Robert Prosky

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Robert Prosky bigraphy, stories - Actor

Robert Prosky : biography

13 December 1930 – 08 December 2008

Robert Prosky (December 13, 1930 – December 8, 2008) was an American actor.

Life and career

Prosky, a Polish American, was born Robert Joseph Porzuczek in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Helen 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.

Family

In 1960, he married Ida Hove, who survived him, along with three sons, Stefan, John and Andrew Prosky. Andrew and John Prosky are also actors.

Career

He appeared in Thief, Christine, Hanky Panky, The Natural, Hoffa, Broadcast News, Things Change, Rudy, Mrs. Doubtfire, Green Card, and Dead Man Walking. In addition to appearing in movies, Prosky appeared as a regular on the television series Hill Street Blues, Danny and Veronica’s Closet. He was considered for the role of Martin Crane in Frasier and later made a guest appearance in the show as a reclusive writer. He played Rebecca Howe’s father on Cheers. He also played Coach Hayden Fox’s mentor Jake "the Snake" Connolly on a two part 1991 episode of Coach.

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 John Carpenter’s Christine based on Stephen King’s novel. Prior 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 also originated the role of Shelly Levene in 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.

Death

Prosky died on December 8, 2008, five days short of his 78th birthday, from complications following a heart procedure. At the time of his death, he was living in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C..

Selected stage credits

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, DC / A joint production

Filmography

  • The Brink’s Job (1978)
  • Thief (1981)
  • Monsignor (1982)
  • Hanky Panky (1982)
  • The Keep (1983)
  • John Carpenter’s Christine – Will Darnell (1983)
  • The Lords of Discipline (1983)- LTC Thomas "The Bear" Berrineau
  • The Natural (1984) – The Judge (team owner)
  • Hill Street Blues (TV series) (1984–1987)
  • Broadcast News (1987)
  • Outrageous Fortune (1987) – Stanislav Korzenowski
  • Big Shots (1987)
  • Things Change (1988)
  • The Murder of Mary Phagan (1988) (Miniseries) – Tom Watson
  • The Great Outdoors (1988)
  • Green Card (1990)
  • Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
  • Funny About Love (1990)
  • Coach (1991) – Jake "The Snake" Connolly
  • Hoffa (1992)- Billy Flynn
  • Far and Away (1992) – Daniel Christie
  • Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) – Jonathan Lundy
  • Rudy (1993) – Father Cavanaugh
  • Last Action Hero (1993) – Nick
  • Miracle on 34th Street (1994) – Judge Henry Harper
  • Dead Man Walking (1995) – Hilton Barber
  • The Scarlet Letter (1995) – Horace Stonehall
  • The Chamber (1996) – E. Garner Goodman
  • Mad City (1997)
  • Veronica’s Closet (1997) (TV series) (1997–1998)
  • Dudley Do-Right (1999) – Inspector Fenwick
  • Death to Smoochy (2002) (uncredited)
  • D-Tox (2002) – McKenzie
  • Suits on the Loose (2005)
  • The Skeptic (2008) – Father Wymond