Episode 71 – Getting Personal With “NYPD Blue” Star Bill Brochtrup - Part 1

On this episode of Hollywood Obsessed, host Tony Miros speaks with Bill Brochtrup, who is best known for playing public administrative assistant ‘John Irvin’ on the Emmy award-winning series "NYPD Blue”.

During their revealing conversation, Bill tells Tony about his early days of being a struggling actor in Hollywood, what it was like working with Angela Landsbury on the classic TV series “Murder She Wrote”, how his appearance in the L.A. stage production of "The Raft of the Medusa" won him the role of out gay public administrative assistant John Irvin on the hit ABC police drama "NYPD Blue”, his memories of playing the only openly gay character on the show for 6 seasons - including his thoughts on how his character was an integral part of the show, not a throwaway one, how his onscreen storyline with the gruff, homophobic Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) changed throughout the years, and how this groundbreaking role opened doors for more significant gay characters and stories to be told on television.

BILL BROCHTRUP

Bill Brochtrup is a television, film, and stage actor, best known for playing ‘John Irvin’ the cheerful administrative aide, on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning police drama, “NYPD Blue”. Along with the rest of the cast, he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. In 2019 he reprised his role in ABC's rebooted NYPD Blue pilot.

In addition to series regular roles on two other Steven Bochco dramas (“Public Morals” and “Total Security”) he has had recurring roles on Jon Avnet’s web-series “Kendra” and Showtime’s “Shameless”, as well as a five-season run as savvy police psychologist ‘Dr. Joe Bowman’ on TNT’s “Major Crimes”. He is currently appearing in the Emmy Award-winning digital drama “After Forever” on Amazon. Guest appearances include “Dexter”; “Without a Trace”; “Murder, She Wrote”; “Dragnet”; and “ALF”.

His movie credits include roles in “Rockula” (1990); “Terror in the Shadows” (1995); “Betrayed: A Story of Three Women” (1995); “Space Marines” (1996); “Not Again!”(1996); “Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects” (1996); “Man of the Year” (1996); “The Arrival” (1996); “Two Voices” (1997); “Ravenous” (1999); “Role of a Lifetime” (2002); “Hypnotized” (2004); “Duck” (2005); “Man of the Year” (2006); “He's Just Not That Into You” (2009); “Life as We Know It” (2010); and “No Boundaries” (2012 Short).

Onstage he has appeared in New York, Los Angeles, and in regional theaters throughout the country. He is the Artistic Director of the Antaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles’ acclaimed classical theater ensemble, where he also produced the Ambie-nominated fiction podcast series The Zip Code Plays.

He has told his original comic stories at numerous Spoken Word events, and has written for Out magazine and the bestselling collection of essays I Love You, Mom!

He has hosted AIDS Walks across the country, is an SPCA “Friend for Life,” and has spent numerous holidays abroad with the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment, visiting Troops in the Persian Gulf, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Germany, Japan, Bosnia, and Kosovo.

He was born in Inglewood, CA, raised in Tacoma, WA, and studied at New York University. After NYU, he moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue an acting career. He currently resides in Los Angeles. Brochtrup came out to People magazine as gay in 1997.

Bill Brochtrup Website - https://www.billbrochtrup.com

Antaeus Theater Company - https://antaeus.org

“The Inheritance” on Audible with Bill Brochtrup - https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Inheritance-Audiobook/B0BXQTDCY5

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