Prosky, Robert 1930(?)–

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Prosky, Robert 1930(?)–

(Robert J. Prosky)

PERSONAL

Born Robert Porzuczek, December 13, 1930 (some sources say 1931), in Philadelphia, PA; son of Joseph (a grocer) and Helen Prosky; married Ida Hove (an anthropologist), June 4, 1960; children: Stefan, John (an actor), Andrew (an actor). Education: Temple University, degree in economics; trained for the stage at American Theatre Wing, New York City. Avocational Interests: Furniture and home restoration, flying, stamp and coin collecting, photography, golf, tennis, bowling, travel, sailing, fishing.

Addresses: Agent—The Gersh Agency, 232 North Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Career: Actor. Also taught acting. Military service: U.S. Air Force.

Awards, Honors: Antoinette Perry Award nomination, featured actor—play, and Special Drama Desk Award (with others), outstanding ensemble performance, both 1984, for Glengarry Glen Ross; Outer Critics Circle Award, best actor—play, and Antoinette Perry Award nomination, best dramatic actor, both 1988, for A Walk in the Woods; Helen Hayes Award, best lead actor, Washington Theatre Awards Society, 1995, for The Price; The American Express Tribute to an American Actor honor, Helen Hayes Awards, 1998.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Leo, Thief (also known as Violent Streets), United Artists, 1981.

Hiram Calder, Hanky Panky, Columbia, 1982.

(As Robert J. Prosky) Bishop Walkman, Monsignor, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1982.

Father Fonescu, The Keep, Paramount, 1983.

Bear, The Lords of Discipline, Paramount, 1983.

Will Darnell, Christine (also known as John Carpenter's Christine), Columbia, 1983.

The judge, The Natural, TriStar, 1984.

Stanislav Korzenowski, Outrageous Fortune, Buena Vista, 1987.

Keegan, Big Shots, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987.

Ernie Merriman, Broadcast News, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987.

Wally, The Great Outdoors, Universal, 1988.

Joseph Vincent, Things Change, Columbia, 1988.

Curt Von Metz, Loose Cannons, TriStar, 1990.

Grandpa Fred, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Warner Bros., 1990.

Emil T. "E. T." Bergman, Funny about Love (also known as New York Times), Paramount, 1990.

Bronte's lawyer, Green Card, Buena Vista, 1990.

Seymour's Grandpa Irving, Age Isn't Everything (also known as Life in the Food Chain), LIVE Home Video, 1991.

Daniel Christie, Far and Away, Universal, 1992.

Billy Flynn, Hoffa, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1992.

Nick, Last Action Hero, Columbia, 1993.

Jonathan Lundy, Mrs. Doubtfire, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1993.

Father Cavanaugh, Rudy, TriStar, 1993.

Judge Harper, Miracle on 34th Street, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1994.

Horace Stonehall, The Scarlet Letter, Buena Vista, 1995.

Hilton Barber, Dead Man Walking (also known as After Midnight, Dead Man, Death Watch, and Sister Prejean), Gramercy Pictures, 1995.

Father Tierney, The Road Home (also known as Brothers' Destiny, He Ain't Heavy, and Long Road Home), Saban International, 1996.

E. Garner Goodman, The Chamber, Universal, 1996.

Lou Potts, Mad City, Warner Bros., 1997.

Inspector Fenwick, Dudley Do-Right, Universal, 1999.

Grandfather's Birthday, 2000.

McKenzie, D-Tox (also known as Eye See You and Im auge der angst), United International, 2002.

Network chairman (uncredited), Death to Smoochy (also known as Totet Smoocky), Warner Bros., 2002.

Bishop Hollister, Suits on the Loose, Hale Stone, 2005.

Television Appearances; Series:

Sergeant Stanislaus "Stan" Jablonski, Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1984–87.

Voice, The West, PBS, 1996.

Pat Chase, Veronica's Closet, NBC, 1997–98.

Lenny, Danny, CBS, 2001.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Tom Watson, The Murder of Mary Phagan, NBC, 1988.

Dr. Walter Hovde, From the Dead of Night (also known as Walkers), NBC, 1989.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Edwin M. Stanton, They've Killed President Lincoln, 1971.

Zalmen: or, The Madness of God, 1975.

Judge Philip Erbsen, The Ordeal of Bill Carney, 1981.

Colonel General Aleksey Rudenski, World War III, 1982.

Jim Conway, Into Thin Air, CBS, 1985.

Dancer, The Heist, HBO, 1989.

Rosh Benefield, "Home Fires Burning," Hallmark Hall of Fame, 1989.

Larry Cerreta, "In Vino Veritas" (also known as "Christine Cromwell"), The ABC Saturday Mystery, ABC, 1990.

Captain Fitzgerald, Johnny Ryan (also known as Against the Mob, G-Men, and Ryan's Way), NBC, 1990.

Bishop Baker, The Love She Sought (also known as A Green Journey and Last Chance for Romance), NBC, 1990.

Bill, Dangerous Pursuit (also known as Fast Lane), USA Network, 1990.

Mr. Dutton (Maggie's father), Double Edge, CBS, 1992.

Maisha Rockman, Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story (also known as Life on the High Wire and Teamster Boss), HBO, 1992.

Herb, The Lake, NBC, 1998.

Chief Justice, Swing Vote, ABC, 1999.

Hoke, The Valley of Light, CBS, 2006.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Mayo Dunlop, Old Dogs (also known as Two Old Dogs), ABC, 1987.

The 42nd Annual Tony Awards, 1988.

Andrey Botvinnik, "A Walk in the Woods," American Playhouse, PBS, 1989.

The storyteller, Darryl Tevis, NBC, 1991.

Ocean Wilds (documentary), PBS, 2001.

Echoes from the White House (documentary), PBS, 2001.

Interviewee, Behind the Fame: L.A. Law/Hill Street Blues (documentary), The Learning Channel, 2002.

NBC 75th Anniversary Special (also known as NBC 75th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 2002.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Paul Policzinski, "Hometown," Lou Grant, CBS, 1981.

Dr. Vogel, "The Right Kind of Medicine," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, NBC, 1985.

Bishotrick Shea, "Old Habits Die Hard," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1987.

The storyteller, "Darryl Tevis," Lifestories, NBC, 1990.

Coach Jake Connelly, "The Pineapple Bowl (Parts 1 and 2)," Coach, ABC, 1991.

Mr. Howe, "Daddy's Little Middle-Aged Girl," Cheers, NBC, 1992.

Joe Cardini, "Nun But the Brave," Brooklyn Bridge, CBS, 1992.

T. H. Houghton, "A Crane's Critique," Frasier, NBC, 1996.

Boone LeGarde, "Pilot," Lateline, ABC, 1998.

Father Patrick Martin, "Happily Ever After," The Practice, ABC, 1999.

Father Patrick Martin, "Life Sentence," The Practice, ABC, 2000.

Robert Harrigan, "The Grudge," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2000.

Herbert Miller, "Aaron's List of Dreams," Once and Again, ABC, 2002.

Father Patrick Martin, "The Telltale Nation," The Practice, ABC, 2002.

Father Patrick Martin, "Small Sacrifices," The Practice, ABC, 2002.

Tommy's dad, "Week 4," K Street, HBO, 2003.

Tommy's dad, "Week 5," K Street, HBO, 2003.

Tommy's dad, "Week 10," K Street, HBO, 2003.

Also appeared in episodes of The Adams Chronicles, PBS.

Stage Appearances:

Mrs. Gibbon's Boys, Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, PA, 1955.

Older bond salesman, Pale Horse, Pale Rider, Jan Hus Playhouse, New York City, 1957–58.

Mr. Willis, Moonchildren, Royale Theatre, New York City, 1972.

Alfieri, A View from the Bridge, Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1983.

Shelly Levene, Glengarry Glen Ross, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, then John Golden Theatre, New York City, both 1984.

A Walk in the Woods, Broadway production, New York City, 1988.

Thomas Alva Edison, Camping with Henry and Tom, Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City, 1995.

The Maharal, The Golem, Manhattan Ensemble Theatre, New York City, 2002.

Twelve Angry Men, American Airlines Theatre, New York City, 2004–2005.

Democracy, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City, 2004–2005.

Also appeared for twenty-three seasons in more than a hundred roles at the Arena Stage, Washington, DC. Roles at the Arena Stage include Willy Loman, Death of a Salesman, Galileo Galilei, Galileo, Matthew Harrison Brady, Inherit the Wind, the stage manager, Our Town, and a role in The Price; appeared in A Delicate Balance and Hamlet, both Tyrone Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN; appeared in Arms and the Man Broadway production; also appeared in The Caucasian Chalk Circle and You Can't Take It with You.

Major Tours:

Toured as Matthew Harrison Brady, Inherit the Wind, the stage manager, Our Town, and in A Walk in the Woods, all Russian cities; and in After the Fall, Hong Kong.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Washingtonian, August, 1993, pp. 58.