Bill Brochtrup


William "Bill" Brochtrup Jr. is an American actor. He is known for his role playing PAA John Irvin, a gay police public assistant, on the ABC television drama NYPD Blue.

Early life and education

Born William Brochtrup Jr. in Inglewood, California, Brochtrup was raised in Tacoma, Washington and graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1985.

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.
Theatre credits for Brochtrup include David Marshall Grant's Snakebit, South Coast Repertory, The Antaeus Company, Black Dahlia Theatre, The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, L.A. Theatre Works, and Pasadena Playhouse.
He appeared in the feature films Life as We Know It, He's Just Not That Into You, Duck, Ravenous, Man of the Year, and Space Marines.
Brochtrup has been a series regular on three Steven Bochco shows: CBS sitcom Public Morals, ABC drama Total Security, and seven seasons on the ABC drama NYPD Blue. He has appeared on television shows as varied as Dexter, Without a Trace, the animated children's series The Wild Thornberrys, Major Crimes, and Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown. Brochtrup is a frequent guest host of the PBS newsmagazine In The Life.
He has written for Out magazine. The best-selling book of essays I Love You, Mom! includes his original stories at Un-Cabaret and numerous spoken word events. He has hosted AIDS Walks across the country, supports animal rescue organizations like the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and has traveled the Persian Gulf, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Germany, Japan, Bosnia and Kosovo meeting servicemen and women during Handshake Tours for the United Service Organizations and Armed Forces Entertainment.

Personal life

Brochtrup came out to People magazine as gay in 1997. He said, "asting directors have known for years," and assured that being gay would have no "adverse effect" on his career, even with potential typecasting. In 2012, Brochtrup said that he has not regretted coming out back then.