Actor Robert Prosky died 8 December 2008 from complications following heart surgery. Born on 13 December 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he earned a degree in economics from Temple University, joined the US Air Force (but then received a hardship discharge upon his father’s death, to help with the family grocery store), and acted in amateur theater. After winning a talent contest, which led to a two-year course at New York’s American Theater Wing, he joined the Arena Theater, and was an actor from then on. He preferred acting on the stage, for its “diveristy of roles and its exhilarating urgency,” according to The New York Times. In a 1993 interview, Prosky said “That uncertainty, that living in the moment is the essence of the actor’s craft.” He made his film debut at the age of 49, in Thief (1981).
After turning down the role of Coach in Cheers (he said he didn’t want to play the same role for the seven years the contract required; the part went to Nicholas Colasanto, who died early in the series’ run), he stepped into the role of the desk sergeant—replacing the deceased actor Michael Conrad with a new character—on Hill Street Blues (1984-87). He later played Kirstie Alley’s father on Cheers, and also on Veronica’s Closet.
His genre appearances include: D-Tox (2002), Touched by an Angel (2000), The Lake (1998), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), Last Action Hero (1993), Age Isn’t Everything (1991), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), The Keep (1983), and Christine (1983).
Prosky was twice nominated for Tony Awards for Best Actor, for his work on Broadway: for Glengarry Glen Ross (1984) and A Walk in the Woods (1988). He is survived by his wife of 48 years, anthropologist Ida Hove, three sons (John, Andrew, and Stefan), and three grandchildren.