Biography
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Brian Wenzel was born: Brian Thomas Wenzel on 24 May 1929 in Adelaide, South Australia. Brian is an Australian character actor most famous for his long running role as Police Sergeant Frank Gilroy, later retiring to run the fictional Wandin Valley RSL Club on television program A Country Practice. Brian was an original cast member and remained along with Shane Porteous through the entire series, winning a Silver Logie for the role. Brian’s other roles included 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. Brian became very popular with the NSW Police during his ‘ACP‘ role as Frank Gilroy, and was once presented with a leather police jacket from former commissioner John Avery. Brian left school at the age of 14, and after having several jobs as a grocer’s delivery boy, for a florist and a baker’s apprentice he joined Sole Bros. Circus as Horse Groom and Dog Trainer. He left the Circus in 1948, after 3 years, and before becoming a professional actor, worked in something like 112 jobs. Brian appeared in his first stage play, at the age of 17, which was a musical comedy in Adelaide, and since then has worked in numerous stage productions. Some highlights were: As ‘Willy’ in the Death of a Salesman, ‘Proctor’ in The Crucible, ‘Title Role’ in The Imaginary Invalid and as ‘Roo’ in the Summer of the 17th Doll. He also worked in many musicals, pantomime and children’s theatre. Brian has also appeared in four Productions for the Adelaide Festival of Arts, and was in the first three productions of the South Australian Theatre Company. Brian worked as a semi-professional for a number of years, because there was little professional work available in Adelaide. He also worked for six months as the Villain in the Olde Kings Music Hall, Adelaide. Brian first appeared on television in 1957. Credits in television include about 75 appearances in all the Crawford Police Series, two appearances in BONEY and several appearances in EVIL TOUCH, KATCH KANDY, BEHIND THE LEGEND and OVER THERE. Brian then appeared as Barry Gardiner in CERTAIN WOMEN series for three years. Rather than slowing down, Brian has picked up the pace over the last few years by appearing in various television commercials, a recurring guest role on Rove Live, the feature film “John Doe” and “Fame – The Musical”, which toured Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Brian has also done several reports with ACA highlighting the need for the Pension to be raised. Brian is a lifelong supporter of the Carlton Football Club.
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