Brian Wenzel
Encyclopedia
Brian Wenzel 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.
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
. He was an original cast member and remained along with Shane Porteous
Shane Porteous
John Shane Porteous is an Australian television character actor, TV screenplay scriptwriter, theatre actor, animation layout artist, and animation voice artist.-Biography:...
through the entire series, winning a Silver Logie for the role. Wenzel also appeared in the drama series Matlock Police
Matlock Police
Matlock Police was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network between 1971 and 1975....
, Homicide, The Young Doctors
The Young Doctors
The Young Doctors is an Australian early evening soap opera. The series was set in the fictional Albert Memorial hospital and primarily concerned with romances between younger members of the hospital staff, screened on the Nine Network from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March...
and Certain Women
Certain Women
Certain Women was an Australian television soap opera created by prominent Australian TV dramatist Tony Morphett and produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation between 1973 and 1976....
. 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
John Avery (police commissioner)
John Keith Avery AO, APM was the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police from 1984 to 1991.John Keith Avery was the 17th leader of the organisation and the 10th person known under the title of Commissioner of Police...
.
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
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
ambassador in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, and sells yachts. Wenzel is a lifelong supporter of the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. He also appeared in the David Williamson
David Williamson
David Keith Williamson AO is one of Australia's best-known playwrights. He has also written screenplays and teleplays.-Biography:...
play, Travelling North, in 2000. Brian also appeared in a guest role on the soap Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
.
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
Rove Live
Rove, formerly Rove Live, was an Australian television talk show which premiered on the Nine Network on 22 September 1999, before moving to Network Ten which aired the program from 2000 until November, 2009. The show was hosted by comedian Rove McManus, and featured an ensemble cast, who presented...
. Brian remains active in the industry appearing in variety theatre and television commercials.