Kiel Martin question - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-19-2019, 10:05 PM

Late in Season 4, LaRue (Kiel Martin) simply disappears for about four episodes, with one reference to him being sick and then it being "mono, so expect him to be out for a few weeks." He remained in the lead credits, appears in the season finale and of course continued to the end of the show.

Detective Harry Garibaldi (Ken Olin) is propped up in his place and becomes a continuing character, but seems very much like a cardboard cutout in these shows and delivers a lot of dialogue that sounds like it was written for LaRue.

What happened to Martin in these weeks? Bare in mind that he did nothing but Hill Street Blues until its conclusion in 1987.

TV Guy · 02-19-2019, 11:06 PM

Kiel Martin struggled with drug addiction at that time in his life. Wouldn’t surprise me if this caused absences from the show. Although it was reported that he died of lung cancer, other sources said it was complications due to AIDS, contracted from a needle. How sad.

Ryan Chamberlain · 05-15-2020, 01:30 AM

The end of season 4 without Kiel/LaRue is just a boring rewatch for me as he was my fave.

So, what's this about him having AIDS and dying of that because I have never heard that before.

TMC · 09-25-2022, 07:53 PM

Somebody on Facebook recently asked a similar question:

Quote:

Anyone know why Kiel Martin was absent from several episodes at the tail end of Season 4? The show explains it as mono (what we in the UK call glandular fever).
I did notice that in a few of the episodes before that, his voice seems to go noticeably more raspy - he almost sounded like Harvey Fierstein! So perhaps it was a real-life illness.

Yong Fang · 11-02-2022, 08:37 AM

I am a big fan of Hill Street since it first came on in the 1980's when I was in high school. I will watch the whole series again about once a year.

From what I have read, Kiel Martin wasnt that much different than his character LaRue. Like LaRue, Martin was an alcoholic and a cocaine abuser. I have also read from Steven Bochco than Martin was a pain in the ass and not always reliable and when he was there would sometimes goof off and pull practical jokes. Martin was LaRue and LaRue was Martin. Sometimes an actor of a role is very similar to the person, which makes them much easier to play.

But for Martin to die of lung cancer at 46, he must have smoked a lot or was just unlucky.

02-19-2019, 10:05 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,493	Kiel Martin question Late in Season 4, LaRue (Kiel Martin) simply disappears for about four episodes, with one reference to him being sick and then it being "mono, so expect him to be out for a few weeks." He remained in the lead credits, appears in the season finale and of course continued to the end of the show. Detective Harry Garibaldi (Ken Olin) is propped up in his place and becomes a continuing character, but seems very much like a cardboard cutout in these shows and delivers a lot of dialogue that sounds like it was written for LaRue. What happened to Martin in these weeks? Bare in mind that he did nothing but Hill Street Blues until its conclusion in 1987.

05-15-2020, 01:30 AM	#3
Ryan Chamberlain Return Of The Silverburg 2018! Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 10, 2011 Location: Still hiding in Miles Silverburg's closet. Posts: 663	The end of season 4 without Kiel/LaRue is just a boring rewatch for me as he was my fave. So, what's this about him having AIDS and dying of that because I have never heard that before.
	__________________ *Despite my username. I am a chick. I go chirp. But, what does the fox say?* Night Court, The Simpsons, Pre-Cartini General Hospital, Step By Step, Murphy Brown, Three's Company and Perfect Strangers fan forever! "You can't put a porcupine in a barn, set it on fire, and expect to make licorice" -Dana Carvey *You robbed an international house of pancakes. How waffle-Harry T. Stone. <3* Goodnight, sweet prince. Harry Anderson 1952-2018

02-19-2019, 11:06 PM	#2
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Kiel Martin struggled with drug addiction at that time in his life. Wouldn’t surprise me if this caused absences from the show. Although it was reported that he died of lung cancer, other sources said it was complications due to AIDS, contracted from a needle. How sad.

11-02-2022, 08:37 AM	#5
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	I am a big fan of Hill Street since it first came on in the 1980's when I was in high school. I will watch the whole series again about once a year. From what I have read, Kiel Martin wasnt that much different than his character LaRue. Like LaRue, Martin was an alcoholic and a cocaine abuser. I have also read from Steven Bochco than Martin was a pain in the ass and not always reliable and when he was there would sometimes goof off and pull practical jokes. Martin was LaRue and LaRue was Martin. Sometimes an actor of a role is very similar to the person, which makes them much easier to play. But for Martin to die of lung cancer at 46, he must have smoked a lot or was just unlucky.