Nicholas Pryor Explained

Nicholas Pryor
Birth Name:Nicholas David Probst
Birth Date:28 January 1935
Birth Place:Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Other Names:Nick Pryor
Education:Gilman School
Yale University
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1955–2021
Children:1

Nicholas David Pryor (born Probst; January 28, 1935 – October 7, 2024) was an American character actor. He appeared in various television series, films, and stage productions.

Early life and career

Pryor was born Nicholas David Probst in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Dorothy (née Driskill) and J. Stanley Probst, a pharmaceutical manufacturer.

His early film credits include appearances in The Happy Hooker (1975), Smile (1975), and as nervous college professor Samuel Graves in the 1976 film The Gumball Rally. Notable film credits included appearing alongside William Holden and Lee Grant in Damien - Omen II (1978), as one of the sick passengers in Airplane! (1980), the role of Joel Goodson (Tom Cruise)'s father in the hit movie Risky Business (1983), and as Julian Wells (Robert Downey Jr.)'s estranged father in Less than Zero (1987). His other film credits include The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), Pacific Heights (1990), Executive Decision (1996), The Chamber (1996) and Collateral Damage (2002).[1]

Pryor's most notable television role was that of A. Milton Arnold, the Chancellor of California University, in the television series Beverly Hills, 90210. Pryor's character, who appeared on the show from 1994 to 1997, was a widower and the father of one daughter, Claire (portrayed by Kathleen Robertson). His other television appearances included The Adams Chronicles (1976), (1977) and Gideon's Trumpet (1980).

In 1964, Pryor was an original cast member of the new soap opera Another World, playing Tom Baxter until the character was killed off after six months. In 1973 Pryor was the second actor to play the role of P.I. Joel Gantry on The Edge of Night. For several years in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he played the role of Victor Collins on General Hospital and its spin-off, Port Charles.

Personal life and death

Pryor's fourth wife was actress Christine Belford, whom he married in July 1993. He had a daughter from an earlier marriage. Belford announced Pryor's death by sharing a note written from the actor. The humble message, Pryor said, was to be delivered to The Hollywood Reporter after his death. The note was shared by the widow, in which he wrote "Nicholas Pryor was enormously grateful to have been, for nearly 70 years, a working actor." Pryor is survived by his daughter, Stacey Pryor, and his grandchildren Auguste and Avril Bas. [2]

Pryor died of cancer at his home in Wilmington, North Carolina, on October 7, 2024, at the age of 89.[3] [4]

Partial filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1961Alfred Hitchcock PresentsDane RosseSeason 6 Episode 14: "The Changing Heart"
1970The Way We Live NowLionel Aldridge
1974Man on a SwingPaul Kearney
1975The Happy HookerCarl Gordon
SmileAndy
1976The Gumball RallyProfessor Samuel Graves, Cobra Team
1977Hank Ferris
Night TerrorMan in Sports CarTelevision film
1978Damien - Omen IICharles Warren
RainbowBill GilmoreTV movie
1979The Fish That Saved PittsburghGeorge Brockington
1980Airplane!Mr. Jim Hammen
1981Splendor in the GrassDr. JuddTV movie
1982Royal Wilder
1983Risky BusinessMr. Goodson
1984Mitchell McKayTV movie
1985The Falcon and the SnowmanEddie
Knight RiderVinceSeason 4 Episode 8: "Many Happy Returns"
1986On Dangerous GroundJohn Pilgrim
Murder in Three ActsFreddie DaytonTV movie
1987Morgan Stewart's Coming HomeTom Stewart
Less than ZeroBenjamin Wells
1988A Stoning in Fulham CountyBaxterTV movie
1990Brain DeadMan in Bloody White Suit / Ramsen / Ed Conklin
Pacific HeightsHotel Front Office Manager Neil Spisak
1992HoffaHoffa's Attorney
1993SliverPeter Farrell
1994Murder Between Friends Judge Lamartine[5]
Hail CaesarBidwell
1996Executive DecisionSecretary of State Jack Douglas
The ChamberJudge Flynn F. Slattery
1997Murder at 1600Paul Moran
1999MollyDr. Prentice
The BachelorDale Arden
2002Collateral DamageSenator Delich
2007The ListHarold Smithfield
2008The Four Children of Tander WelchTander Welch
2014A Short History of DecayThe Man in White
D8 Male Patient
201590 Minutes in HeavenJ.V. Thomas
2016Buster's Mal HeartMr. Bowery
2019Doctor SleepElderly Patient
2020The OutsiderPeter Maitland
2021The Falcon and the Winter SoldierOeznik2 episodes
Halloween KillsCoroner

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nicholas Pryor Filmography and Movies . Fandango.
  2. Web site: Nicholas Pryor, veteran actor who starred in 'Risky Business' and 'Port Charles,' dies at 89 . October 11, 2024 . Texarkana Gazette . en.
  3. Web site: Barnes . Mike . Nicholas Pryor, Actor in 'Risky Business' and 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' Dies at 89 . The Hollywood Reporter . October 8, 2024.
  4. Web site: Nicholas Pryor, of Port Charles, 90210 and Risky Business, Dead at 89: 'He Was an Actor's Actor' . TV Line . October 8, 2024.
  5. Roberta Bernstein, "Murder Between Friends", in Variety and Daily Variety Television Reviews, 1993–1994, January 11, 1994, p. 12