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 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.Robert Prosky biography Film Reference. 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.

Career 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.

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

Death 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.Martin, Douglas. (December 11, 2008). "Robert Prosky, 77, an Actor of Wide Range and Acumen, Is Dead" The New York Times. 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."

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

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1984–1987 Hill Street Blues Sgt. Stan Jablonski Main cast 1987 Murder She Wrote Bishop Patrick Shea 1988 The Murder of Mary Phagan Tom WatsonMurder of Mary Phagan Turner Classic Movies, accessed December 18, 2015 1989 From the Dead of Night Dr Walter HovdeFrom the Dead of Night Turner Classic Movies, accessed December 18, 2015 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 1993 Roseanne Colonel Russ 1996 Frasier T.H. Houghton 1997–1998 Veronica's Closet Pat Chase 1997–2002 The Practice Father Patrick 5 episodes 1998 The Lake Herb Television movie 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 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 1980 Galileo Galileo Galilei Arena Stage, Washington, D.C./Play by Bertolt Brecht 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

External links

Robert Prosky Papers at GMU

AP Obituary in The Philadelphia Inquirer