www.ExpressGayNews.com • December 22, 2003 Q1 Q_COVERstory True NYPD Blue Gay Actor Bill Brochtrup Plays Gay Character on Primetime Series By Andy Zeffer Features Editor Long before Queer As Folk, Will & Grace or Queer Eye for the Straight Guy hit television screens, there was John Irvin. Openly gay actor Bill Brochtrup has been playing the openly gay and extremely efficient character of John Irvin on NYPD Blue since the show’s second season. Brochtrup joins a select group of actors playing openly gay characters on a primetime television shows in the pre-Ellen era, before Ellen DeGeneres came out, opening the floodgate for more gay characters to be portrayed in front American television audiences. And with a show that appeals to a working-class, blue-collar audience, Brochtrup continues to break further ground in making gays and lesbians socially acceptable. “Clearly the visibility of people like Ellen and others have made it easier for people to come out and be accepted in the business,” Brochtrup says. “I think television is doing a great job of having a diverse amount of gay and lesbian characters.” So does Brochtrup include himself with Ellen as someone who has made gay photo courtesy of ABC characters more acceptable? “I’d like to think that,” Brochtrup says. Bill Brochtrup (center) with Charlotte Ross, Dennis Franz and Austin Majors in a scene from NYPD Blue “I also like to think that there are different starring kind of stuff, along with movies as well. One of the writers and producers, Brochtrup says it is his hope that more venues for gay characters. You have Queer that don’t make it to the video store. But Bill Clark, was an actual New York City cop television exposure of gay characters will As Folk, which straight women and gay the truth is that I thought I was pretty for years, and comes up with a lot of the normalize them for the rest of the country. guys love. Then you have Queer Eye for successful because I just wanted to be story lines. Brochtrup thinks that the fact He thinks parents of gay children who are the Straight Guy, which a lot of people are working as an actor, and I was doing that. they have an openly gay actor playing a gay freaked out will come to realize that it is not watching. NYPD Blue is able to reach a So I was pretty happy and NYPD Blue was part in the show is pretty impressive. a big deal. group of people that isn’t necessarily going just one more step.” As far as being recognized, Brochtrup As far as future plans go, Brochtrup is to watch either one of those shows though. It was while starring in a play titled Raft of says he gets just the right amount of attention. preparing to go on a USO tour this I’m always impressed by how many cops, Medusa that Brochtrup first met the team “It’s a nice level of recognition,” he Christmas in Japan. He went to Bosnia last firemen, military and blue-collar guys watch behind NYPD Blue. There was talk around says. “My contractor was very excited when Christmas and to the Persian Gulf in 2001. our show, who aren’t going to tune into town that the play might be made into a movie, he met me, and you think maybe they’ll do The tours consist of bringing television Queer As Folk. I had a nice conversation so a lot of industry people were showing up to an even better job. So there are nice things stars for handshakes and introductions, and with the producers of Queer As Folk at an see it. Some of those people were from Steven like that, but it’s never at a level where you bringing a bit of home to military personnel event, and we were talking about how it’s Bochco Productions, and they remembered are ever bothered by it. When we’re in New overseas. Though he is not crazy about the really cool that they can reach one Brochtrup when the part of John Irvin came up York, it’s the best. Even though we film in military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, he audience, and I can reach another.” a year and a half later. Brochtrup had to audition Los Angeles for the most part, New York is still thinks it speaks well of the military that Brochtrup was born in Californian and for the role, but says there was a small field of obviously our city.” they accept him on the tour because raised in Tacoma, Wash., the eldest of four people trying out for the part. Brochtrup has been in a relationship everyone knows he is gay. He says there siblings and the only son. His father is a “It was mine to lose,” Brochtrup says. for 12 years now. He says he wasn’t has never been a problem. professor, and his mother an accomplished “They had me in mind for it. Luckily, because expecting it or looking for a partner; it just Brochtrup has just wrapped an equestrian. Brochtrup acted in plays Steven Bochco is such a big producer, and kind of happened. But as soon as he met independent film titled Duck, and he is throughout junior and senior high school, he has such a great track record, he is able to his partner, a lawyer, that was it. And so finishing the last part of the season of NYPD and his interest in drama led him to New bypass a lot of the audition steps because of far so good; he says the two are very Blue. He is hoping the show will continue, York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, the position he is in. It’s a rarity here in happy together. adding that longtime star Dennis Franz and where he trained with master acting coach Hollywood, but he is able to pick the people “My family loves him,” Brochtrup says. the rest of the cast want to keep going. Milton Katselas. Upon completing his he wants without having it approved by “I have a really excellent family. I feel so lucky “You are lucky to find a show you feel education, he moved to Hollywood to begin other people at the corporate levels.” that they have been so cool about things. proud of, and I am proud of the show, my his career. Brochtrup says the team at NYPD Blue My sisters, my nephews and nieces. character and the good writing,” says “I did a lot of local theater here,” has been fantastic to him. In fact, the team Everybody. And I know that’s not the case Brochtrup, adding with a laugh, “And a Brochtrup says. “And a lot of guest behind the show is a bit of an old boys club for all of us.” steady paycheck.” Q2 www.ExpressGayNews.com • December 22, 2003 Q_HOLIDAYfeature Memories of Muffin Tins and Feminine Wipes Readers Share Their Best and Worst Holiday Gifts By Mary Damiano The best Hanukkah gift was meeting Mel Brooks after seeing The actual best is the one I’m about to Arts & Entertainment Editor him win 11 Tonys in New York City. I met him, at Joe Allen’s on Miami get: a substantial check from my mother to While the holiday season is Beach, and he wished me a Happy Hanukkah and asked me if I the Gay and Lesbian Foundation of South supposed to be about peace and joy was a producer. I told him he gave me the best Hanukkah gift. I’ve Florida (I serve on the Executive Board), and good will toward men and never gotten a bad gift because it’s the thought that counts. some of which will go to help with my latest women, it’s often more about the —Harvey Burstein, arts patron project, finding safe supportive foster peace of mind that comes from the homes for GLBT kids in DCF custody. The joyful giving of the perfect gift to The best Christmas gift I ever got was my new boyfriend Gary, other stellar one I remember— and this is going to date me— a the men and women in our lives. who bought me a new wafer-thin stereo, so that’s why it was the Patty Playpal Doll. I so longed for her, but my mother had said no. Of course, finding that perfect schizzle. The worst has got to be feminine wipes. It was college Apparently, my father caved at the last minute. Oh, she was and I’d like to think they were intended for my female roommate. magnificent. Lifesize or just about, long lovely hair and big brown gift, and shopping for that perfect —Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun-Sentinel fashion columnist eyes with the longest lashes, always a ready smile; she clearly gift—really, just thinking of that thought I was splendid too! Hmm, beautiful, low maintenance, perfect gift—can cause an awful lot One year, I wanted an antique chest. My stepmother bought obviously intelligent—even at 6 years old, I knew just what I wanted. of stress. me a pile of planks, tools, paint and called it a “do-it-yourself” —Amy Rolnick, board member, GLFSF Even the simplest gifts can come antique kit. I thought she was kidding. She wasn’t. I asked to with a lot of baggage. Gifts can curry return it. She thought I was kidding. I wasn’t. I’d say the best gift I ever got was a stainless steel martini favor and make one’s stock rise and —Robby Kendall, writer and performer shaker gift set because I use it just about every night.