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Robert Prosky

 
Actor: Robert Prosky
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: Dec 13, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Died: Dec 08, 2008
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '80s-'90s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
  • Career Highlights: Dead Man Walking, Things Change, Thief
  • First Major Screen Credit: Thief (1981)

Biography

A holder of an economics degree from Philadelphia's Temple University, Philly-born actor Robert Prosky kicked off his career by winning a televised talent contest. With his sharp-edged voice and mashed-potato features, Prosky rose to prominence as a character actor, spending 23 years with Washington, D.C.'s prestigious Arena Stage. In 1983, he was cast in the original Broadway production of Glengarry Glen Ross, winning a Tony award for his performance; he later received excellent notices for his performance as an aging Soviet bureaucrat in A Walk in the Woods. Prosky's first film role was as the backstabbing mob boss in 1981's Thief. Since that time, he has graced several films in a variety of roles -- few more likable than the wistful, washed-up horror show host in Gremlins 2 (1988), the TV station manager in Mrs. Doubtfire, and the enigmatic projectionist in Last Action Hero (1993). Among Robert Prosky's many TV assignments was the regular role of Sgt. Stan Jablonski, who in 1984 took over the morning roll call from the late Sgt. Phil Esterhaus (Michael Conrad) in Hill Street Blues. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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Wikipedia: Robert Prosky
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Robert Prosky
Born Robert Joseph Porzuczek
December 13, 1930(1930-12-13)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died December 8, 2008 (aged 77)
Washington, DC,
United States
Occupation Actor
Years active 1971 - 2008
Spouse(s) Ida Prosky

Robert Prosky (December 13, 1930 - December 8, 2008) was an American stage, film, and television actor.

Contents

Life and career

Prosky, a Polish American,[1] was born Robert Józef Porzuczek in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia,[2] Pennsylvania, the son of Helen and Joseph Porzuczek, a grocer and butcher.[3][4][5] He was raised in a working-class neighborhood and studied at the American Theatre Wing, later graduating from Temple University.[6]

Prosky appeared in such films as Thief, Christine, Hanky Panky, The Natural, Broadcast News, Green Card, Hoffa, Things Change, Rudy, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Dead Man Walking. In addition to appearing in numerous films, Prosky appeared as a regular on the television shows Hill Street Blues and Veronica's Closet. Prior to his film and television career, Prosky appeared in numerous productions at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC, most notably as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. 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 also played Rebecca Howe's father on Cheers.

Prosky often performed at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, 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.

Two of his sons, Andy and John Prosky, are also film, TV, and stage actors. The three have starred together in two productions of Arthur Miller's play The Price, in which he played a furniture appraiser who mediates between two estranged brothers (played by his sons).

Prosky died on December 8, 2008, five days short of his 78th birthday, of complications following a heart procedure.[7] At the time of his death, he lived in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC.

Filmography

Selected stage credits

Year Title Role Location/Notes
1971 Moonchildren (American premiere) Mr. Willis Arena Stage, Washington, DC/later moved to Broadway in 1972
1975 The Dybbuk Rabbi Az ielke Arena Stage, Washington, DC/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, DC
2004 Democracy Herbert Wehner Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City
2006 Awake and Sing! Jacob Arena Stage, Washington, DC
2008 The Price Solomon Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia

References

  1. ^ JewishJournal.com
  2. ^ Adam Bernstein, Philadelphia Inquirer Obituaries
  3. ^ Robert Prosky Biography
  4. ^ Robert Prosky Biography - Yahoo! Movies
  5. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/09/AR2008120902215_2.html?hpid=moreheadlines
  6. ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4565981-1.html
  7. ^ Sullivan, Patricia (9 December 2008). "Actor Robert Prosky Dies". The Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postmortem/2008/12/actor_robert_prosky_dies.html. Retrieved 9 December 2008. 

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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