Episode 72 – Getting Personal With “NYPD Blue” Star Bill Brochtrup - Part 2

Episode 72 – Getting Personal With “NYPD Blue” Star Bill Brochtrup - Part 2

 

During the second half of Tony’s riveting conversation with actor Bill Brochtrup they discuss what the realities of being an gay actor in Hollywood is, his fear of being type cast or losing parts because of it, the relief he felt when he finally came out publicly, how much he now likes playing gay characters, his appreciation to Steven Bochco for changing his life with the role of ‘John’, how he’s still in touch with his former “NYPD Blue” co-stars, how much fun he had working on the 2009 feature film “He’s Just Not That Into You”, as well as working with Melissa McCarthy in the 2010 comedy “Life As We Know It”, what it was like working on five-seasons of the hit TNT series “Major Crimes” as the recurring role of police psychologist ‘Dr Joe’ co-starring with actress Mary McDonnell, why the reboot series of “NYPD Blue” wasn’t picked up by the network after he and Kim Delaney filmed the pilot episode in 2019, how in retrospect how lucky he was being openly gay in Hollywood during the 1990s and early 2000s and how happy is being the Artistic Director of the Antaeus Theatre Company, a classical theatre ensemble in Los Angeles.  

BILL BROCHTRUP

 

Bill Brochtrup is a television, film, & stage actor, best known for playing ‘John Irvin’ the cheerful administrative aide, on the Emmy Award-winning police drama, “NYPD Blue”.  Along with the rest of the cast, he was nominated for a SAG 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” & “Total Security”) he has had recurring roles on Jon Avnet’s web-series “Kendra” & Showtime’s “Shameless”, as well as a 5-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.

 

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); “He's Just Not That Into You” (2009); “Life as We Know It” (2010); and “No Boundaries” (2012 Short).

 

Onstage he has appeared in NYC, LA, 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, & has written for Out magazine & the bestselling collection of essays I Love You, Mom!

 

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

 

He was born in Inglewood, CA, raised in Tacoma, WA, & 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<