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Dennis Franz Bio, Wiki, Age, Height, Wife, Family, NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues, and Net Worth.

Author

Sarah Richards

Published Feb 23, 2026

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Dennis Franz Biography

Dennis Franz is a famous award-winning American actor, best known for his role as NYPD Detective Andy Sipowicz in the ABC television series NYPD Blue between 1993 to 2005. His role in the police procedural drama earned him four Emmy awards and one Golden Globe before he began his career as an actor.

10 Quick Facts About Dennis Franz

  1. Name: Dennis Franz
  2. Age: 77 years
  3. Birthday: October 28
  4. Zodiac: Virgo
  5. Height: 5 feet 10 inches
  6. Nationality: American
  7. Occupation: Actor
  8. Marital Status: Married to Joanie Zeck
  9. Salary: Not Available
  10. Net Worth: $16 million

Dennis Franz Age

Franz is 77 years old as of 2021, he was born Dennis Franz Schlachta on October 28, 1944, in Maywood, Illinois, United States of America. He celebrates his birthday on October 28, every year and his birth sign is Virgo.

Dennis Franz Height

Franz stands at a height of 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters). However, details regarding his other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We will update this section when the information is available.

Dennis Franz Weight

Franz Weighs 80 kilograms. Known for his captivating personality, Franz has grey eyes and his hair color is grey.

Dennis Franz Education

Franz is a highly educated and qualified person. He wеnt tо thе Рrоvіѕо Еаѕt Ніgh Ѕсhооl іn 1962 whеrе hе рlауеd ѕеvеrаl ѕроrtѕ іnсludіng fооtbаll, bаѕеbаll, аnd ѕwіmmіng.

Lаtеr, Frаnz аttеndеd thе Ѕоuthеrn Іllіnоіѕ Unіvеrѕіtу Саrbоndаlе аnd Wіlbur Wrіght Соllеgе whеrе hе еаrnеd hіѕ dеgrее іn ѕреесh аnd thеаtrе іn thе уеаr 1968. Аftеr grаduаtіng frоm соllеgе hе ѕеrvеd thе Unіtеd Ѕtаtеѕ Аrmу fоr 11 mоnthѕ wіth thе 101ѕt Аіrbоrnе Dіvіѕіоn аnd 82nd Аіrbоrnе Dіvіѕіоn іn Vіеtnаm.

Dennis Franz Family

Frаnz wаѕ bоrn іn Мауwооd, Іllіnоіѕ оn Осtоbеr 28, 1944, tо Frаnz Fеrdіnаnd Ѕсhlасhtа (father) аnd Еlеаnоr Ѕсhlасhtа (mother). Ніѕ fаthеr wаѕ а роѕtаl wоrkеr аnd hіѕ mоthеr wаѕ а bаkеr. Не hаѕ twо ѕіblіngѕ Маrlеnе аnd Неіdі.

Dennis Franz Wife

Franz got married in 1995 to Joanie Zeck in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, United States. Nonetheless, further information regarding his family in detail is currently under review and will be updated as soon as it is available.

Dennis Franz Children

Franz has 2 stepdaughters Tricia Zeck, and Krista Zeck from his wife’s previous marriage. He has done a very good job of maintaining his personal and professional life. Franz is a good husband and also a loving father.

Dennis Franz Net Worth

Franz has an estimated net worth of $16 million dollars as of 2022. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as an Actor. Through his various sources of income, he has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.

Dennis Franz Measurements and Facts

Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Franz.

Dennis Franz Wiki

  • Full Names: Dennis Franz Schlachta.
  • Popular As: Dennis Franz.
  • Gender: Male.
  • Occupation / Profession: Actor.
  • Nationality: American.
  • Race / Ethnicity: White.
  • Religion: Not Known.
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight.

Dennis Franz Birthday

  • Age / How Old?: 77 Years Old.
  • Zodiac Sign: Virgo.
  • Date of Birth: October 28, 1944.
  • Place of Birth: Maywood, Illinois.
  • Birthday: October 28th.

Dennis Franz Body Measurements

  • Body Measurements: Pending Update.
  • Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters).
  • Weight: 80 kilograms.
  • Eye Color: Grey.
  • Hair Color: Grey.
  • Shoe Size: Pending Update.

Dennis Franz Family and Relationship

  • Father (Dad): Frаnz Fеrdіnаnd Ѕсhlасhtа.
  • Mother: Еlеаnоr Ѕсhlасhtа.
  • Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Маrlеnе & Неіdі.
  • Marital Status: Married.
  • Wife/Spouse: Married to Joanie Zeck.
  • Dating / Girlfriend: Not Applicable.
  • Children: Sons (Not Known) Daughter(s) (Tricia Zeck & Krista Zeck).

Dennis Franz Net Worth and Salary

  • Net Worth: $16 million dollars as of 2021.
  • Salary: Pending Update.
  • Source of Income: Career as an Actor.

Dennis Franz Wikipedia

Franz started his acting career at Chicago’s Organic Theater Company. Although he has in the past performed Shakespeare, his appearance led to his being typecast early in his career as a cop. (By Franz’s own count, the character of Andy Sipowicz was his 28th role as a police officer). He also guest-starred in shows such as The A-Team.

Other major roles were on the television series Hill Street Blues in which he played two characters over the run of the show. Franz first played the role of the corrupt Detective Sal Benedetto in the 1982–1983 season.

Benedetto finally commits suicide when a large-scale scam he was running fails. Franz returned to the series in 1985 as main character Lt. Norman Buntz, remaining until the show’s end in 1987. He also starred in the short-lived Beverly Hills Buntz as the same character.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Franz worked regularly with directors Brian De Palma and Robert Altman. 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).

Franz went on to win four Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue. The character of Sipowicz was ranked No. 23 on Bravo’s 100 Greatest TV Characters list.

In 1996, while still on NYPD Blue, Franz appeared in the Disney cartoon Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series in which he provided the voice of Captain Klegghorn, the commanding officer and head of the Anaheim Police Department. The series ran from September 1996 to January 1997.

In 1994, Franz made a cameo appearance as himself in The Simpsons episode “Homer Badman”, in which Homer is accused of sexually harassing a babysitter and the case becomes tabloid fodder, generating an exploitative television movie, Homer S.: Portrait of an Ass-Grabber, in which Franz portrays Homer.

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, the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance.

Franz also was a commercial spokesman for Nextel in the early 2000s. The concept was that Franz “refused” to do the commercials, saying they were not something he did.

Franz starred as Earl, the abusive husband, in the Dixie Chicks’ music video “Goodbye Earl”, as airport police captain Carmine Lorenzo in the 1990 film Die Hard 2, and as Nathaniel Messinger in the 1998 film City of Angels. It was his final film role to date.

Dennis Franz Film

  • 1965 Mickey One
  • 1978 Remember My Name
  • 1978 The Fury
  • 1978 A Wedding
  • 1978 Stony Island
  • 1979 A Perfect Couple
  • 1980 Dressed to Kill
  • 1980 Popeye
  • 1981 Blow Out
  • 1983 Psycho II
  • 1983 Scarface
  • 1984 Body Double
  • 1985 Runaway Train
  • 1986 A Fine Mess
  • 1989 The Package
  • 1990 Die Hard 2
  • 1991 The Sid Story
  • 1992 In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion
  • 1992 The Player
  • 1996 Healing the Hate
  • 1996 American Buffalo
  • 1997 Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off
  • 1998 City of Angels

Dennis Franz Television series shows

  • 1979  Bleacher Bums
  • 1980  Chicago Story
  • 1982  Chicago Story
  • 1983  Hill Street Blues
  • 1983  Bay City Blues
  • 1984  Hardcastle and McCormick
  • 1984  The A-Team
  • 1984  Riptide
  • 1984  E/R
  • 1984  J. Hooker
  • 1985–1987  Hill Street Blues
  • 1985  Simon & Simon
  • 1985  The A-Team
  • 1985  Hardcastle and McCormick
  • 1985  MacGruder and Loud
  • 1985  Hunter
  • 1985  Street Hawk
  • 1985  Scene of the Crime
  • 1985  Deadly Messages
  • 1987  Tales from the Hollywood Hills
  • 1987– 1988 Beverly Hills Buntz
  • 1989  Kiss Shot
  • 1989 Matlock
  • 1989  Christine Cromwell
  • 1990  Nasty Boys
  • 1990  Nasty Boys, Part 2: Lone Justice
  • 1991  NYPD Mounted
  • 1991  Civil Wars
  • 1993– 2005 NYPD Blue
  • 1994  The Simpsons
  • 1994  Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire
  • 1995  Texas Justice
  • 1996– 1997 Mighty Ducks
  • 1998  Sesame Street

Dennis Franz Hill Street Blues

Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that aired on NBC in primetime from 1981 to 1987 for 146 episodes. The show received critical acclaim, and its production innovations influenced much subsequent dramatic television series produced in the United States and Canada. Franz played two characters over the run of the show. He first played the role of Detective Sal Benedetto, a corrupt cop in the 1983 season, who later kills himself.

Dennis Franz NYPD Blue

NYPD Blue is an American police procedural drama television series set in New York City, his role is as NYPD Detective Andy Sipowicz in the ABC television series.

Franz Dennis Awards

  • Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
  • Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  • Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Frequently Asked Questions About Franz Dennis

Who is Franz Dennis?

Franz is an American actor, best known for his role as NYPD Detective Andy Sipowicz in the ABC television series NYPD Blue between 1993 to 2005. His role in the police procedural drama earned him four Emmy awards and one Golden Globe before he began his career as an actor.

How old is Franz Dennis? 

Franz is an American national born on October 28, 1944, in Maywood, Illinois.

How tall is Franz Dennis? 

Franz stands at a height of 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters).

Is Franz Dennis married? 

Franz got married in 1995 to Joanie Zeck in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, United States. Nonetheless, further information regarding his family in detail is currently under review and will be updated as soon as it is available.

How much is Franz Dennis worth?

Franz has a net worth of $16 million dollars as of 2022. This amount has been accrued from his leading roles in the entertainment industry.

How much does Franz Dennis make?

According to our reliable sources, Franz’s annual salary is currently under review. Nevertheless, we are keeping tabs and will update you once this information is available.

Where does Franz Dennis live? 

Because of security reasons, Franz has not shared his precise location of residence. We will update this information if we get the location and images of his house.

Is Franz Dennis dead or alive? 

Franz is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.

Where is Franz Dennis Now?

Franz is still an active participant in the creative entertainment industry. His role in the police procedural drama earned him four Emmy awards and one Golden Globe before he began his career as an actor.

Franz Dennis Social Media Contacts

  • Instagram: Pending Update.
  • Twitter
  • Facebook: Pending Update.
  • Youtube: Pending Update.
  • Tiktok: Pending Update.
  • Website: Pending Update.