### Renowned Actor Nicholas Pryor Passes Away at 89

Veteran actor Nicholas Pryor, who enjoyed an illustrious career spanning nearly seven decades, passed away on October 7 at the age of 89. With memorable roles in various soap operas and iconic appearances in films like "Risky Business," Pryor leaves behind a legacy of over 175 screen credits and several Broadway performances.

Born Nicholas Probst in Baltimore on January 28, 1935, Pryor first made his mark in the entertainment industry with guest spots on 1950s and early '60s TV shows such as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Doctors." He gained wider recognition with his role as Tom Baxter in the NBC daytime drama "Another World," which led to a starring role in "The Nurses" from 1965 to 1967, a continuation of the CBS series of the same name.

Pryor's big-screen ventures in the mid-1970s included roles in "The Gumball Rally" and a memorable appearance in the 1980 comedy "Airplane!" where he played Mr. Hammen, a character infamous for the fish plate incident. During the 1980s, Pryor became a familiar face on television, guest-starring in popular series such as "M*A*S*H," "Little House on the Prairie," and "Knight Rider."

The 1980s also saw Pryor securing notable film roles, including portraying Tom Cruise's father in the 1983 hit "Risky Business" and appearing in "The Falcon and the Snowman" alongside Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn. His stint on television continued through the '90s, with a recurring role as Chancellor Milton Arnold on "Beverly Hills, 90210," in over two dozen episodes from 1994 to 1997.

In the 1990s, Pryor also made guest appearances on a slew of hit shows including "Growing Pains," "L.A. Law," "Matlock," "Chicago Hope," "Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman," "The Practice," "Silk Stalkings," "Diagnosis Murder," "Party of Five," and "Murder, She Wrote." His impressive repertoire extended into the new millennium with guest roles on series such as "NYPD Blue," "That's Life," "Strong Medicine," "Without a Trace," "October Road," "Hart of Dixie," and "Nashville."

Pryor's last on-screen performances were in 2021, in Marvel's Disney+ series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" and the film "Halloween Kills." Beyond his screen work, Pryor graced Broadway stages with appearances in productions from the 1950s like "The Egghead," "Love Me Little," "The Highest Tree," and "Howie," through to the 1970s with shows like "That Championship Season" and "Thieves."

Nicholas Pryor's enduring presence across multiple generations of film, television, and theater will be fondly remembered by fans and colleagues alike.