.  Obituary

 Det. Johnny (J.D.) LaRue
Kiel brilliantly played, the recovering Alcoholic 'JD'. What many did not know at the time, was that he was in his real life as well.

Nicknamed 'Lover' by his partner Washington, because that was how he saw himself (although the ladies did not always agree).

Gary Miller
First TV role was playing Rick in Family Affair and he only seems to have had two other roles in total! 

He appeared in 20+ episodes, but was not always credited for some reason!

 Officer Ballantine
The long suffering but 'Right Hand Man' to Lt. Howard Hunter.

Ken Olin  

 Det. Harry Garibaldi

J.A. Preston  

Ozzie Cleveland
At the start of the series Ozzie is a Homicide Lieutenant. He rises to become Commander and by the end of the fourth series is Mayor

Robert Prosky
To replace Michael was an unenviable task for any actor, but Robert  was up to the job. Never trying to be Esterhaus, he filled the gap and slowly found his way into viewers hearts, in his own right.

He was offered the part of Coach in cheers, but turned it down because of other commitments.

He died just short of his 78th birthday in December 2008  An Appreciation Here

Sgt. Stanislaus 'Stan' Jablonski
Character actor Robert was brought in to replace the much loved actor Michael Conrad, when he died in 1984.

He brought his own catchphrase to the show "Let's do it to them before they do it to us:" This is used by many people to show how the attitude of police had changed in the eighties.

Nick Savage
Little seems to be documented about Nick's later life. He certainly 'crops up' playing small parts in series like Matlock, Knight Rider and Hunter, but seems to have stopped acting in 1991.  

James Logan
Belker's adversary, the bald pickpocket. Week after week he would be caught and booked, usually while Belker is taking a phone call from his mum. Each time he would use a different made up name like 'Curtis Interruptus'.

We only find out his real name when he lies dying in Belker's arms and asks him to phone his mum.

James B Sikking  
James had already had a successful career before his shrewd selection to the cast of HSB, although he would agrees it was this that made him a star and household name.

This Career continues to today with James well into his seventies and still making films

Lt. Howard Hunter
Often the brunt of many jokes Howard 'heads up' the EAT (Emergency Action Team) Squad  (today a SWAT team) and is always 'up for the fight' (even when there is none).

As the series develops so does Howard, who always listens to Furillo, even if it does sometimes take a few tellings.

Joe Spano.  
A excellent character actor He has appeared in many films and TV shows and worked again with Bochco in Murder One and NYPD Blue.

He is also heavily involved with Children's Charities including Families with Children from China and Half the Sky Foundation and has two adopted Chinese children

Lt. Henry Goldblume
Was the exact opposite of Howard Hunter. A sensitive and deeply dedicated community affairs officer, he sometimes suffered as much as the victims he was helping.

He unexpectedly ends up a rich man when a mobsters wife dies and leaves him a fortune.

Jeffrey Tambor  

Judge Alan Wachtel
The bizarre character of Judge Wachtel was expanded through the series, often bring high comedy to the moment (do you remember him in a dress, smoking a pipe conducting a case?).

Daniel J. Travanti
An almost perfect character part made him a star, although at times Mr Travanti  has given the impression, he does not appreciate what the program did for him (Perhaps one day we will hear from him on the subject)

Few can doubt his ability however and he went on to appear in numerous films and on stage.

Capt. Frances Xavier Furillo
The boss of Hill Street and the guy who held everyone together. Nicknamed Pizza Man by his lover (and later wife) Joyce Davenport

Many people (the webmaster included) will happily admit that when one of  life's problems occurred, they would think "how would Frank handle this?"

Michael Warren  
Michael played basketball at UCLA for the legendary coach John Wooden, before becoming an actor.

He played on 2 NCAA title teams with Lew Alcindor, later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as the star. (Info from Steve Kelman). Inducted into the Pac-10 Men's Basketball Hall of Honour in 2009.  

Officer Robert 'Bobby' Hill
Partnered with 'Cowboy' Renko, the two survived a first episode shoot out, by popular demand and went on to become 'mainstays' of the series.

His Ball skills were used in the series in a cops verses gang members basketball game, where Bobby takes the would-be game winner only to have a gang member in the crowd shoot the ball off the rim?

Bruce Weitz
Despite always being though of as Belker, Bruce has managed to build a career as the great actor he is.

He has had numerous other roles. Today he has almost left Belker behind and is know by a whole new generation as Anthony Zacchara from General Hospital.

Det. Mick Belker
For many of us, the 'other' star of the show. Belker is as tough as they get (except where his mum and sister are concerned).

Usually undercover, he is a great success because no one would believe he was a policeman. He was especially fond of  large white Alsatians!

George Wyner  

 Asst. D.A. Irwin Bernstein

The Gangs

Bobby Ellerbee
 

Abdul Hussein
Leader of the Blood Gang

Trinidad Silva  
Killed in a car accident aged just 38  July 1988, while making the  film 'UHF'. The film was later dedicated to his memory.

Michael Warren Adds: Trini had just completed working on a television pilot (Home Free) that I helped create and produce in 1988 for NBC.  He was magnificent in it, as you probably can imagine because he was such a fine actor. His wife and his son survived the automobile accident. I believe Trini, was on the verge of becoming a big star.

Jesus Martinez
Leader of the Diablos and later to became a lawyer (Ehh, Frankie only in America!)

Jesus became a strong ally and friend of Frank, who could see his strengths and understood his position in the gang world.

Watch his first bust up with Frank -
The 'Garbarge' clip     (Ehh! Frankie).