RIP Nicholas Pryor

 

Nicholas Pryor, of Port Charles, 90210 and Risky Business, Dead at 89: ‘He Was an Actor’s Actor’

TV Line

By Matt Webb Mitovich

October 8, 2024

Nicholas Pryor, who is best known to TV fans for his roles on Beverly Hills, 90210 and the General Hospital spinoff Port Charles — but who for many will always be the Risky Business dad or that Airplane! passenger — died on Oct. 7 while “surrounded by loving family.” He was 89.

A cause of death has not yet been shared.

Pryor’s Port Charles son, Jon Lindstrom, shared the sad news on Instagram, heralding Pryor as “an actor’s actor, and an exceptional friend.

Nicholas Pryor, who is best known to TV fans for his roles on Beverly Hills, 90210 and the General Hospital spinoff Port Charles — but who for many will always be the Risky Business dad or that Airplane! passenger — died on Oct. 7 while “surrounded by loving family.” He was 89.

“Nick may be best known for his role as the father of Tom Cruise in Risky Business, or as the same to Robert Downey Jr. in Less Than Zero,” Lindstrom noted. “He shared the screen with the likes of Jack Nicholson [in Hoffa], Kurt Russell [in Executive Decision], Ewan McGregor [in Doctor Sleep]…. Too many to name really. He starred on Broadway and delivered terrific work in Film and TV for over 60 years. But to me, he was my friend. One of the best I’ve ever had.

“He was a mentor, a sounding board, a trusted confidant, and even a father-figure beyond, yes, playing my own father on GH and Port Charles,” Lindstrom added. “And he was one of the funniest people you could hope to spend time with over a bottle of good wine and a great meal. I will miss him terribly, as will his beautiful wife Christina, his daughter Stacey, and his two grandchildren, Gus and Avril.”

In addition to his aforementioned roles as Port Charles‘ Victor Collins (father of twins Kevin and Ryan) and 90210‘s Chancellor Arnold, Pryor’s myriad TV credits included (but are far from limited to) Another World (as Tom Baxter), Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, The Nurses, The Edge of Night, Washington: Behind Closed Doors, Eight Is Enough and The Bronx Zoo.

PRYOR, Nicholas (Nicholas David Probst)

Born: 1/28/1935, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.

Died: 10/7/2024, Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.A.

 

Nicholas Pryor’s westerns – actor:

Little House on the Prairie (TV) – 1982 (Royal Wilder)

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV) – 1994 (Senator George Steward)