Nostalgia
This Beloved ’80s Sitcom Premiered 44 Years Ago — Its Star Later Became a Gritty ‘NYPD Blue’ Detective
An actor who starred on an iconic ’80s sitcom as a young boy later took on a very different role as a detective on ‘NYPD Blue.’
In September 1982, a new NBC sitcom premiered that featured a young Golden Globe winner. Silver Spoons, starring Ricky Schroder, ran for five seasons. Sixteen years later, Schroder returned to television in a very different type of role. For nearly three seasons, he played Detective Danny Sorenson on NYPD Blue.
At the time that Silver Spoons premiered, Schroder had already won a Golden Globe for playing T.J. Flynn in the 1979 movie The Champ. Schroder was just 9 years old when he filmed the movie alongside Jon Voight and Faye Dunaway.
The Champ was Schroder’s first acting role, although he had been doing commercials and professional photo shoots for several years before that.
In Silver Spoons, Schroder played Ricky Stratton, a young boy who moved in with his wealthy father, whom he had never met previously. Ricky was a fairly serious young boy, and his father, Edward Stratton III (Joel Higgins), was a spoiled rich guy who rarely took responsibility for much of anything.
The show also starred John Houseman as Ricky’s grandfather, Edward Stratton II, who was much more serious than his son, somewhat like his surprise grandson.
During its run, the show also had current Dancing with the Stars cohost Alfonso Ribeiro playing Ricky’s friend Alfonso Spears and Arrested Development and Ozark star Jason Bateman playing Derek Taylor.
In 1998, after a string of television movies and series guest roles, Schroder joined NYPD Blue in the middle of season 6. He joined the squad to replace Detective Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits), who had recently died. Sorenson became Andy Sipowicz’s (Dennis Franz‘s) partner, and Simone’s were big shoes to fill.
Schroder appeared in 59 episodes of NYPD Blue before deciding to leave. In May 2001, Variety confirmed Schroder’s exit. The actor stated, “The long hours required to shoot ‘NYPD Blue’ would prevent me from being where I really want to be at this time—which is with my family.” At the time, he and his wife were expecting their fourth child.
In 2013, Schroder told the AV Club, “I did some of the best work I’ve ever done on that show because it was some of the best writing I’ve ever worked with and the best directors I’ve ever worked with.
He added, “It did come to an abrupt end. There was a personal thing involved, so after three years it was time for me to go on, and it was nothing personal.” Schroder further explained that there had been a death in his family, and “I was just too grief-stricken at that time to work.”
A handful of additional projects followed for Schroder in the years after, including roles on Strong Medicine and 24. Schroder also starred in Dolly Parton‘s Coat of Many Colors and Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love in 2015 and 2016. Those are the last acting roles listed on Schroder’s IMDb page.
