Photo: Everett

Taurean Blacque, who starred in NBC’sHill Street BluesandGenerations, has died. He was 82.
The actor’s family confirmed toDeadlinethat Blacque died on Thursday in Atlanta following a brief illness.
Blacque is best known for playing the streetwise, no-nonsense, respected veteran Detective Neal Washington on all seven seasons of NBC’s acclaimed cop showHill Street Blues. In 1982, he received anEmmy nominationfor Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role.
He also starred alongsideVivica A. Foxin the original cast of NBC’s daytime soap operaGenerations, which was the first series to include a Black family in the main storyline from its inception, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.
Robert Isenberg/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

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On how he settled on his stage name, the actor toldPlayboymagazine: “My heritage is black – spelled Q-U-E – and I’m a Taurus. I decided I needed a name change I could relate to. It looks good on a marquee and never fails to get attention in casting offices.”
His film credits includeRocky II,House Callsand the animatedOliver & Company. He also played another cop, Detective Michael Wheeler, on WB’s dramaSavannah, which was only on air for two seasons in 1996 and 1997.
source: people.com