Matinee Classics - Dennis Franz Biography & Filmography

Dennis Franz ACTOR

DENNIS FRANZ BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Dennis Franz was born on October 28th, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois with the birth name Dennis Franz Schalacta. He has two sisters and along with his siblings, was raised in a suburb of Chicago.

After graduating from Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois in 1962, he went on to earn a degree from Southern Illinois University and immediately after college, Franz was drafted into the military. Upon completing his military service he began his involvement in acting.

Franz joined the Organic Theatre Company and performed in a number of stage productions and also worked as a mailman to support himself. He was then discovered by, Robert Altman who convinced him that he should relocate to Hollywood and pursue a career in films.

Dennis is most well known for his role as Detective Andy Sipowicz on the television drama series, "N.Y.P.D. Blue" (1993), a role for which he has won four Emmy Awards. Over the course of his career he has portrayed a police officer twenty seven times. He has added such television appearances as, "The A-Team", "Hill Street Blues", "Beverly Hills Buntz", "Bay City Blues", "Chicago Story", "Riptide", "Simon & Simon", "Hunter", "Scene of the Crime" and "Matlock".

He has also appeared in such films as, "Psycho II" (1983), "The Package" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) starring Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, John Amos, Franco Nero, William Sadler and Fred Thompson, "American Buffalo" (1996) starring with Dustin Hoffman and "City of Angels" (1998) starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan.

Dennis Franz married only once to Joanie Zeck in 1995 and helped raise her two daughters from a previous relationship. The couple never had any children together and remain married today where they reside in Carmel, California.

Filmography