Dennis Franz was born Dennis Franz Schlacta in Maywood, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His father was a German immigrant and both he and Franz's mother, were postal workers. He has two sisters, Marlene (born 1938) and Heidi (born 1935). He graduated from Southern Illinois University and was immediately drafted into the military. He served 11 month in Vietnam in a reconnaissance unit, and after his service he suffered depression for some time afterwards. In 1972 he joined the Organic Theatre Company. Robert Altman discovered him at an auditions and urged him to go to Los Angeles, where he became part of Altman's resident company. He married the former Joanie Zeck in 1982 and has aided her in raising her two daughters, Krista (born 1976) and Tricia (born 1974).
Before entering Hill Street Blues, as Norm Buntz, appeared as Sal Benedetto for a few episodes. Children: Tricia and Krista Always travels with a pet bird. Graduated from Proviso East H.S. Maywood IL, in 1962. Served 11 months in Vietnam with the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions. Frequently plays cops Franz's own recipes are included in "The Cop Cookbook" by Greta Garner-Hewitt, Ken Beck and Jim Clark, published in 1997. Attended Wright Junior College and Southern Illinois University, with a major in speech and theater By 11th grade, he tried out for a part in a school play called, "The Crucible," because his girlfriend was auditioning. He won the part, but his girlfriend didn't In high school, he was active in baseball, football and swimming Is a board member of the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance Is an animal lover, has a dog named Bigelow. Was a mailman before becoming an actor Hobbies: Snow-skis, plays golf and gives time and talent to charitable organizations. He and Jimmy Smits began their association with Steven Bochco in the 1980s. Andy Sipowicz, Franz's character on NYPD Blue, was ranked #31 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue]. His former NYPD Blue co-star, David Caruso, is currently the star of CSI: Miami, the spin-off of William L. Petersen's series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Franz and Petersen co-presented an award at the 2004 Emmys.