Robert Prosky

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.

Prosky appeared in Thief (1981), Hanky Panky (1982), The Natural (1984), Outrageous Fortune (1987), Broadcast News (1987), The Great Outdoors (1988), Things Change (1988), Loose Cannons (1990), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Green Card (1990), Far and Away (1992), Hoffa (1992), Last Action Hero (1993), Rudy (1993), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), and Mad City (1997), Dead Man Walking (1995) and The Chamber (1996), with actor Raymond J. Barry. He also plays Will Darnell, the man who owned the auto repair shop where Arnie Cunningham (Keith Gordon) rebuilds the possessed car "Christine" in the 1983 film based on Stephen King's novel.

In addition to appearing in films, Prosky appeared in many television series. He became known for his role as Sgt. Stan Jablonski on Hill Street Blues. He 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. 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.

In 1960, he married Ida Hove, with whom he had three sons, including, John.

Prosky died on December 8, 2008, aged 77, while living in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C. 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."

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

Film

Television

Stage