Brian Wenzel
| Brian Wenzel | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Brian Thomas Wenzel 24 May 1929 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Years active | 1968–2002, 2009– |
| Known for | A Country Practice |
Brian Thomas Wenzel (born 24 May 1929 in Adelaide, South Australia) is an Australian character actor, and comedian who has been in the entertainment business for 73-years, including circus, stage, television and film, however remains most famous for his long running-role as old-fashioned town policeman Sergeant Frank Gilroy in the fictional Wandin Valley, an original character on television program A Country Practice. from its inception in 1981 until the series conclusion in 1993.
Wenzel had an unsettled early life and spent much of his childhood in remand homes, and ran away several times, including joining the circus at the age of 14, as a horse groom and dog trainer. His first performance in an acting role came at the age of 17, when he appeared in a comedy stage play, he started acting professionally in 1945.
Wenzel 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 policeman Sgt. Frank Gilroy in A Country Practice. Wenzel was an original cast member in the show and remained along with Shane Porteous through the entire series, The popularity of the Frank Gilroy character, in the program since its inception, won a Silver Logie for Wenzel.
Wenzel became very popular with the NSW Police due to his role as Sgt. Gilroy, and was once presented with a leather police jacket from former commissioner John Avery (the fictional country town of Wandin Valley was in New South Wales, thus Frank Gilroy was a "member" of the NSW Police).
He has appeared in many Australian films including Alison's Birthday and The Odd Angry Shot.
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