# Bill Brochtrup

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**William Brochtrup Jr.** (born March 7, 1963)[1] is an American actor. He is known for playing John Irvin, a police administrative assistant, on the ABC television drama *[NYPD Blue](/source/NYPD_Blue)*.[2]

## Early life and education

Born William Brochtrup Jr. in [Inglewood, California](/source/Inglewood,_California), Brochtrup was raised in [Tacoma, Washington](/source/Tacoma,_Washington) and graduated from [New York University](/source/New_York_University)'s [Tisch School of the Arts](/source/Tisch_School_of_the_Arts) in 1985.[3][1]

## Career

After graduating from college, Brochtrup moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He was billed as "William Brochtrup" in some of his earliest roles in the 1980s.[1]

Theatre credits for Brochtrup include [David Marshall Grant](/source/David_Marshall_Grant)'s *Snakebit* ([off-Broadway](/source/Off-Broadway) at the Century Center and in Los Angeles at the Coast Playhouse), [South Coast Repertory](/source/South_Coast_Repertory) (*[Noises Off](/source/Noises_Off)*, *[Taking Steps](/source/Taking_Steps)*, *[The Real Thing](/source/The_Real_Thing_(play))*), The Antaeus Company[4] (*[Peace In Our Time](/source/Peace_In_Our_Time_(play))*, *[The Malcontent](/source/The_Malcontent)*, *[Cousin Bette](/source/Cousin_Bette)*, *[Tonight at 8.30](/source/Tonight_at_8.30)*, Sinan Unel's *Pera Palas*), Black Dahlia Theatre (Jonathan Tolins' *Secrets of the Trade*, Richard Kramer's *Theater District*, both directed by [Matt Shakman](/source/Matt_Shakman)), The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble (*Bach at Leipzig*, *Small Tragedy*), [L.A. Theatre Works](/source/L.A._Theatre_Works) (*The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial*, *[The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial](/source/The_Caine_Mutiny_Court-Martial_(play))*), and [Pasadena Playhouse](/source/Pasadena_Playhouse) (*If Memory Serves*).

He appeared in the feature films *[Life as We Know It](/source/Life_as_We_Know_It_(film))*, *[He's Just Not That Into You](/source/He's_Just_Not_That_Into_You_(film))*, *[Duck](/source/Duck_(film))*, *[Ravenous](/source/Ravenous_(1999_film))*, *[Man of the Year](/source/Man_of_the_Year_(1995_film))*, and *[Space Marines](/source/Space_Marines_(film))*.

Brochtrup has been a series regular on three [Steven Bochco](/source/Steven_Bochco) shows: CBS sitcom *[Public Morals](/source/Public_Morals_(1996_TV_series))*, ABC drama *[Total Security](/source/Total_Security_(TV_series))*, and seven seasons on the ABC drama *[NYPD Blue](/source/NYPD_Blue)*. He has appeared on television shows as varied as *[Dexter](/source/Dexter_(TV_series))*, *[Without a Trace](/source/Without_a_Trace)*, the animated children's series *[The Wild Thornberrys](/source/The_Wild_Thornberrys)* (as the voice of a dolphin), *[Major Crimes](/source/Major_Crimes_(TV_series))* (as Dr. Joe Bowman), and [Bravo](/source/Bravo_(US_TV_channel))'s *[Celebrity Poker Showdown](/source/Celebrity_Poker_Showdown)*. Brochtrup is a frequent guest host of the [PBS](/source/PBS) newsmagazine *[In The Life](/source/In_The_Life)*.

He has written for *[Out](/source/Out_(magazine))* magazine. The best-selling book of essays *I Love You, Mom!* includes his original stories at *[Un-Cabaret](/source/Un-Cabaret)* and numerous [spoken word](/source/Spoken_word) events. He has hosted [AIDS Walks](/source/AIDS_Walk) across the country, supports animal rescue organizations like the [Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals](/source/Society_for_the_Prevention_of_Cruelty_to_Animals), and has travelled the Persian Gulf, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Germany, Japan, Bosnia and Kosovo meeting servicemen and women during Handshake Tours for the [United Service Organizations](/source/United_Service_Organizations) (USO) and [Armed Forces Entertainment](/source/Armed_Forces_Entertainment).

From 2012 to September 2024, he served as Artistic Director of the Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, CA.[5]

## Personal life

Brochtrup came out to [*People*](/source/People_(magazine)) magazine as gay in 1997. He said, "[C]asting directors have known [that] for years," and assured that being gay would have no "adverse effect" on his career, even with potential typecasting.[6][7] In 2012, Brochtrup said that he has not regretted coming out back then.[8]

## Filmography

### Films

Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 Something Else Eugene 1995 Man of the Year Pledge Cartwright 1996 Not Again! Glen Space Marines Hacker 1999 Ravenous Lindus 2002 Role of a Lifetime Bruce's Receptionist 2005 Duck Leopold 2009 He's Just Not That Into You Larry 2010 Life as We Know It Gary 2012 No Boundaries Dr. Harvey (Short film) 2018 Finding Home Dr. Cohen (Short) 2019 Hypnotized Kyle (completed in 2019, not released)

### TV

Television Year Title Role Notes 1989-1996 Murder, She Wrote Leo Gunderson (1989, credited as William Brochtrup) / Gene Gains (1996) (TV Series), 2 episodes: "Class Act" and "Murder Among Friends" 1993 Birds of a Feather Tour Guide (credited as William Brochtrup) (TV Series), 1 episode: "It Happened in Hollywood" 1994 Diagnosis Murder Paramedic (TV Series), 1 episode: "Georgia on My Mind" 1995 Terror in the Shadows Maitre D' (TV Movie) The Monroes Duane (TV Series), 1 episode: "Father Knows Best" Betrayed: A Story of Three Women Patrick McGraw (TV Movie) 1995-2005 NYPD Blue John Irvin (TV Series), 156 episodes 1996 Public Morals John Irvin (TV Series), 13 episodes Picket Fences Gordy Hartman (TV Series), 1 episode: "Bye-Bye, Bey-Bey" 1997 Total Security George LaSalle (TV Series), 12 episodes Dharma & Greg Steve (TV Series), 1 episode: "Indian Summer" Two Small Voices David Ivey (TV Movie) 2001 The Wild Thornberrys Colin (voice of dolphin) (TV Series), 1 episode: "Hello, Dolphin!" 2005 Without a Trace Edgar (TV Series), 1 episode: "Second Sight" 2010 Dexter Funeral Director (TV Series), 1 episode: "My Bad" 2012 Kendra Arnold (TV Series), 3 episodes: "Three Way", "Driver's License" and "Old Fashioned" 2013-2014 Shameless Hal (TV Series), 4 episodes 2013-2017 Major Crimes Dr. Joe Bowman (TV Series), 13 episodes 2019 After Forever Frank (TV Series), 2 episodes: "Honeymoon" and "One Step Forward"

## References

1. ["Bill Brochtrup"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160817015021/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/360988%7C0/Bill-Brochtrup/), archived from [the original](https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/360988%7C0/Bill-Brochtrup/) on August 17, 2016, retrieved August 4, 2016

1. Mendoza, N F (August 13, 1995). ["Being Gay in the 'NYPD': Bill Brochtrup Finds the Right Reality Check"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-08-13-tv-34506-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150407185439/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-08-13/news/tv-34506_1_bill-brochtrup) April 7, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-08-12.

1. Michaels, Taylor (May 26, 2002), ["Information, please, on Bill Brochtrup, who plays police..."](https://web.archive.org/web/20150601021147/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-05-26/entertainment/0205290124_1_steve-burns-real-life-donovan-patton), *The Chicago Tribune*, archived from [the original](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-05-26/entertainment/0205290124_1_steve-burns-real-life-donovan-patton) on June 1, 2015, retrieved August 4, 2016

1. [The Antaeus ensemble members](http://www.antaeus.org/ensemblemembers.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140813055215/http://www.antaeus.org/ensemblemembers.html) August 13, 2014 at the Wayback Machine

1. ((American Theatre Editors)) (July 3, 2024). ["Nike Doukas Named Antaeus Artistic Director"](https://www.americantheatre.org/2024/07/03/nike-doukas-named-antaeus-artistic-director). *American Theatre*. Retrieved March 13, 2025.

1. Gliatto, Tom (May 5, 1997). ["Outward Bound."](http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20122021,00.html) *People* (vol. 47, no. 17).

1. ["The Buzz: The Inside Scoop on Entertainment News – Yep, He's Gay Too."](https://books.google.com/books?id=PGQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Bill+Brochtrup%22+gay+-wikipedia&pg=PT25) *The Advocate* 10 June 1997. p. 24.

1. ["Happy Birthday to Bill Brochtrup! Read the *NYPD Blue* alum's interview with Greg In Hollywood!"](http://greginhollywood.com/happy-birthday-to-bill-brochtrup-read-the-nypd-blue-alums-interview-with-greg-in-hollywood-64902) *Greg in Hollywood* 7 March 2012.

## External links

- Cascone, A. & Sharpe, M. (2014-08-04). ["MCTV Exclusive - The Doctor Is In: Bill Brochtrup Talks LA Theatre, Dr. Joe, and Major Crimes"](http://majorcrimestv.net/the-doctor-is-in-bill-brochtrup-talks-la-theatre-dr-joe-and-major-crimes/). *majorcrimestv.net*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bill Brochtrup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Brochtrup) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Brochtrup?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.