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Robert Prosky

Robert Prosky

Actor · Died December 8, 2008, aged 77 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 13, 1930
Died
December 8, 2008 (aged 77)
From
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
51 on MovieCove · 79 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

What are Robert Prosky's films like?

Across their 38 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Thriller movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
31%
Self
18%
Morality
17%
Power
13%
Survival
10%
Society
8%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 36 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 7 · Dark 12

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 19 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 12 · Charged 12 · Intense 12

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 16 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 10

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 16 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 15 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

22 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 10 of 22 analyzed roles.

Mentor
10 of 22
Shadow
4 of 22
Threshold guardian
4 of 22
Ally
3 of 22
Herald
1 of 22
Show the 22 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Warm
12
Melancholic
12
Dread
9
Joyful
9
Other
44

How their films linger

Feel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Robert Prosky's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 51 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Prosky's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

79 credits, 51 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Skeptic(2008)

    as Father Wymond

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Valley of Light(2006)

    as Hoke

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Andrey Botvinnik (segment "A Walk in the Woods")

  • Suits on the Loose(2005)

    as Bishop Hollister

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • K Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 3 episodes · as Tommy's Dad

  • Death to Smoochy: Behind the Scenes Documentary(2002)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Death to Smoochy(2002)

    as Network Chairman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • D-Tox(2002)

    as McKenzie

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Danny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 11 episodes · as Lenny

  • Pasta For War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as The Dictator (voice)

  • Once and Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dudley Do-Right(1999)

    as Inspector Fenwick

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Swing Vote (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Chief Justice

  • LateLine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Herb

  • Mad City(1997)

    as Lou Potts

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Veronica's Closet(1997)

    Show 22 episodes · as Pat Chase

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · as Father Patrick Martin

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Chamber(1996)

    as E. Garner Goodman

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Dead Man Walking(1995)

    as Hilton Barber

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Scarlet Letter(1995)

    as Horace Stonehall

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Thomas Jefferson: A View from the Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Edmund Bacon (voice)

  • Miracle on 34th Street(1994)

    as Judge Henry Harper

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Robert Harrigan

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Wayne Rutley

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Mrs. Doubtfire(1993)

    as Mr. Lundy

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Rudy(1993)

    as Father Cavanaugh

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as T.H. Houghton

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Last Action Hero(1993)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Hoffa(1992)

    as Billy Flynn

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story(1992)

    as Maishe

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Far and Away(1992)

    as Daniel Christie

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Double Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Maggie's Father

  • Brooklyn Bridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Age Isn't Everything(1991)

    as Grandpa Irving

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Green Card(1990)

    as Brontë's Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • LifeStories: Steve Burdick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as The Storyteller (Voice)

  • The Love She Sought(1990)

    as Bishop Richard Baker

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Funny About Love(1990)

    as E. T.

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Lifestories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • Johnny Ryan(1990)

    as Capt. Fitzgerald

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Gremlins 2: The New Batch(1990)

    as Grandpa Fred

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Pursuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Bill

  • Loose Cannons(1990)

    as Von Metz

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Christine Cromwell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry Cerreta

  • The Heist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Dancer

  • Coach(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as Coach 'Jake the Snake' Connelly

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • From the Dead of Night(1989)

    as Dr. Walter Hovde

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Home Fires Burning(1989)

    as Rosh Benefield

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Things Change(1988)

    as Joseph 'Don Giuseppe' Vincenzo

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Great Outdoors(1988)

    as Wally

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Murder of Mary Phagan(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tom Watson

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • A Walk in the Woods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Andrey Botvinnik

  • Broadcast News(1987)

    as Ernie Merriman

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Big Shots(1987)

    as Keegan

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Outrageous Fortune(1987)

    as Stanislav Korzenowski

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Washington Monuments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Narrator

  • Into Thin Air(1985)

    as Jim Conway

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Sutton A. Vogel

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Bishop Patrick Shea

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Natural(1984)

    as The Judge

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Keep(1983)

    as Father Mihail Fonescu

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Christine(1983)

    as Will Darnell

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Lords of Discipline(1983)

    as Col. 'Bear' Berrineau

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Monsignor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Bishop Walkman

  • Cheers(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Navy Captain Franklin Howe

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Hanky Panky(1982)

    as Hiram Calder

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • World War III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gen. Aleksey Rudenski

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrey Botvinnik

  • The Ordeal of Bill Carney(1981)

    as Judge Philip Erbsen

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Thief(1981)

    as Leo Alderman

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 67 episodes · as Stan Jablonski

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Brink's Job(1978)

    as Lineup Gallery Cop

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Adams Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Benjamin Stoddert

  • Beacon Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as McLeague

  • Zalmen, or The Madness of God (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as The Chairman

  • Lincoln: Trial by Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Secretary of War Stanton

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Hoke · as Rosh Benefield

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 79 titles from 1951 to 2009; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

$441M worldwide

Highest rated

Dead Man Walking (1995)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Veronica's Closet (1997)

Film career

19512009

Peak 1994 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting79 of 79: 79 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s6 · acting1980s28 · acting1990s34 · acting2000s10 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 28 roles
788893

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Robert Prosky's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 41; across their 36 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

83rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 51 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 51 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

Death to Smoochy: Behind the Scenes Documentary (2002)

87th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Dead Man Walking (1995)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 32 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Robert Prosky's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles20–71 · median 49 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles19–58 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles24–78 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles27–37 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles13–65 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Robert Prosky work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Prosky's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ron Howard shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers