Gil Hill Dies: Real Life Detroit Police Detective Who Appeared In ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Was 84
Gil Hill, a Former Detroit homicide inspector and later Detroit City Council President who occasionally acted, playing Eddie Murphy’s tough talking boss in the Beverly Hill Cop franchise died today after contracting pneumonia. He was 84. Hill had been reportedly battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for some time prior to his final illness.
Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Hill served in the U.S. Air Force beginning in 1950 and was stationed at Detroit’s Selfridge Air Force Base. He stayed in the area after completing his service, joining the Sheriff’s department in 1957 and two years later moving over to the Detroit Police Department. He rose through the ranks and was eventually promoted to Inspector and placed in charge of Detroit’s Homicide division. He retired as a police commander and was elected to the City Council in 1989. Hill also ran, unsuccessfully, for Mayor in 2001.
Hill is of course known to people outside Detroit for appearning as Inspector Douglas Todd in Beverly Hills Cop and it’s two sequels. He would go on to remark that “The only difference between Inspector Todd and my real life is that I don’t curse as much in real life.”
He is survived by his three children, three grandchildren, and and two great grandchildren. “The Family of Gilbert “Gil” Hill is deeply saddened to inform the public that Gil passed away today and joined the ancestors in the land of glory,” his family said in a statement. “As many of you know, Gil had been recently hospitalized and was on the road to recovery. We are relieved that his passing was peaceful and painless… We asked that you pray for the family and respect our privacy during this very difficult time”.
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