Barbara Bosson
Barbara Bosson, who earned an Emmy Award nomination for her performance on Murder One (1995), was raised in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, a small coal-mining town about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh. When she was a teenager, she and her family moved to Florida, where she attended Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport. After graduation, she was accepted into the Drama Department of Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh (now Carnegie Mellon). When Bosson learned the tuition would be too great a burden on her parents, she instead moved to New York. She supported herself in a variety of jobs -- secretary, television production assistant, Playboy Bunny, etc. -- while studying acting with Milton Katselas and Herbert Berghof, and musical comedy with Word Baker. Six years later, Bosson reevaluated her prospects while working as a secretary for ACT (the American Conservatory Theater). She spoke frequently with various drama department heads, including Earl Gister, head of Carnegie Tech's Drama Department. Deciding it wasn't too late to pursue her dream, she asked Gister for an audition. He agreed. Bosson can't remember her audition, but it convinced Gister to place her in the school and to assist her in finding scholarship money. So, at 26, she became Carnegie Tech's oldest freshman. While attending Carnegie Tech, Bosson met her future husband, Steven Bochco (whom she would not marry until years later), and fellow Hill Street Blues (1981) stars Bruce Weitz and Charles Haid. On a summer break from Carnegie Tech, she landed a job in San Francisco with the improvisational group, "The Committee". With Gister's blessing, she stayed with the group and performed with them for three years. Bosson is a five-time Emmy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series for her portrayal of "Fay Furillo" in the Emmy Award-winning series, Hill Street Blues (1981). An innovative cook, Bosson raised her own herbs and vegetables. She enjoyed skiing, doing crossword puzzles and dancing. Bosson also hated dieting, which she had done unsuccessfully for 25 years. Bosson had two children with Bochco and resided in Los Angeles.
Known For
Credits
- 1999 · The Bunny Years as Self
- 1995 · Murder One as Deputy D.A. Miriam Grasso
- 1993 · NYPD Blue as Miriam Davis
- 1993 · Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman as Dr. Friskin
- 1993 · Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Roana
- 1990 · Cop Rock as Mayor Louise Plank
- 1990 · Jury Duty: The Comedy as Brattner
- 1989 · Little Sweetheart as Mrs Davies
- 1988 · Your Alcohol I.Q. as Self
- 1987 · Hooperman as Captain C.Z. Stern
- 1987 · Supermom's Daughter as Donna Crandall
- 1986 · The Abduction of Allison Tate as Lisa Stubbs
- 1986 · L.A. Law as Stacey Gill
- 1985 · Hostage Flight as Roberta Spooner
- 1984 · Crazy like a Fox as Riza's Ex-wife
- 1984 · Murder, She Wrote as Diane Raymond
- 1984 · The Last Starfighter as Jane Rogan
- 1984 · Calendar Girl Murders as Nancy
- 1983 · Imps* as Pam
- 1981 · Hill Street Blues as Fay Furillo
- 1978 · Richie Brockelman, Private Eye as Sharon Diederson
- 1977 · Capricorn One as Alva Leacock
- 1976 · Richie Brockelman: The Missing 24 Hours as Sharon Peterson
- 1976 · Delvecchio as Nancy Travis
- 1974 · Mame as Emily
- 1972 · Emergency! as Mrs. Collins
- 1971 · The Impatient Heart as Esther Crowley
- 1971 · McMillan and Wife as Nurse Roz Beach
- 1971 · McMillan and Wife as Della Wheatley
- 1971 · Alias Smith and Jones as
- 1969 · A Session with the Committee as Self
- 1969 · The Love God? as Minor Role (uncredited)
- 1968 · Petulia as Self (uncredited)
- 1967 · Mannix as Miss Riley
- 1967 · Ironside as Katie (uncredited)
- 1967 · The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour as Various