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Happy Birthday to Bill Brochtrup! Read the “NYPD Blue” alum’s interview with Greg In Hollywood!
Long before Neil Patrick Harris, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Matt Bomer and the rest of a growing list of openly gay actors came out publicly, there was Bill Brochtrup.
For seven seasons on ABC’s NYPD Blue, Brochtrup played gay administrative aide John Irvin and was openly gay himself throughout.
I recently chatted with Bill, who turns 48 today, about being out in Hollywood.
He says it is “terrific” and he feels “very proud” to see actors like Zachary Quinto and Sean Maher deciding to come out.
“There were so many people who laid the groundwork before I came out and so many people who have done things before me and I hope that I sort of laid the groundwork for some of the young guys coming up,” he said. “Hopefully it just gets better and better and better.”
“I have believed for a long, long time that the world is on the right trajectory and that things do get better,” he added. “It’s still not easy for actors to be openly gay in Hollywood but it is certainly getting better. All the young guys coming out are helping immensely. I’m very proud of all of us – it’s a time of celebration and joy.”
“I have never regretted it,” he says of coming out all those years ago. “Never.”
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
ND Mitchell says:
I still think he is super sexy ever since NYPD Blue.
Marlene Bech says:
I have been and will forever be a great fan of NYPD Blue. I believe I am a fan of most of the characters on that TV-show and Bill is certainly among my list of favorite characters. At present I am watcheing my third re-run. I have done a marathon (98 episodes in about two weeks!)and I am waiting for John Clark to hit the screen. I have great respect for this character.
Oh, I better mention that I am danish living and watching the show in Denmark 😉
However I have watched some of Bill`s other work but to me he is forever “stuck in being” John Irvin. 🙂
Sandi says:
I loved the character of John Irvin! He added so much to the show.
Jan says:
I absolutely love it when he decks that guy who watches as Delores dies and then disposes of her body. I loved John Irvin in that show, but that’s my favorite “John moment”.