![]() ![]() He was a flatfoot on the trail of Michael Caine's cross-dressing killer in De Palma's "Dresssed to Kill" (1980) and made his TV debut as a hard-working Chicago beat cop in "Chicago Story" (NBC, 1982). His burly frame and streetwise intensity made him a natural for figures on both side of the law, though policemen and detectives seemed to be his specialty. A 2002 version of the play was broadcast on Showtime.įranz began auditioning for film and television during the 1970s, making his debut in Brian De Palma's "The Fury" in 1978. Franz, who also appeared in the original theater production, was among the credited writers for the play and its screenplay, along with future director Stuart Gordon of "Re-Animator" fame (1985). In 1979, he appeared in a televised PBS production of the play "Bleacher Bums," which began life at the Organic Theater as a story conceived by actor Joe Mantegna. There, he was nominated for two Joseph Jefferson Awards in 19, which acknowledged excellence in Windy City theater. Eventually, he made his way back to acting via Chicago's acclaimed Organic Theater, which he joined in 1972. The experience was a difficult one for Franz, and he struggled with depression in the years following his discharge. Army, which shipped him to Vietnam for 11 months with the 82nd Airborne Division. After graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Franz attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where he majored in speech and theater. Franz landed the part - the girlfriend did not - and his future was set in stone. His impetus to audition for a part in a production of "The Crucible" was his girlfriend at the time, who was also trying out for a role. ![]() Though he was a bonafide sports nut who played on the baseball, football and swim teams at Proviso East High School in Maywood, IL, he discovered a new passion - acting - in the 11th grade. The son of German immigrants who worked for the postal service, Dennis Franz Schlachta was born in Chicago, IL on Oct. But "NYPD Blue" provided his finest hours, and ensured Franz a place in television history as one of the medium's most complicated lawmen. Prior to his success on "Blue," Franz was a veteran of the Chicago theater scene and a character actor specializing in cops and heels, most notably on "Hill Street Blues" (NBC, 1981-1987) as Lt. It took an actor of Franz's talent and presence to find the sympathetic elements beneath Sipowicz's bristling hide, and Franz brought them out in every single episode of the benchmark series, earning four Emmys in the process. “Plaintiff understood that the discount rate would remain in effect throughout the contract period and any unused funds of the deposit would be refunded to plaintiff …,” Franz’s court papers stated.Two decades of playing cops in films and on television prepared actor Dennis Franz for the role of his lifetime - that of troubled Detective Andy Sipowicz on "NYPD Blue" (ABC, 1993-2005). The change was made with a fax sent by Hodkinson to Joanie Franz, the actor’s court papers state. A modification in the contract a month later by Elite Aviation’s president, Richard Hodkinson, allowed Franz to claim a refund of any unused flight time, according to the actor’s court papers. The 65-year-old actor is president of his company and his wife, Joanie Franz, is vice president.Īccording to the suit, both sides signed a contract in October 2004 in which Franz Productions paid Elite Service $165,280 to provide 75 hours of private air transportation over the course of 18 months at a discount rate. The details of the settlement were not disclosed in court documents. The case was scheduled for trial earlier this past Monday, but the attorneys notified Judge John Shook that a resolution was reached. The breach-of-contract lawsuit was brought by Franz’s company, Dennis Franz Productions Inc., in Los Angeles Superior Court against Elite Aviation in August 2009. ![]() Dennis Franz and a Van Nuys-based charter jet company settled a legal dispute in which the “NYPD Blue” actor alleged he was owed a refund of nearly $70,000 in unused flight time. ![]()
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