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Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 08:49:34 PM |
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Dennis Franz Detective Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue 
There's something about the color blue that seems to connect with Dennis Franz (pronounced "Fronze," as in "Bronze") as far as television is concerned: He has starred on "Hill Street Blues," "Bay City Blues" and the ground-breaking series "NYPD Blue."Franz has amassed a mantel-full of accolades for his complex and compelling performance on "NYPD Blue." A seven-time Emmy nominee, he has won the Award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times. This is unprecedented - to win four Emmys for the same character on the same dramatic series. He was also a 1994 Golden Globe Award winner, received five Best Actor awards from the Viewers for Quality Television, won the very first SAG award for Best Actor in a Drama in 1994 (and again in 1996), and for Best Ensemble Acting in a Drama (in 1995 and 1997). Franz received critical acclaim for his guest-starring roles on ABC's "Civil Wars" and the television movie "In the Line of Duty: Stand-Off at Marion." He starred in the TV movie "Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire" and the ABC miniseries "Texas Justice." During the 1989-90 television season he starred as Lieutenant Stan Krieger on the series "Nasty Boys." In feature films Franz has starred in "City of Angels," with Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage, and his voice can be heard -- as the police horse -- in the film "Doctor Dolittle," starring Eddie Murphy. Other feature credits include "American Buffalo," with Dustin Hoffman, "Die Hard II: Die Harder," "The Package," with Gene Hackman, "Dressed to Kill," "Popeye," "Blowout," "Remember My Name," "Perfect Couple," "Body Double," "Psycho II" and "A Fine Mess." Born in Maywood, Illinois, Franz was active in high-school baseball, football and swimming. During his junior year he tried out for a part in a school production of "The Crucible" because his girlfriend was auditioning. He got his part, she didn't, and so a promising romance was lost. Dennis attended Wright Junior College in Chicago and then Southern Illinois University, majoring in speech and theater. Following graduation he enlisted in the military and did an 11-month tour of duty in Vietnam. Returning home, he got together with some college buddies and organized several theater companies in the Chicago area, including The Organic Theater Company. In 1983 Franz began his association with Steven Bochco, portraying Sal Benedetto on the critically acclaimed "Hill Street Blues." "It was very exciting to be asked to play a role on television's most critically acclaimed show, Hill Street Blues," Dennis said. "I was Sal Benedetto, a notorious, selfish, evil man. I did two episodes and the character was so popular I did another three." TV Guide voted him "Villain of the Year." Bochco later asked Franz to star in "Bay City Blues," a series about minor league baseball players. When the series ended after four episodes, the producers of "Hill Street Blues" created the role of Lieutenant Buntz for Franz so he could return to "The Hill." Buntz became very popular and Franz remained with the series for its last two seasons, 1985-86 and 1986-87. This led to a short-lived spin-off, "Beverly Hills Buntz." In his spare time Franz snow-skis, plays golf and gives of his time and talent to charitable organizations. The Los Angeles Police Department Reserve officers presented him with their 2000 "Twice A Citizen" Award. He has served on the board of the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance since its inception in January, 2000, and co-hosted -- with Katie Couric -- their first ROCK 'N RACE TO FIGHT COLON CANCER, in Washington D.C. His appearance in May of this year on "Celebrity Millionaire" earned $250,000 for the charity. Franz has also hosted the Revlon Run/Walk in Los Angeles, benefiting breast and ovarian cancer research, and the Los Angeles Police Department's golf tournament. He was presented with his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 19, 1999, and that date was proclaimed "Dennis Franz Day" in Hollywood. Franz was among a select group -- including Faith Hill, Britney Spears and *NSYNC -- who read selections from Pope John II's private prayer / poem books for a CD that serves as a companion piece to "The Private Prayer Books of Pope John Paul II," a seven volume collection of his personal writings. Proceeds will be donated to charities selected by the Vatican. As Dennis' dog, Bigelow, and two birds, Mario and Maria, could attest if they could speak, Franz is an animal lover. He also enjoys listening to music, especially Œ50s rock and country-western.
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