| Brian Wenzel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Brian Thomas Wenzel 24 May 1929 Adelaide, Australia |
| Years active | 1968–2002, 2009– |
Brian Wenzel (born 24 May 1929) is an Australian character actor, most famous for his long run as Police Sergeant Frank Gilroy (later retiring to run the fictional Wandin Valley RSL Club) on television program A Country Practice. He was an original cast member and remained along with Shane Porteous through the entire series, winning a Silver Logie for the role. Wenzel also appeared in the drama series Matlock Police, Homicide, The Young Doctors and Certain Women. It was the role in Certain Women that won him the part of Frank Gilroy in A Country Practice.
Wenzel became very popular with the NSW Police due to his role as Gilroy, and was once presented with a leather police jacket from former commissioner John Avery.
Wenzel spent much of his childhood in remand homes, and ran away several times. He also joined the circus at the age of 14. His first performance in an acting role came at the age of 17, when he appeared in a stage play.
These days, Wenzel keeps busy as an Australia Day ambassador in Victoria, and sells yachts. Wenzel is a lifelong supporter of the Carlton Football Club. He also appeared in the David Williamson play, Travelling North, in 2000. Brian also appeared in a guest role on the soap Neighbours.
In 2009 Brian appeared in a TV commercial in the role of "bedroom police chief" in ads for a sexual dysfunction therapy. He arrives to save the day when a newlywed wife complains about her husband "speeding" in the sack – and then prosecutes him in court. This commercial created much controversy and Wenzel was featured on A Current Affair, defending the commercial and stating that he was "an actor and this is what I do" and being thrown into the spotlight after almost 20 years out of it. In May, he appeared on a spoof of the ad that was aired on Rove Live. Brian remains active in the industry appearing in variety theatre and television commercials.
1 http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25134358-5012985,00.html