What was Steven Bochco's Net Worth?
Steven Bochco was an American television writer and producer whose net worth was $150 million at the time of his death. He was renowned for producing and creating multiple successful television series, including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Doogie Howser, M.D., and NYPD Blue. His work earned him numerous Emmy and Peabody Awards. Later in his career, Bochco created the TNT series Raising the Bar and Murder in the First. He amassed 10 Emmy Awards, six of which were for Hill Street Blues, and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1996. Steven passed away on April 1, 2018, at the age of 74 after battling leukemia.
Early Life and Education
Born Steven Ronald Bochco Masterson on December 16, 1943, in New York City to Jewish parents Mimi and Rudolph, Bochco's mother was a painter and his father a concert violinist. He had an older sister, Joanna, who is an actress. Steven attended the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan and later studied theater at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, graduating with a BFA in 1966.
Career Beginnings
Bochco started his career as a writer and story editor at Universal Pictures, contributing to television crime dramas like Columbo, Ironside, and McMillan & Wife. He also co-wrote the crime film The Counterfeit Killer and the science fiction film Silent Running. In 1978, he joined MTM Enterprises, where he created the CBS series Paris, starring James Earl Jones.
Breakthrough with "Hill Street Blues"
Bochco's career breakthrough came in 1981 with NBC's Hill Street Blues, co-created with Michael Kozoll. The show won eight Emmy Awards in its first season, including Outstanding Drama Series, and continued to win for three more consecutive years. It ran for seven seasons until 1987.
Success with "L.A. Law"
After leaving MTM, Bochco's next hit was the NBC legal drama L.A. Law, co-created with Terry Louise Fisher. The show, praised for its ensemble cast and intricate writing on social issues, ran for eight seasons (1986-1994) and earned Bochco three Emmy Awards.
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Steven Bochco Productions
Bochco formed Steven Bochco Productions following the underwhelming performance of Hooperman. His first major success was Doogie Howser, M.D., starring Neil Patrick Harris. Other projects included Cop Rock, Capitol Critters, and the highly successful NYPD Blue, co-created with David Milch, which ran for 12 seasons and earned Bochco an Emmy and two Peabody Awards.
In the late '90s and early 2000s, Bochco's shows, such as Murder One, Brooklyn South, City of Angels, and Philly, received mixed receptions. He took over Commander in Chief in 2005 but left due to conflicts. His last series, Murder in the First, co-created with Eric Lodal, ran for three seasons (2014-2016).
Personal Life and Death
Steven Bochco married three times. His first marriage to Gabrielle Levin lasted from 1964 to 1969. He married actress Barbara Bosson in 1970; they divorced in 1997. His third marriage was to television executive Dayna Kalins from 2000 until his death in 2018. Bochco had three children, including television director and producer Jesse. Diagnosed with leukemia in 2014, Steven Bochco passed away in April 2018 at his Los Angeles home.
Real Estate
Steven Bochco's primary residence was a nearly 11,000-square-foot mansion in LA's Pacific Palisades, listed for sale by his heirs in August 2022 for $35 million. The 1.4-acre property dates back to the 1930s and was once occupied by Sylvester Stallone. Bochco acquired it in 1997, and it was sold in August 2023 for $24.95 million. Here is a video tour:
