- Born
- Birth nameDennis Franz Schlacta
- Height5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
- Dennis Franz was born Dennis Franz Schlacta in Maywood, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and is the son of Eleanor (Mueller) and Franz Ferdinand Schlachta, who 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 eleven months 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 met Joanie Zeck on April Fool's Day 1982 and aided her in raising her two daughters, Krista (born 1976) and Tricia (born 1974). They married thirteen years later in Carmel, California.
- IMDb mini biography by: John Sacksteder <jsack@ka.net>
- SpouseJoanie Zeck(April 1, 1995 - present)
- ParentsFranz SchlachtaEleanor Schlachta
- RelativesHeidi Adele Schlacta (Deigl)(Sibling)Marlene J Schlacta (Schraut)(Sibling)
- Always wore a short-sleeved shirt under a jacket on NYPD Blue (1993)
- Frequently plays policemen
- Frequently cast by Brian De Palma
- Strong gravelly voice
- Strong Chicago accent
- Was a mailman before becoming an actor.
- After graduating from college, he was drafted into the United States Army. He served 11 months with the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions in Vietnam.
- Currently resides in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
- Always travels with a pet bird.
- While he planned to take a year off after he finished filming NYPD BLUE, he didn't plan at the time to completely retire from acting, but he enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family so much that he decided that he wouldn't seek any more acting work and in fact he has not appeared in any roles since 2005.
- For lack of a better term, they've labeled me a sex symbol. It's flattering and it should happen to every bald, overweight guy.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
