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Robert Prosky

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Robert Prosky
Robert Prosky and Joseph McKenna in Fishelson's adaptation of The Golem at Manhattan Ensemble Theatre, 2002
Born
Robert Józef Porzuczek

(1930-12-13)December 13, 1930
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedDecember 8, 2008(2008-12-08) (aged 77)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeRock Creek Cemetery
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Other namesRobert Józef Prosky
OccupationActor
Years active1971–2008
Spouse
Ida Hove
​
(m. 1960)​
Children3, including John Prosky

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

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Prosky, a Polish American,[1] was born in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia,[2] Pennsylvania, to Helen (Kuhn) and Joseph Porzuczek.[3] His father was a grocer and butcher.[4][5][6] 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 suddenly.[7]

Career

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Prosky appeared in Thief, Hanky Panky, The Natural, Hoffa, Broadcast News, Things Change, The Great Outdoors, Loose Cannons, Rudy, Mrs. Doubtfire, Green Card, and Dead Man Walking. He also appeared as Will Darnell, the man who owned the auto repair shop where Arnie Cunningham (Keith Gordon) rebuilds the possessed car "Christine" in the film based on Stephen King's novel.

In addition to appearing in films, he appeared in many television shows, as a regular on Hill Street Blues, Danny, and Veronica's Closet. Prosky also portrayed Jake "the Snake" Connolly on a two-part 1991 episode of Coach. He was considered for the role of Martin Crane in Frasier and later made a guest appearance in the series as a reclusive writer who befriended the character. He was offered the role of Coach Ernie Pantusso on Cheers, but turned it down; he later portrayed Rebecca Howe's father on the same show.[8] 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.

In addition to his film and television career, he appeared in numerous productions 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 appeared in two films, Dead Man Walking and The Chamber, with actor Raymond J. Barry. He 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

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In 1960, he married Ida Hove with whom he had three sons, Stefan, John and Andrew Prosky, the latter two being actors as well.[7]

Death

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Prosky died on December 8, 2008, at age 77 while living in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C.[8][9] His son John said that the cause was complications of heart surgery at the Washington Hospital Center.[7] 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."[7]

Playbill described him: "He was best suited to playing salt-of-the-earth characters, sometimes with a mischievous or slightly sinister edge."[8]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 The Brink's Job Cop in Police Lineup Uncredited
1981 Thief Leo
1982 Hanky Panky Hiram Calder
1982 Monsignor Bishop Walkman
1983 The Lords of Discipline LTC Thomas "The Bear" Berrineau
1983 Christine Will Darnell
1983 The Keep Father Fonescu
1984 The Natural The Judge (team owner)
1985 Into Thin Air Jim Conway
1987 Outrageous Fortune Stanislav Korzenowski
1987 Big Shots Keegan
1987 Broadcast News Ernie Merriman
1988 The Great Outdoors Wally
1988 Things Change Joseph 'Don Giuseppe' Vincent
1989 The Heist Dancer
1990 Loose Cannons Von Metz
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Grandpa Fred
1990 Funny About Love Emil Thomas "E.T." Bergman
1990 Green Card Brontë's Lawyer
1991 Age Isn't Everything Grandpa Irving
1992 Far and Away Daniel Christie
1992 Hoffa Billy Flynn
1993 Last Action Hero Nick
1993 Rudy Father John Cavanaugh
1993 Mrs. Doubtfire Jonathan Lundy
1994 Miracle on 34th Street Judge Henry Harper
1995 The Scarlet Letter Horace Stonehall
1995 Dead Man Walking Hilton Barber
1996 The Chamber E. Garner Goodman
1997 Mad City Lou Potts
1998 The Lake Herb
1999 Dudley Do-Right Inspector Fenwick
2002 Eye See You McKenzie
2002 Death to Smoochy Network Chairman Uncredited
2005 Suits on the Loose Bishop Hollister
2009 The Skeptic Father Wymond Final film role
Released posthumously

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1984–1987 Hill Street Blues Sgt. Stan Jablonski Main cast
1987 Murder She Wrote Bishop Patrick Shea
1988 The Murder of Mary Phagan Tom Watson[10]
1989 From the Dead of Night Dr Walter Hovde[11]
1990 A Green Journey Bishop Baker
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
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

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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

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  1. ^ Davis, Sally Ogle (September 6, 2001). "Television Jews: How Jewish Is Too Jewish?". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  2. ^ Bernstein, Adam (December 10, 2008). "Robert Prosky, Phila.-born character actor". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  3. ^ Who's who in Entertainment. Vol. 1. Marquis Who's Who. 1989. ISBN 9780837918501.
  4. ^ Robert Prosky biography Film Reference.
  5. ^ "Robert Prosky Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  6. ^ Bernstein, Adam (December 10, 2008). "Robert Prosky; D.C. Actor Appeared on 'Hill Street Blues'". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ a b c d Martin, Douglas. (December 11, 2008). "Robert Prosky, 77, an Actor of Wide Range and Acumen, Is Dead" The New York Times.
  8. ^ a b c Simonson, Robert (December 9, 2008). "Robert Prosky, Seasoned Actor of Stage, Film and Television, Dies at 77". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
  9. ^ Sullivan, Patricia (December 9, 2008). "Actor Robert Prosky Dies". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  10. ^ Murder of Mary Phagan Turner Classic Movies, accessed December 18, 2015
  11. ^ From the Dead of Night Turner Classic Movies, accessed December 18, 2015
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