Biography for
Dennis Franz (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

28 October 1944, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Birth Name

Dennis Franz Schlacta

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Dennis Franz was born Dennis Franz Schlacta in Maywood, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His father was a German immigrant and both he and Franz's mother, were postal workers. He has two sisters, Marlene (born 1938) and Heidi (born 1935). He graduated from Southern Illinois University and was immediately drafted into the military. He served 11 month in Vietnam in a reconnaissance unit, and after his service he suffered depression for some time afterwards. In 1972 he joined the Organic Theatre Company. Robert Altman discovered him at an auditions and urged him to go to Los Angeles, where he became part of Altman's resident company. He met Joanie Zeck on April Fool's Day 1982 and aided her in raising her two daughters, Krista (born 1976) and Tricia (born 1974). They married thirteen years later in Carmel, California.

IMDb Mini Biography By: John Sacksteder

Spouse

Joanie Zeck

(1 April 1995 - present)

Trade Mark

Always wear short-sleeved shirt under a jacket on "NYPD Blue."

Trivia

Before entering "Hill Street Blues" (1981), as Norm Buntz, appeared as Sal Benedetto for a few episodes.

Children: Tricia (b. 1974) and Krista (b. 1976).

Always travels with a pet bird.

Graduated from Proviso East H.S. Maywood IL, in 1962.

Served 11 months in Vietnam with the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions.

Frequently plays cops

Franz's own recipes are included in "The Cop Cookbook" by Greta Garner-Hewitt, Ken Beck and Jim Clark, published in 1997.

Attended Wright Junior College and Southern Illinois University, with a major in speech and theater

By 11th grade, he tried out for a part in a school play called, "The Crucible," because his girlfriend was auditioning. He won the part, but his girlfriend didn't

In high school, he was active in baseball, football and swimming

Is a board member of the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance

Is an animal lover, has a dog named Bigelow.

Was a mailman before becoming an actor

Hobbies: Snow-skis, plays golf and gives time and talent to charitable organizations.

He and Jimmy Smits began their association with Steven Bochco in the 1980s.

Andy Sipowicz, Franz's character on "NYPD Blue" (1993), was ranked #31 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].

His former "NYPD Blue" (1993) co-star, David Caruso, is currently the star of "CSI: Miami" (2002), the spin-off of William Petersen's series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000). Franz and Petersen co-presented an award at the 2004 Emmys.

Best known by the public for his starring role as Det. Andy Sipowicz on "NYPD Blue" (1993).

He was nominated for a 1976 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Switch Bitch" at the Organic Theater Company in Chicago, Illinois.

He was nominated for the 1977 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role for his performance in the play, "Cops" at the Organic Theater Company in Chicago, Illinois.

Was considered for the role of Vic in American Graffiti (1973).

Personal Quotes

For lack of a better term, they've labeled me a sex symbol. It's flattering and it should happen to every bald, overweight guy.

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