John Prosky

John Prosky (born April 18, 1962) is an American actor recognized for his extensive work across television, film, and theater, with a career spanning more than three decades that includes recurring roles in acclaimed series and supporting parts in major motion pictures.^[1] The son of veteran actor Robert Prosky and his wife Ida, John grew up in a family immersed in the performing arts, alongside brothers Stefan and Andrew Prosky, the latter also an actor.^[2] Prosky pursued formal training in the field, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting and Directing from California State University, Long Beach.^[3] He began his professional acting career in 1985, initially appearing in films such as Late for Dinner (1991) as Officer Tom Bostich and building a steady presence in television through guest spots on shows like NYPD Blue, ER, and My So-Called Life.^[4] Prosky gained wider recognition for recurring television roles, including David Finch in HBO's True Blood (2008–2012), Senator Gibson in ABC's Scandal (2012–2016), and appearances in Heroes (2006–2010) and Criminal Minds (2005–2020), with continued work in recent series such as Found (2023) and Suits L.A. (2025).^[1][5] In film, he has portrayed characters such as the Young Doctor in Straight Outta Compton (2015), a MindHead Executive in Bowfinger (1999), and supporting roles in Hulk (2003) and A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001).^[6] A dedicated theater performer and member of the Antaeus Theatre Company in Los Angeles, Prosky has appeared in numerous stage productions and serves as head of its education outreach program, while also teaching acting at the Savannah College of Art and Design and in the Los Angeles County juvenile prison system for over a decade.^[7][8] Married to actress Kimiko Gelman since 2000, he is a father of one.^[1]

Early life and education

Birth and upbringing

John Prosky was born on April 18, 1962, in Washington, D.C.^[9] As the son of actor Robert Prosky, who began his long association with Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage in 1958 and built a prominent career in theater, John grew up in a household immersed in the performing arts, with early exposure to the stage through his father's professional environment.^[10] This familial artistic atmosphere influenced the development of his interest in acting during his formative years.^[11]

Family background

John Prosky is the son of acclaimed actor Robert Prosky, born Robert Joseph Porzuczek on December 13, 1930, in Philadelphia, and Ida Prosky (née Hove), an anthropologist who earned a master's degree from George Washington University and worked with institutions such as the Smithsonian.^[11][10][9] Robert Prosky, who passed away on December 8, 2008, built a distinguished career in theater, television, and film, while Ida supported the family's artistic pursuits through her involvement in education and cultural programs.^[2][9] Prosky has one brother, Andrew "Andy" Prosky, the youngest of the three sons, who also pursued a career in acting, primarily on stage in New York and regional theaters.^[11] The family's household placed a strong emphasis on the performing arts, with Robert's professional life at venues like Arena Stage exposing his sons to theater from an early age and inspiring John and Andy to follow in his footsteps.^[9][11] The Prosky family's Polish-American heritage, stemming from Robert's paternal side—where his parents were Helen and Joseph Porzuczek—infused the home with cultural traditions that complemented the artistic environment, fostering a blend of ethnic identity and creative expression.^[11][12] This background contributed to the relational dynamics that nurtured the siblings' inclinations toward performance, though Stefan Prosky, the eldest brother, pursued a different path outside the arts.^[9]

Education and training

John Prosky pursued formal training in theater arts, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in theater from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.^[8][1] He later obtained a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in acting and directing from California State University, Long Beach, where he honed his skills in performance and stagecraft.^[8][1] His early exposure to acting stemmed from family connections, as he grew up observing his father's professional work at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., which provided informal insights into the craft during his formative years.^[11] Public details on additional pre-college training, such as local theater participation, remain limited. Following the completion of his graduate studies, Prosky transitioned to professional acting pursuits in the late 1980s, building on his academic foundation to enter the industry.^[1]

Career

Theater career

John Prosky has been an active figure in American theater, with a career spanning regional, classical, and off-Broadway productions. He joined the ensemble of the Antaeus Theatre Company in Los Angeles in 2000, where he has performed in numerous classical works.^[1][7] At Antaeus, Prosky portrayed Reverend John Hale in Arthur Miller's The Crucible in 2013, delivering a performance noted for its fervent compassion and moral intensity amid the play's themes of paranoia and hysteria.^[13][7] He also appeared in other Antaeus productions, including Cousin Bette, Tonight at 8:30, and The Wedding Band.^[7] These roles highlight his commitment to classical theater, emphasizing ensemble-driven interpretations of literary works. Prosky continues his involvement with Antaeus Theatre Company as an active ensemble member as of 2025.^[7] Prosky's regional theater credits include performances at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., where he acted in Bertolt Brecht's Galileo, Thornton Wilder's Our Town, and Wilder's The Matchmaker.^[7] At the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, he played Eugene Marchbanks in George Bernard Shaw's Candida.^[7] Additionally, he participated in new works at the Mark Taper Forum's Mark Taper II space during the Sahara festival.^[7] In off-Broadway theater, Prosky originated the role of Colonel Edmund Starling in Mark St. Germain's Camping with Henry and Tom at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in 1995, a satirical drama featuring historical figures like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.^[14][15] His involvement in such productions underscores his versatility across historical and comedic genres. Prosky has maintained ongoing collaborations with Antaeus through 2025, contributing to their classical repertory efforts, and has participated in intimate theater initiatives, including a performance in Baby Doll at the Fountain Theatre in 2016.^[7][16]

Television career

Prosky began his television career in the 1990s with guest appearances on several notable series. He portrayed Ted, the brother of teacher Richard Katimski, in the 1995 episode "Resolutions" of My So-Called Life.^[17] In 1996, he appeared as Brathaw, a Maquis operative, in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "For the Cause".^[18] He also made multiple guest spots on JAG, including the role of Jon Barrow in the 1997 episode "Above and Beyond" and another appearance in the 2000 episode "Overdue and Presumed Lost".^[19] Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, Prosky accumulated guest roles on a variety of procedural dramas and other shows, often playing authority figures or supporting characters. His credits include appearances on NYPD Blue, ER, Heroes, Criminal Minds, House, Grey's Anatomy, Veronica Mars, and Fringe.^[20] These roles helped establish him as a versatile character actor in episodic television, transitioning from his theater background to broadcast formats.^[8] Prosky gained prominence through recurring roles in the late 2000s and 2010s. He played David Finch, a congressman entangled in supernatural events, across multiple seasons of HBO's True Blood from 2008 to 2012.^[21] From 2012 to 2015, he portrayed Senator Stanley Gibson on ABC's Scandal, appearing in four episodes during season 5, including key political intrigue episodes such as "Dog-Whistle Politics".^[17] He appeared as defense attorney Mr. Banks in two episodes of TNT's Major Crimes: the 2012 pilot "Reloaded" and the 2015 episode "Blackout".^[14] In more recent years, Prosky has continued to take on supporting roles in high-profile series. He appeared as Walter Crippen in the 2023 second season of HBO's Perry Mason, contributing to the show's noir-inspired legal drama.^[17] In 2023, he guest-starred as Kirk Jacobs in the NBC procedural Found, specifically in the episode "Missing While Undocumented".^[22] As of 2025, Prosky plays Fred in the Peacock series Suits: L.A., marking his involvement in the ongoing spin-off of the legal drama franchise.

Film career

John Prosky began his film career in the mid-1990s, establishing himself as a versatile character actor in supporting roles within both comedic and dramatic productions. His early film appearance came in the 1996 comedy The Nutty Professor, directed by Tom Shadyac, where he portrayed a doctor in a memorable operating room scene alongside Eddie Murphy's lead performance. This role marked one of his initial forays into Hollywood blockbusters, highlighting his ability to contribute to ensemble dynamics without dominating the narrative. By the late 1990s, Prosky continued to build his resume with parts in high-profile comedies, including Bowfinger (1999), directed by Frank Oz, in which he played a MindHead Executive, a minor but pivotal corporate figure in the film's satirical take on the movie industry starring Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy.^[23] Transitioning into the new millennium, he appeared in Steven Spielberg's science fiction drama A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) as Mr. Williamson the Bellman, a hotel staff member interacting with the story's central child android character, further showcasing his range in genre-spanning projects.^[24] In his later career, Prosky maintained a steady presence in biographical and independent films, often embodying authoritative or paternal figures. He portrayed a young doctor in the 2015 hip-hop biopic Straight Outta Compton, directed by F. Gary Gray, providing a brief but authentic medical perspective in the ensemble depicting the rise of N.W.A.^[25] More recently, in the 2019 romantic comedy The Way You Look Tonight, he took on the dual role of Dad and Richard, contributing to the film's intimate family dynamics and heartfelt narrative. Throughout his film work, Prosky has primarily excelled as a supporting player in ensemble casts, with limited opportunities for lead roles, allowing him to lend depth to major productions across genres.^[1]

Other work

Voice acting and video games

John Prosky has contributed to voice acting in both animation and video games, showcasing his vocal range in supporting roles. In the English dub of the anime series Tenchi in Tokyo (1997–1999), he provided additional voices, including those of a TV announcer and Construction Worker A.^[26][27] Prosky's video game work includes voicing Dr. Harold Stoneman, a medical examiner character, in the detective adventure game L.A. Noire (2011), developed by Team Bondi and Rockstar Games.^[28][29] This role marked his involvement in the growing field of motion-captured performance and voice-over for interactive media following the rise of sophisticated gaming narratives in the early 2010s.

Teaching and outreach

Prosky has dedicated over 12 years to teaching acting in the Los Angeles County juvenile prison system, beginning in the early 2010s, where he focuses on dramatic writing and performance skills for incarcerated youth.^[7] His work in these lock-down facilities emphasizes building self-expression and emotional resilience through theater exercises tailored to at-risk populations.^[30] As head of education outreach at the Antaeus Theatre Company, where he is a longtime ensemble member, Prosky co-founded the Odyssey Artists Workshop in collaboration with the organization.^[7][3] This program serves underserved and high-risk young adults, using classical theater techniques—particularly Shakespearean studies—to teach creative writing and performance.^[31] The workshop integrates dramatic improvisation and script development to empower participants from challenging environments, fostering skills in storytelling and collaboration.^[32] Prosky's outreach efforts extend through ongoing workshops that continue into 2025, maintaining a commitment to classical theater education for at-risk communities in Los Angeles.^[7] These initiatives, including culminations like public performances of participant-created works, highlight the program's impact on personal growth and artistic expression among underserved youth.^[30]

Personal life

Marriage

John Prosky has been married to actress Kimiko Gelman since September 17, 2000.^[33] The couple met through their shared profession in the entertainment industry, where Gelman is known for roles in television series such as The West Wing and films including The Hunger Games.^[33] Both Prosky and Gelman maintain active careers in acting, occasionally appearing together at industry-related events, such as supporting productions at the Antaeus Theatre Company.^[34] They have one child.^[1] As of 2025, there are no public details available regarding any separations in their marriage.^[1]

Community involvement

John Prosky has engaged in community efforts centered on raising awareness for neurodiversity, drawing from personal family experiences. On November 5, 2025, he made a guest appearance on the NeuroDiverse World podcast in the episode titled "Be Fiercely Curious," where he spoke in memory of his brother Stefan, a neurodivergent individual known for his explorations at the intersection of science and art.^[35] During the discussion, Prosky emphasized the importance of fostering curiosity and integrating the arts into neurodiverse contexts to inspire and support future generations.^[35] This appearance reflects Prosky's broader personal commitment to advocacy in neurodiversity awareness, highlighting how creative pursuits can empower neurodivergent communities beyond professional settings.^[35]

Filmography

Film

Television

John Prosky began his television career with guest appearances in the late 1980s and has since appeared in over 100 episodes across numerous series, often in supporting or guest roles.^[1]

Theater

Prosky began his theater career in the late 1980s and early 1990s with regional productions, including the role of Marchbanks in Candida at the Guthrie Theater.^[7] He also performed at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., portraying Galileo in Galileo, George Gibbs in Our Town, and Horace Vandergelder in The Matchmaker.^[7][14] Additional early credits include appearances in the new works festival Sahara at the Mark Taper Forum II and Once Upon a Time There Was a Family at Playwrights Horizons and the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York.^[7] In 1995, Prosky made his Off-Broadway debut as Colonel Edmund Starling in Camping with Henry and Tom at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.^[48] His regional work continued into the 2000s, notably with family collaborations in Arthur Miller's The Price: he played Walter Franz at Theater J in Washington, D.C., and reprised the role at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, both in 2008, alongside his father Robert Prosky and brother Andrew Prosky.^[8][14][7] Prosky's association with the Antaeus Theatre Company in Los Angeles, where he has been a core ensemble member, spans multiple productions from 2010 onward. In 2010, he appeared as Hector Hulot in Cousin Bette and as various roles in Tonight at 8:30.^[8][7] That same year, he performed in Night of the Tribades at California Repertory Company (Cal Rep). In 2011, Prosky starred in Louis Slotin Sonata at Cal Rep, followed by the title role of Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead there in 2012.^[8] These Antaeus and regional credits include The Crucible (2013), where Prosky's portrayal of Reverend Hale earned praise for its compassionate intensity.^[8][13][49] In Wedding Band (2014), he played Herman, highlighting interracial tensions in a historical context.^[8][14] Prosky also took on George in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Wilbur C. Henderson in You Can't Take It with You for Antaeus, though exact years for these remain unspecified in available records.^[14] Up to 2025, Prosky continued his work with Antaeus, appearing in their production of Twelfth Night as part of the ensemble.^[50]