Dennis Franz Schlachta was born on the 28th October 1944, in Maywood, Chicago, Illinois USA of German ancestry. He is an actor, perhaps best known for his appearance in the role of Detective Andy Sipowicz in the TV series “NYPD Blue” (1993-2005). He has also starred in a number of films such as “Dressed To Kill” (1980), “Die Hard 2” (1990), and “City Of Angels” (1998).
Have you ever wondered how rich Dennis Franz is, as of early 2016? According to sources, it is estimated that Dennis’ net worth is currently over $16 million. The main source of this sum of money is his successful career as an actor, who has gained popularity by starring in over 50 TV and film titles.
Dennis Franz Net Worth $16 Million
Dennis Franz was born to German immigrants Eleanor and Franz Ferdinand Schlachta, and was raised with two older sisters. He attended Proviso East High School, after which he enrolled at Wilbur Wright College and Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Right after graduation, he was drafted into the US Army and he served 11 months with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in Vietnam. When he returned home, Franz became a member of the Organic Theatre Company and start to pursue an acting career, as he began appearing in auditions where was spotted by director and producer Robert Altman. Thanks to him, Franz moved to Los Angeles and joined Altman’s resident company.
Dennis` career began in the 1970s, when he featured in the film “Remember My Name” (1978), although it was a minor role; it soon followed by appearances in productions such as “A Wedding” (1978), “Stony Island” (1978), and “A Perfect Couple” (1979), among others, before the end of the 1970s.
In the 1980s, Dennis made several notable appearances, starting with Detective Marino in the Brian De Palma`s film “Dressed To Kill” (1980), alongside Michael Caine and Angie Dickinson in lead roles. The following year, Dennis portrayed Officer Joe Gilland in the film “Chicago Story”, which was later made into a TV series in which Dennis repeated his role, which increased further his net worth. In 1983, Dennis was selected for the role of Angelo Carbone in the TV series “Bay City Blues”, and featured in the film “Psycho II” the same year. During the 1980s, he also appeared in TV series “Hill Street Blues” (1983-1987), and “Beverly Hills Buntz” (1987-1988), among others, all of which increased his net worth.
He continued to line up success after success in the 1990s, extending the number of roles, and increasing further his net worth. In 1990 he appeared in the film “Die Hard 2”, with Bruce Willis, and Bonnie Bedelia in lead roles. Three years later, he auditioned for the role of Det. Andy Sipowicz in the TV series “NYPD Blue”, and subsequently stayed in the show until its end in 2005, after which he retired from the entertainment industry. However, concurrently with his TV commitment, Dennis appeared in productions such as “City Of Angels” (1998), with Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan, “Mighty Ducks” (1996-1997), “American Buffalo” (1996), and “Nasty Boys” (1990), among others, all of which increased his net worth.
Thanks to his successful career, Dennis received several prestigious nominations and awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, for his work on “NYPD Blue”, and 4 Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, also for “NYPD Blue”. Furthermore, he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.
Speaking about his personal life, Dennis Franz has been married to Joanie Zeck since 1995; he adopted her two daughters from her previous marriage. Their residence is currently in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He is known for charity work; Franz is a member of the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance. In free time, he enjoys skiing and playing golf.
