Steven Bochco, who died this weekend at the age of 74, was known by everyone in the TV business as one of the most influential drama series creators who generated hits and pushed boundaries with shows like NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law. But few in Hollywood knew him better than Fox TV Group chairman Dana Walden. For 20 years, Bochco had been one of her closest friends.
Professionally, Walden helped his publicity team from her first job at 20th Century Fox TV, which produced NYPD Blue, where she started in PR. After Walden and Gary Newman took over the studio in 1999 as presidents and later chairmen, they worked together with Bochco on the praised but short-lived FX/20th TV Iraq war drama series Over There, which Bochco co-created with Chris Gerolmo. (This is a photo of Walden, Newman, Bochco and his wife, Dayna Kalins, who served as a producer on Over There, at a 20th TV party held shortly after the series’ premiere.) Just a year ago, 20th TV re-teamed with Bochco on a potential L.A. Law reboot. Personally, Walden, Bochco and their families traveled extensively together.
“Steven was my dear, dear friend,” Walden told Deadline.
“He was a genius and a giant in our business. He taught me so much about how to do my job, how to support great creators, how an executive can be a writer’s champion. Sitting at a dinner with him was like attending a masters class in television and storytelling.”
“I will miss him terribly.”
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