On May 11, 2001, Franz was a contestant on a celebrity edition of the hit television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, winning $250,000 for his charity.įranz also was a commercial spokesman for Nextel in the early 2000s. In 1994 Franz made a cameo appearance as himself in The Simpsons episode " Homer Badman" - when Homer is accused of sexually harassing a babysitter, the case becomes tabloid fodder, generating an exploitative television movie, Homer S.: Portrait of an Ass-Grabber, in which Franz portrays Homer. The character of Sipowicz was ranked #23 on Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters list. He appeared in three of Altman's films from this period, and five of De Palma's, most prominently as a low budget movie director in Body Double (1984).įranz went on to win four Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue. He also starred in the short-lived Beverly Hills Buntz as the same character.ĭuring the late 1970s and early 1980s, Franz worked regularly with directors Brian De Palma and Robert Altman. Norm Buntz, remaining until the show's end in 1987. Due to his popularity with fans, he returned in 1985 as Lt. Franz first played the role of Detective Sal Benedetto, a corrupt cop in the 1983 season, who later kills himself. Other major roles were on the television series Hill Street Blues in which he played two characters over the run of the show. He has also guest starred in shows such as The A-Team. (By Franz's own count, the character of Andy Sipowicz was his 28th role as a police officer). Although he has in the past performed Shakespeare, his appearance led to his being typecast early in his career as a police officer. Needs additional citations for verification.įranz began his acting career at Chicago's Organic Theater Company. He served eleven months with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. After graduating from college, Franz was drafted into the United States Army. Franz is a graduate of Proviso East High School (in Maywood), Wilbur Wright College and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has two older sisters, Heidi (born 1935) and Marlene (born 1938). Sign up for a free membership to have job postings, guides and advice, and more delivered directly to your inbox.Franz was born in Maywood, Illinois, the son of German immigrants Eleanor, a postal worker, and Franz Schlachta, who was a baker and postal worker. ![]() Whether you want to learn more about other famous veterans, polish up your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area, or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, can help. Want to Learn About More Famous Veterans? Aside from enjoying retirement, he's been active in promoting numerous causes such as breast and ovarian cancer research, RADD (Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes Against Drunk Driving), wildlife preservation and more. Since the conclusion of "NYPD Blue," Franz has largely stepped away from the spotlight. ![]() ![]() "This one was a wonderful experience, which will be hard to top, and It's caused me to turn down several good film opportunities because of the schedule." "I am not interested in considering another TV series," Franz said. ![]() When the series concluded, Franz expressed heartfelt, strong feelings about leaving. He was nominated for an Emmy as "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" eight times, winning four. His success on "NYPD Blue" highlighted his entire career.
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