Biography
He came to prominence as the endearing Sgt. Jablonski who replaced Michael Conrad's Sgt. Esterhaus ("Let's be careful out there!") at the opening of each episode of TV's "Hill Street Blues." Prosky also became a familiar TV face in a succession of TV movies, pilots, and guest spots.
Prosky's 1980s feature credits include "Christine" (1983), "The Natural" (1984), "Broadcast News" (1987) and David Mamet's "Things Change" (1988), where he turned …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
| Awarded a scholarship at New York's American Theatre Wing | ||
| Joined Air Force and served in the Korean War after graduating from college | ||
| Received an honorable discharge from the military after the death of his father | ||
| Returned home and took over the family grocery | ||
| Spent 23 seasons as a resident actor with the Arena Stage Theatre in Washington DC | ||
1945 | At age 15, played the stage manager in a high school production of "Our Town" | |
1975 | Professional stage debut, "The Dybbuk" opposite Dianne Wiest at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC | |
1981 | Made feature acting debut in Michael Mann's "Thief" | |
1982 | First played Kirstie Alley's father in a guest appearance on "Cheers" (NBC) | |
1983 | Played the evil garage owner in "Christine" | |
1984 | Cast as the villainous co-owner of the New York Knights baseball team in "The Natural" | |
1984 | Nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross" | |
1984 | Played the big-hearted desk sergeant Stanislaus 'Stan' Jablonski on "Hill Street Blues" (NBC) | |
1987 | Cast as a longtime executive who gets fired in director James L. Brooks' "Broadcast News" | |
1988 | Played a mafia don in David Mamet's feature film, "Things Change" | |
1988 | Starred opposite Sam Waterston in Lee Blessing's Broadway drama "A Walk in the Woods"; earned second Tony Award nomination | |
1992 | Appeared in "Hoffa" starring Jack Nicholson in the title role; again collaborated with Mamet who scripted | |
1992 | Had a small role as Nicole Kidman's father in Ron Howard's "Far and Away" | |
1993 | Appeared opposite Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire" as a television station owner | |
1993 | Played a self-deprecating priest in "Rudy" | |
1995 | Cast as the pro bono lawyer for death row inmate Sean Penn in "Dead Man Walking" | |
1996 | Played Thomas Edison in the Off-Broadway play "Camping with Henry and Tom"; co-starred with son John Prosky | |
1997 | Again played Kirstie Alley's father in the NBC sitcom "Veronica's Closet" | |
1997 | Had a recurring role as a priest on the ABC legal drama "The Practice" | |
2001 | Returned to sitcoms as Daniel Stern's father in "Danny" (CBS); cancelled after only airing twice | |
2006 | Cast in the production of "Awake and Sing!" at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC | |
2008 | Co-starred with his sons Andy and John in the Philadelphia production of Arthur Miller's play "The Price," in which he played a furniture appraiser who mediates between two estranged brothers (played by his sons) | |