Dennis Franz
Dennis Franz
Chicago-born Dennis Franz (originally Dennis Schlachta) spent 11 months in an airborne division during the Vietnam War. Afterwards, Franz became a postman -- and, by his own admission, not a very good one. Short, bald, overweight and scrappy, he decided to establish himself as a character actor, making the rounds of Windy City casting agencies in search of film work. Franz made his film debut in a bit part in De Palma's The Fury (1978). He made his TV debut as beat cop Joe Gilland in the 1982 TV series Chicago Story. Franz went on to become a "regular" in the various projects of producer Steven Bochco, playing baseball coach Angelo Carbone on the four-episode Bay City Blues (1983), and two different roles -- unscrupulous detective Sal Benedetto and streetwise lieutenant Norman Buntz -- on the popular Hill Street Blues. An attempt to capitalize on his Hill Street fame led to the short-lived 1987 series Beverly Hills Buntz. In 1993, Dennis Franz was back with Bochco on the controversial series NYPD Blue; once again, he played a cop, this time a recovering alcoholic trying to reassemble his shattered personal life and career. His gritty portrayal of Detective Andy Sipowicz is considered his best role and has won Franz multiple Emmy awards. While primarily a television actor, Franz has appeared in numerous feature films and has worked with such esteemed directors as Brian De Palma and Robert Altman. As with his television career, he is frequently cast as a police officer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Filmography of Dennis Franz:
- City of Angels with Nicolas Cage , Meg Ryan , Andre Braugher
- Blow Out with John Travolta , Nancy Allen , John Lithgow
- The Package with Gene Hackman , Joanna Cassidy , Tommy Lee Jones , John Heard , Pam Grier , Jack Gold
- The Player with Tim Robbins , Greta Scacchi , Fred Ward , Whoopi Goldberg , Peter Gallagher , Vincent D'Onofrio , Brion James , Dean Stockwell , Richard E. Grant , Sydney Pollack , Lyle Lovett , Dina Merrill , Gina Gershon , Steve Allen , Richard Anderson , Rene Auberjonois , Harry Belafonte , Karen Black , Gary Busey , Robert Carradine , Cher , James Coburn , John Cusack , Brad Davis , Paul Dooley , Peter Falk , Felicia Farr , Louise Fletcher , Teri Garr , Jeff Goldblum , Elliott Gould , Joel Grey , David Alan Grier , Buck Henry , Anjelica Huston , Sally Kirkland , Jack Lemmon , Marlee Matlin , Andie MacDowell , Malcolm McDowell , Jayne Meadows , Martin Mull , Nick Nolte , Bert Remsen , Burt Reynolds , Julia Roberts , Mimi Rogers , Alan Rudolph , Jill St. John , Susan Sarandon , Rod Steiger , Joan Tewkesbury , Lily Tomlin , Robert Wagner , Ray Walston , Bruce Willis , James Jr. Coburn , Scott Glenn , Michael Tolkin
- America: A Tribute to Heroes with Jim Carrey , George Clooney , Robert DeNiro , Kelsey Grammer , Jane Kaczmarek , Sarah Jessica Parker , Julia Roberts , Chris Rock , Will Smith , Jimmy Smits , Sela Ward , Tom Cruise , Tom Hanks , Paul Simon , Bruce Springsteen , Sting , Robin Williams , Cameron Diaz , Calista Flockhart , Ray Romano , Lucy Liu
- Popeye with Robin Williams , Shelley Duvall , Ray Walston , Paul Dooley , Linda Hunt , Donald Moffat
Dennis Franz Trivia
