Dennis Janiske

Dennis grew up in Bay City, Michigan, the "baby" of 3 children of Donald and Leota Janiske. While attending T.L. Handy High School, he tried out for his first play and didn't initially get a part. Someone dropped out and he got a small part which set the acting machine in motion. He was taken under the wing of Clarence Murphy, who was regarded as one of the best drama teachers in southern Michigan. Throughout his life, Dennis had a difficult time in school and the only reason he graduated was because of his involvement in Drama and Radio/TV classes. Once he graduated in 1973, he didn't want to continue to college so he enlisted in the Air Force. While in the Air Force, Dennis finished college and received his commission in October, 1981. He attended helicopter flight school and spent most of his remaining time in the Air Force as a Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilot. He retired after 20 years a Captain in July, 1993. After retiring, he traveled around and for 3 years lived in Las Vegas, Nevada. While there, he worked at Caesars Palace. Following that, he traveled to northern Japan and taught high school for 2 years. He returned to Michigan and took a job in the home health care field, which he hated. While on a visit to Detroit, he met a lady from Ionia, Michigan and moved there shortly after. Dennis and his partner currently live in Ionia and own a wine shop and Mexican food store. In 2005, film director Tara Kittle, who works for director Joe Dante, came to the area to film an independent movie titled "Resurrection". He auditioned and got his first primary role in a film. A friend that was in the movie talked him into sending in his head shot for the TV show "Prison Break". The next six months were spent commuting to Joliet, Illinois portraying one of the inmates on the series. Since then, Dennis has done work for the History Channel and a few other student shorts. He stays active by being involved as an actor, director and board member in the Ionia Community Theatre.