Although best known for his role as "Detective Sergeant Neal Washington" on the long-running cop drama "Hill Street Blues" (1981), Blacque remains one of the best stage actors performing today. A long-time resident of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, he has performed in several productions at the Alliance Theatre of Atlanta. Among his notable performances have been in the James Baldwin play "The Amen Corner" opposite Carol Mitchell-leon , Elizabeth Omilami , and Crystal R. Fox ; and as the character "Shealy" in the August Wilson play "Jitney" opposite such notables as John Lawhorn , John Beasley , Anthony Chisholm and Charles Canada ; both productions were directed by then-Alliance Artistic Director Kenny Leon . Noted for his involvement in the community as well, Blacque, who has two adult biological sons, adopted nine children in the late 1980s. A deeply spiritual man, he adopted the name "Taurean" from his astrological sign of "Taurus" and the name "Blacque" from his race.