{
  "id": 90157,
  "title": "Before House Of The Dragon, Criston Cole Actor Fabien Frankel Starred In A Classic Cop Drama Reboot",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/before-house-of-the-dragon-criston-cole-actor-fabien-frankel-starred",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-03T15:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2228906/house-of-the-dragon-criston-cole-actor-star-cop-drama-reboot-nypd-blue/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the annals of television history, few characters have managed to etch themselves into the memory banks of viewers quite like Ser Criston Cole, played by Fabien Frankel in the riveting series, \"House of the Dragon.\" Before this character became a household name, Frankel graced the streets of New York in a different, yet equally compelling role. He was Theo Sipowicz, the son of Andy Sipowicz, in the classic cop drama reboot \"NYPD Blue\" that aired on ABC in 2019. This reboot was essentially a continuation of the Emmy-winning drama from 1993, with Frankel embodying the role of the protagonist's son. However, the decision to bring this series back was met with considerable resistance, with ABC's entertainment president Karey Burke stating that the show needed to \"really advance\" from its predecessor to be given the green light. Frankel's journey to become Criston Cole was a brief but unique chapter in his career. The producers of \"NYPD Blue\" were so impressed with his performance in the pilot, which saw Sipowicz trying to emulate his father's detective work, that they allowed him to shadow law enforcement. This involved early morning ride-alongs, undercover work, and even participating in a house raid during the early hours of the morning. Frankel described these experiences as \"embarrassing,\" with officers nicknaming him \"Inspector Frankel\" due to his trench coat outfit. Despite this, Frankel's stint in \"NYPD Blue\" paved the way for his portrayal of Criston Cole in \"House of the Dragon,\" a role that has only grown in intensity with each passing season.",
  "summary": "Before he served Team Green as Aegon II's Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Criston Cole's actor, Fabien Frankel, patrolled a different set of streets.",
  "key_points": [
    "Fabien Frankel starred in \"NYPD Blue\" reboot as Theo Sipowicz.",
    "Played son of Andy Sipowicz in 2019 series.",
    "Impressed NYPD producers with early morning ride-alongs."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Fabien Frankel's early role in the NYPD Blue reboot positioned him for his breakout as Criston Cole in House of the Dragon, showcasing his versatility across different genres.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}