Emmy-nominated Hill Street Blues star Barbara Bosson dies aged 83

Hill Street Blues star Barbara Bosson has died at the age of 83.

Bosson, who played Fay Furillo in the American police drama, was a major TV star in the '80s, earning five consecutive Emmy nominations for the role. She was also the ex-wife of TV powerhouse Steven Bochco, who created Hill Street Blues and many other major shows at the time.

The news of her death was shared by her son, Jesse Bochco, who posted a photo of he and his mother together when he was a child.

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"More spirit and zest than you could shake a stick at. 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 "Babs" Bosson Bochco 1939-2023," he wrote on Instagram.

Bosson's cause of death has not been clarified.

Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey shared her sorrow at the news, commenting a red heart under Bochco's post.

As well as Hill Street Blues, Bosson was known for her roles in shows like Murder One, Hooperman and films including Cop Rock and Calendar Girl Murders.

Hill Street Blues proved Bosson's main claim to fame, with Bosson leaving the show in 1985 during its sixth season, after Bochco was fired from the project over creative disagreements.

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The pair went on to work together on projects including the Rockford Files spin-off Richie Brockelman, Private Eye, Hooperman and the fun-loving musical film Cop Rock.

Bosson and Bochco eventually divorced in 1997, but continued to co-parent their son Jesse, who was born in 1975. Steven died in 2018 at the age of 73.