Robert Prosky (born Robert Joseph Porzuczek; December 13, 1930 – December 8, 2008) was an American actor. He became a well-known supporting actor in the 1980s with his roles in Thief (1981), Christine (1983), The Natural (1984), and Broadcast News (1987).
Prosky's other notable movies include Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Hoffa (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Last Action Hero (1993), Rudy (1993), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), Dead Man Walking (1995), and Mad City (1997). His most notable television role was of Sgt. Stan Jablonski on the TV police drama Hill Street Blues.
Early life
Prosky, a Polish American, was born in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Helen (Kuhn) and Joseph Porzuczek. His father was a grocer and butcher. He was raised in a working-class neighborhood and studied at the American Theatre Wing, later graduating from Temple University. He performed at Old Academy Players, a small theater in the East Falls section of Philadelphia, adjacent to Manayunk. He also served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, but got a hardship discharge to help with the family store when his father died unexpectedly. His role in Veronica's Closet was likely a nod to this, as in both shows he played the father of a character portrayed by Kirstie Alley. He was also a regular on the TV series Danny.
In addition to his film and television career, he appeared in numerous theater plays at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., most notably as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. Prosky often performed at Arena Stage with over 100 stage credits to his name at that theatre alone. He played Shelly Levene in the 1984 Chicago and Broadway production of David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross. He was also a board member of the Cape May Stage in Cape May, New Jersey.
Prosky received or was nominated for two Tony awards, two Helen Hayes awards, an Emmy, the Drama Desk award, and the American Express Tribute To An American Actor. He continued to perform on stage and present lectures on his long career at universities, film festivals, for theater benefits, business groups and on cruises.
Personal life
In 1960, he married Ida Hove with whom he had three sons, Stefan, John and Andrew Prosky, the latter two being actors as well. His son John said that the cause was complications of heart surgery at the Washington Hospital Center. The New York Times described him: "a craggy-faced, heavyset character actor who, after 23 years in regional theater, became a familiar face on Broadway, in movies and on television, notably as a gruff desk sergeant in the later years of Hill Street Blues." ||
|-
| 1989 || From the Dead of Night || Dr Walter Hovde ||
|-
| 1990 || A Green Journey || Bishop Baker ||
|-
| rowspan=2|1991
| Brooklyn Bridge ||Mr. Joseph Cardini, the neighborhood grocer.
||
|-
| Coach
| Jake "The Snake" Connolly
| Episodes: "The Pineapple Bowl: Parts 1 & 2"
|-
| 1992 || Cheers || Navy Captain Franklin Howe ||
|-
| 1993 || Roseanne || Colonel Russ ||
|-
| 1996 || Frasier || T.H. Houghton ||
|-
| 1997–1998 || Veronica's Closet || Pat Chase ||
|-
| 1998
| The Lake
| Herb
| Television movie
|-
| 1998
| LateLine
| Boone LeGarde
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| 1999
| Swing Vote
| Chief Justice of the United States
| Television movie
|-
| 2000
| Touched by an Angel
| Dr. Robert Harrigan
| Episode: "The Grudge"
|-
| 2001
| Danny
| Lenny
| Main cast
|-
| 2003
| K Street
| Tommy's Dad
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2007
| ER
| Wayne Rutley
| Episode: "Family Business"; Final television role
|}
Stage
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Location/Notes
|-
|| 1971 || Moonchildren (American premiere) || Mr. Willis || Arena Stage, Washington, D.C./later moved to Broadway in 1972
|-
|| 1975 || The Dybbuk|| Rabbi Az ielke || Arena Stage, Washington, D.C./with Dianne Wiest
|-
|| 1983 || A View from the Bridge || Alfieri || New York City
|-
|| 1984 || Glengarry Glen Ross || Shelly Levene || John Golden Theatre, New York City/Tony Award Nomination/ Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble
|-
|| 1988 || A Walk in the Woods|| Andrei Botvinnik || Booth Theatre, New York City/Tony Award Nomination
|-
|| 1996 || Camping with Henry and Tom|| Thomas Edison || Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City
|-
|| 2002 || An American Daughter || Alan Hughes || Arena Stage, Washington, D.C.
|-
|| 2004 || Democracy|| Herbert Wehner || Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City
|-
|| 2006 || Awake and Sing!|| Jacob || Arena Stage, Washington, D.C.
|-
|| 2008 || The Price|| Solomon || Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia; Theater J, Washington, D.C. (joint production)
|}
References
External links
- Robert Prosky Papers at GMU
- AP Obituary in The Philadelphia Inquirer