Likable stage veteran who became a busy character actor in film and TV of the 1980s and 1990s, Robert Prosky spent 23 seasons as a resident actor with the Arena Stage Theater in Washington, DC before making his film debut as an initially ingratiating gangster in Michael Mann's "Thief" (1981). 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 in a memorable performance as the avuncular mob boss. Prosky kept busy in the 1990s providing sturdy support in a diverse group of films including "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" (1990), "Green Card" (1990), "Hoffa" (1992) and "Far and Away" (1992). In 1993 he appeared in "The Last Action Hero" as a kindly old projectionist with a magic ticket, in "Rudy" as a supportive priest, and in "Mrs. Doubtfire," as a TV producer who helps out Robin Williams.
