Ellen Blake

Character actress Ellen Blake is best known for her guest starring role as shy desk officer Natalie DeRoy on creator Steven Bochco's hit 1980s cop show "Hill Street Blues." She was also memorable on another Bochco program, "L.A. Law," for four seasons. Before tackling popular television roles later on in her career, Blake had small parts on television shows and feature films, including an episode of the Rod Serling horror program "Night Gallery," the blaxploitation grindhouse classic "Coffy," and the conman comedy "Harry and Walter Go to New York." She has also had side roles in the science fiction cult favorite "The Last Starfighter," the epic Kevin Costner Western "Wyatt Earp," and the serial killer picture "Suspect Zero." When not working in film and television, Blake performed on stage with various small theater groups in Southern California. In the 1980s, she also started her own successful casting agency and has taught acting at the College of Santa Fe.