Dennis Franz

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Image:Dennis Franz (1994).jpg

Dennis Franz is the stage name of Dennis Franz Schlachta (born October 28, 1944), an American actor best known for his role as Andy Sipowicz, a gritty police detective in the television series NYPD Blue.

1 Early years
2 Acting career
- 2.1 Animation
3 Filmography
4 External links

[edit] Early years

Born in Chicago, Illinois, he is a graduate of Proviso East High School (in Maywood, Illinois) and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

After graduating college, Franz was drafted into the United States Army. He served eleven months in an airborne unit in Vietnam [1]. He is a supporter of the United States military in the Global War on Terrorism. Franz urged Americans to get behind the troops saying “They are defending our country. Thank God that we have people in this world that are willing to do it.” [2]

[edit] Acting career

Franz began his acting career at Chicago's famed Organic Theater. 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 and short-lived Beverly Hills Buntz as the morally questionable Norman Buntz.

Franz went on to win four Emmy Awards for his potrayal of Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue. The character of Sipowicz was ranked #23 on Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters list.[3]

[edit] Animation

Franz once appeared as himself on the popular animated sitcom The Simpsons, portraying a deviant and cruel Homer Simpson in a made for TV movie when Homer was accused of sexual harassment. A famous quote from this scene is as follows.

[While recklessly driving with a cat in the middle of the road.]

Girly victim: "No, Mr. Simpson! A cat is a living creature!"

Dennis Franz as Homer: "I DON'T CARE!"

[edit] 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
NYPD Blue (1993) TV Series .... Det. Andy Sipowicz
In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion (1992) (TV) .... Bob Bryant
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
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
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

[edit] External links

Dennis Franz at the Internet Movie Database

NYPD Blue
Characters	Andy Sipowicz \| John Kelly \| Bobby Simone \| Sylvia Costas \| Diane Russell
Actors	Dennis Franz \| David Caruso \| Jimmy Smits \| Rick Schroder \| Mark-Paul Gosselaar James McDaniel \| Gordon Clapp \| Nicholas Turturro \| Sharon Lawrence \| Kim Delaney \| Sherry Stringfield Gail O'Grady \| Andrea Thompson \| Bill Brochtrup \| Henry Simmons \| Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon \| Charlotte Ross Esai Morales \| Jacqueline Obradors \| John F. O'Donohue \| Currie Graham \| Bonnie Somerville
Creators	Steven Bochco \| David Milch
Episodes	Season 1 \| Season 2 \| Season 3 \| Season 4 \| Season 5 Season 6 \| Season 7 \| Season 8 \| Season 9 Season 10 \| Season 11 \| Season 12