MovieChat Forums > Hill Street Blues (1981) Discussion > Daniel J. Travanti and others peaking.

Daniel J. Travanti and others peaking.

posted 9 years ago by el_cochino55
7 replies | jump to latest

I watched Hill Street Blues back in the day, and now I watch the reruns twice a day. I've always wondered why many of the stars on this program never went on to other roles nearly as good. The primary one was Travanti who seemed to peak in this role. He was the only one on this show that was not replaceable. Yet after the show ended he didn't do anything memorable that I can find in television and film. When I became a manager at work I tried to model my skills after his - to no avail. He just seemed to handle everything so humanly well. I loved the relationship between the Pizza man, and Counselor Davenport - especially how risque it was for 1980's prime time television.

Others for I thought the can't miss list I think should have at least included Mike Warren, Taurean Blacque, and Joe Spano.

[–] maryrosenkranz 9 years ago

Travanti had his demons, but i loved him(& not because he hails from here). He did a lot on the stage afterwards. But he did pop up on an ep of Grey's Anatomy a few yrs back. And just 1 week ago as Callen's dad on NCIS LA. Joe Spano has done a lot since then, notably NYPD Blue as Sipowicz's "enemy". Total opposite character than Henry. But now pops up as Fornell on NCIS. He's great as Fornell. Dennis Franz went on to NYPD Blue. Charles Haid went into directing. As did several others. Last time I saw Hamel was on Lost as Jack's mom. The rest(who are still alive) have popped up on eps of this & that, but I know many do stage work/ or directing/producing.
As for the context of the episodes, they pretty much went through the same things with NYPD Blue. Leave it to Steven Bochco to do something out of the box for the time.

[–] jameset-90135 8 years ago

David Caruso went on to NYPD Blue and CSI Miami.

[–] fschiff 8 years ago

He played a gang member. Wasn't that important.

You're perverted, twisted, and sick. I like that in a person.

[–] FearlessOneDay 8 years ago

Did they all get rich from this series? Residuals? That can lessen an actor's career drive. I don't know what the salaries were back then, but when you see actors today getting $1 million an episode in The Big Bang Theory, it boggles the mind.

[–] svenjolly (40) 8 years ago

He peaked playing a space biker in Lost in Space.
Dear god, he was awful.

[–] earl237 (1106) 8 years ago

Daniel Travanti has been on Criminal Minds, NCIS Los Angeles and Chicago Med in recent years, nice to still see him around. Joe Spano is still a semi-regular on NCIS.

[–] prometheus1816 (1060) 7 years ago

Jon Cypher who played Chief Daniels was a very busy man during his time on HSB. He was on "Knot's Landing" as Jeff Munson, "Dynasty" as Dirk Maurier, was filming the movie "Masters of the Universe" and appearing as Juan Peron in the Los Angeles production of "Evita" all while he was appearing on HSB. After he went on to "Major Dad" as Commanding General Marcus Craig for three seasons (1990-1993). Afterward he did a lot of episodic television during the 90s and appeared in several plays and musicals during that time. He retired in 2001 because all he was getting in his own words, "Were a lot of shitty grandfather and judge roles."