- Dennis Franz
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Dennis Franz 
Dennis Franz at a rehearsal for the 1994 Emmy AwardsBorn Dennis Franz Schlachta
October 28, 1944
Maywood, Illinois, United StatesOccupation Actor Years active 1978–present Dennis Franz (born October 28, 1944) is an American actor best known for his role as Andy Sipowicz, a hard-boiled police detective in the television series NYPD Blue. He previously appeared as Lt. Norman Buntz on Hill Street Blues, and earlier played Detective Benedetto on the same show.
Contents
Early life
Franz was born Dennis Franz Schlachta in Maywood, Chicago, Illinois, the son of German immigrants[1][2][3] Eleanor, a postal worker, and Franz Schlachta, who was a baker and postal worker.[4] Franz is a graduate of Proviso East High School (in Maywood) and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.[5] After graduating from college, Franz was drafted into the United States Army. He served eleven months with the 82nd Airborne Division in Vietnam.[6]
Career
Franz began his acting career at Chicago's Organic Theater Company. Although he has in the past performed Shakespeare, his "look" led to his being typecast early in his career as a police officer. (By Franz' own count, the character of Detective Andy Sipowicz was his 27th role as a police officer). He has also guest-starred in shows such as The A-Team. Other major roles were on the television series Hill Street Blues in which he played two characters over the run of that show. Franz first played the role of Officer Sal Benedetto, a corrupt cop in the 1983 season, who later kills himself. Due to his popularity with fans, he returned in 1985 as Lt. Norm Buntz, remaining until the show's end in 1987. He starred in the short-lived Beverly Hills Buntz as the morally questionable Norman Buntz.
Franz went on to win four Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue. The character of Sipowicz was ranked #23 on Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters list.[7]
He starred as "Earl", the abusive husband, in the Dixie Chicks' music video "Goodbye Earl" and as Nathaniel Messinger in the 1998 film, City of Angels.
Filmography
- City of Angels (1998) .... Nathaniel Messinger
- Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off (1997) (V) (voice) .... Captain Klegghorn
- American Buffalo (1996) .... Don 'Donny' Dubrow, Owner Rvterbands Variety
- Mighty Ducks (1996) TV Series (voice) .... Captain Klegghorn
- Healing the Hate (1996) (TV) .... Host
- Texas Justice (1995) (TV) .... Richard 'Racehorse' Haynes
- Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire (1994) (TV) .... Gus Payne
- The Simpsons (1994 cameo)
- NYPD Blue (1993–2005) TV Series .... Det. Andy Sipowicz
- In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion (1992) (TV) .... Bob Bryant
- The Sid Story (1991) (Training Film) .... Sid
- N.Y.P.D. Mounted (1991) (TV) .... Tony Spampatta
- Nasty Boys (1990) TV Series .... Lt. Stan Krieger (1990)
- Die Hard 2 (1990) .... Capt. Carmine Lorenzo
- Nasty Boys, Part 2: Lone Justice (1990) (TV)
- The Package (1989) .... Lt. Milan Delich
- Kiss Shot (1989) (TV) .... Max Fleischer
- Beverly Hills Buntz (1987) TV Series .... Norman Buntz
- Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Pat Hobby Teamed with Genius (1987) (TV) .... Louie
- A Fine Mess (1986) (uncredited) .... Phil
- Hunter (1985) (TV) ... Sgt. Jackie Malenez, "Snow Queen: Parts 1 & 2."
- Deadly Messages (1985) (TV) .... Detective Max Lucas
- Body Double (1984) .... Rubin
- Bay City Blues (1983) TV Series .... Angelo Carbone (1983)
- Hill Street Blues (1981) TV Series .... Det. Sal Benedetto (1983)/Lt. Norman Buntz (1985–1987)
- Psycho II (1983) .... Warren Toomey
- The A-Team (season 2, episode 19; season 3, episode 23)
- Chicago Story (1982) TV Series .... Officer Joe Gilland
- Blow Out (1981) .... Manny Karp
- Chicago Story (1981) (TV) .... Officer Joe Gilland
- Popeye (1980) .... Spike
- Dressed to Kill (1980) .... Detective Marino
- Bleacher Bums (1979) (TV)
- A Perfect Couple (1979) .... Costa
- Stony Island (1978) .... Jerry Domino
- A Wedding (1978) .... Koons
- The Fury (1978) .... Bob
- Remember My Name (1978) .... Franks
References
- ^ SMOKE 03/98 - Dennis Franz
- ^ TV HEROES: #6: Dennis Franz.(Features) - The Independent (London, England) - HighBeam Research
- ^ News-Record.com: Archives Search: 01 results for search "( (unq:"0EAF85A3C033421C") ) "
- ^ Dennis Franz Biography (1944-)
- ^ Utterback, Wayne (2007-04-19). "Emprace the 'Dark': Author, SIUC alumnus reprints book about Strip". Daily Egyptian: pp. 7.
- ^ Dennis Franz - Trailer - Showtimes - Cast - Movies - The New York Times
- ^ The 100 Greatest TV Characters: Famous Television Stars and Pop Icons - Official Bravo TV Site
External links
- Dennis Franz at the Internet Movie Database
- Archive of American Television extended video interview with Dennis Franz
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama Series (1976–2000) Peter Falk (1976) · James Garner (1977) · Edward Asner (1978) · Ron Leibman (1979) · Edward Asner (1980) · Daniel J. Travanti (1981) · Daniel J. Travanti (1982) · Ed Flanders (1983) · Tom Selleck (1984) · William Daniels (1985) · William Daniels (1986) · Bruce Willis (1987) · Richard Kiley (1988) · Carroll O'Connor (1989) · Peter Falk (1990) · James Earl Jones (1991) · Christopher Lloyd (1992) · Tom Skerritt (1993) · Dennis Franz (1994) · Mandy Patinkin (1995) · Dennis Franz (1996) · Dennis Franz (1997) · Andre Braugher (1998) · Dennis Franz (1999) · James Gandolfini (2000)
Complete List · (1956–1975) · (1976–2000) · (2001–2025) Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama (1990–2009) Kyle MacLachlan (1990) · Scott Bakula (1991) · Sam Waterston (1992) · David Caruso (1993) · Dennis Franz (1994) · Jimmy Smits (1995) · David Duchovny (1996) · Anthony Edwards (1997) · Dylan McDermott (1998) · James Gandolfini (1999) · Martin Sheen (2000) · Kiefer Sutherland (2001) · Michael Chiklis (2002) · Anthony LaPaglia (2003) · Ian McShane (2004) · Hugh Laurie (2005) · Hugh Laurie (2006) · Jon Hamm (2007) · Gabriel Byrne (2008) · Michael C. Hall (2009)
Complete List · (1969–1989) · (1990–2009) · (2010–2029)Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (1994–2009) Dennis Franz (1994) · Anthony Edwards (1995) · Dennis Franz (1996) · Anthony Edwards (1997) · Sam Waterston (1998) · James Gandolfini (1999) · Martin Sheen (2000) · Martin Sheen (2001) · James Gandolfini (2002) · Kiefer Sutherland (2003) · Jerry Orbach (2004) · Kiefer Sutherland (2005) · Hugh Laurie (2006) · James Gandolfini (2007) · Hugh Laurie (2008) · Michael C. Hall (2009)
Complete list · (1994–2009) · (2010–2029)Categories:- 1944 births
- Actors from Chicago, Illinois
- American film actors
- American military personnel of the Vietnam War
- American television actors
- Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (television) winners
- American people of German descent
- Illinois Republicans
- Living people
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumni
- United States Army soldiers
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