Nicholas Pryor

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).

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), Washington: Behind Closed Doors (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 his widow, in which he wrote "Nicholas Pryor was enormously grateful to have been, for nearly 70 years, a working actor."

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

Partial filmography Year Title Role Notes 1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Dane Rosse Season 6 Episode 14: "The Changing Heart" 1970 The Way We Live Now Lionel Aldridge 1974 Man on a Swing Paul Kearney 1975 The Happy Hooker Carl Gordon Smile Andy 1976 The Gumball Rally Professor Samuel Graves, Cobra Team 1977 Washington: Behind Closed Doors Hank Ferris Night Terror Man in Sports Car Television film1978 Damien - Omen II Charles Warren Rainbow Bill Gilmore TV movie 1979 The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh George Brockington 1980 Airplane! Mr. Jim Hammen 1981 Splendor in the Grass Dr. Judd TV movie 1982 Little House: A New Beginning Royal Wilder 1983 Risky Business Mr. Goodson Blood Feud John Cye Cheasty Television film 1984 Second Sight: A Love Story Mitchell McKay TV movie 1985 The Falcon and the Snowman Eddie Knight Rider Vince Season 4 Episode 8: "Many Happy Returns"1986 On Dangerous Ground John Pilgrim Murder in Three Acts Freddie Dayton TV movie 1987 Morgan Stewart's Coming Home Tom Stewart Less than Zero Benjamin Wells 1988 A Stoning in Fulham County Baxter TV movie 1990 Brain Dead Man in Bloody White Suit / Ramsen / Ed Conklin Pacific Heights Hotel Front Office Manager Neil Spisak 1992 Hoffa Hoffa's Attorney 1993 Sliver Peter Farrell 1994 Murder Between Friends Judge Lamartine Hail Caesar Bidwell 1996 Executive Decision Secretary of State Jack Douglas The Chamber Judge Flynn F. Slattery 1997 Murder at 1600 Paul Moran 1999 Molly Dr. Prentice The Bachelor Dale Arden 2002 Collateral Damage Senator Delich 2007 The List Harold Smithfield 2008 The Four Children of Tander Welch Tander Welch 2011Hart of Dixie Doctor Harley Wilkes Season 1, Episode 1: Cameo as the birth father of Zoe Hart who leaves her his medical practice in Bluebell, Alabama2014 A Short History of Decay The Man in White The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 D8 Male Patient 2015 90 Minutes in Heaven J.V. Thomas 2016 Buster's Mal Heart Mr. Bowery 2019 Doctor Sleep Elderly Patient 2020 The Outsider Peter Maitland2021 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Oeznik 2 episodes Halloween Kills Coroner