Print
Close
Steven Spielberg reacts to pal Steven Bochco's death: I will miss him 'terribly'
By , Nellie Andreeva
Published April 02, 2018
Steven Spielberg, left, is mourning the loss of his good friend Steven Bochco. (Reuters/ AP)
It was 1971. Both Steven Spielberg and Steven Bochco were in their 20s, just staring out and yet to make their mark as icons of film and TV. Spielberg was largely an episodic director in television a few years away from his first blockbuster, "Jaws." Future 10-time Emmy winner Bochco had co-created his first series, the 1969 NBC medical drama "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors" and had just landed a writing job on the hit NBC detective drama "Columbo," starring Peter Falk.
The first episode he penned was the Sept. 15 1971 series premiere, "Murder By the Book," which followed two TV movies that aired in 1968 and 1971 and served as pilots. Spielberg was hired to direct "Murder By the Book." The duo’s collaboration launched a hit series that had a successful 10-season run on NBC and ABC.
'NYPD BLUE,' 'LA LAW,' 'HILL STREET BLUES' CREATOR STEVEN BOCHCO DEAD AT 74
More From Deadline
And while Spielberg and Bochco’s professional paths diverged after their work on "Columbo," they remained close for the past 47 years. Bochco recently appeared in the 2017 HBO Spielberg documentary about the life and career of the Oscar-winning director. Here is what Spielberg said about Bochco’s passing, which has prompted out pouring from Hollywood.
“Steve was a friend and a colleague starting with the first episode of 'Columbo' in 1971 that he wrote and I directed. We have supported and inspired each other ever since and through many deep mutual friendships we have stayed connected for 47 years. I will miss Steve terribly.”
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/steven-spielberg-reacts-to-pal-steven-bochcos-death-i-will-miss-him-terribly