PRISM Award Winner Tony Denison Talks Sobriety and the Spotlight

For his gripping performance as Detective Andy Flynn in "The Closer's" episode "Old Money," Tony Denison received a Prism Award for Best Performance in a Drama Episode. End Quote

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (1888PressRelease) May 03, 2011 - Honoring TV's Denison addiction, the 15th Annual Prism Awards awarded "The Closer" star Tony Denison with the Best Performance in a Drama Episode on April 28 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The 5 time SAG nominated Denison graciously accepted the award. "I'm thrilled to receive this award, it's a huge honor. I've been nominated for awards before, but this is the first time I get to leave with an award. I didn't realize how incredibly humbled I would be," Denison said in his moving acceptance speech.

The PRISM Awards honor productions that are not only powerfully entertaining, but realistically show substance abuse and addiction, as well as mental health issues. The ceremonies produced by the Entertainment Industries Council in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and FX.

The award recognized Denison's performance in the powerful episode "Old Money" which featured his character, Detective Andy Flynn, in a life and death battle outside an AA meeting.

Denison strongly identifies with his character Det. Flynn who is passionate, wise-cracking and takes his job and sobriety seriously. Notoriously open and passionate about his own struggles with addiction, Denison himself is now 18 years sober.

"My sobriety saved my life… if there are people out there who are at rock bottom and a character or TV show or film ignites some small spark in them to get help, well, that's an incredible reason to do what I do," Denison shared.

TV Fanatic raved about Denison's "Old Money" performance saying, "In a powerful story in which both his life and his integrity as a detective were on the line, [Denison] gave a remarkable and believable performance," TV Fanatic

Denison originally approached the show's creator James Duff with the idea of making Detective Flynn a sober character. "I thought it would be really interesting and challenging to play a strong cop character who dealt with the highs and lows of the job with a glass of water in his hand rather than downing beers in a bar," Denison says. James Duff loved the idea and the rest is history.

Starring on "The Closer" since the show's conception in 2005, Denison is also one half of "The Closer" Odd Couple, the other half being the wise-cracking G.W. Bailey and his character Lieutenant Provenza. TV Guide has raved about the pair and their infamous, "Comic Chemistry."

Recently wrapping his feature film "Trattoria," and currently filming the final season of The Closer, Denison's as busy as ever.... "The Closer" might not be closing yet. Keep your ears open for talk of a spin off.

PR Contact: Jolson Creative - Nadine Jolson - jolsoncreativepr ( @ ) mac dot com - 310-614-3214

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