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Stanley Prager (January 8, 1917 – January 18, 1972) was an American actor and a television and theatre director.
Stanley Prager | |
|---|---|
 Prager in Behind Green Lights (1946) | |
| Born | January 8, 1917 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 18, 1972 (aged 55) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1939–1972 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
Career
editBorn in New York City, Prager spent three years at Johns Hopkins University before working in summer stock and on Broadway, where he appeared in The Skin of Our Teeth and The Eve of St. Mark.[1] He appeared in the film version of Eve of St. Mark and spent the remainder of the decade acting in mostly B-movies, with occasional roles in better films such as A Bell for Adano, Gun Crazy, In the Meantime, Darling, and A Foreign Affair. He told an interviewer in 1969 that as an actor he appeared in “all the parts that Phil Silvers wouldn't play.”[1]
Prager returned to Broadway and won critical praise in 1951 for his performance in the Comden and Green revue, Two on the Aisle. He played Faker Englund in a 1953 revival of Room Service, and in 1954 he was Prez in The Pajama Game.[1]
Blacklisting and subsequent career
editIn the early 1950s, Prager was blacklisted.[2] In March 1953, former screenwriter Bart Lytton, told the House Un-American Activities Committee that Prager was among the persons he had seen at Communist Party meetings.[3]
In August 1955, Prager and other performers refused to answer questions when called before the Committee, saying that "I believe that what I think and what I say and with whom I associate is not this committee's concern."[4] In July 1956, Prager was one of seven witnesses, including playwright Arthur Miller, who were cited for contempt of Congress of Congress by the House of Representatives. The other six included stage actress Sarah Cunningham, her husband John Randolph, and actors Lou Polan and George Tyne.[5]
Critic Howard Kissel recounted in 1998 that the backers were wary of casting Prager for the play. The director George Abbott called a meeting of the creative staff and told them of the backers' concerns. He decided to retain Prager.[2] According to a 1976 newspaper account, Abbott decided to renew Prager's contract early in 1955 so that he would not be fired when he appeared before the committee. According to Kissel, Prager was given a run of the play contract in 1954 despite his blacklisting,[2][6]
He subsequently began directing with Neil Simon's Come Blow Your Horn in 1961. Additional theatre directing credits include Bravo Giovanni, Minnie's Boys, Don't Drink the Water, and 70, Girls, 70.
Prager's television directing credits include The Love Song of Barney Kempinski for ABC Stage 67, Car 54, Where Are You?, and The Patty Duke Show. For producer Sidney Pink, Prager directed two films in Europe: Madigan's Millions the first film to star Dustin Hoffman, and Bang Bang Kid starring Tom Bosley and Guy Madison.
Personal life
editPrager married actress Georgann Johnson in 1956.[7] They remained together until his death on January 18, 1972, while on a business trip to Los Angeles. The couple had four daughters, Carol, Ann, Sally and Molly.[1]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | The Eve of St. Mark | Pvt. Glinka | |
| Take It or Leave It | Herb Gordon | ||
| In the Meantime, Darling | Lt. Philip 'Red' Pianatowski | ||
| Something for the Boys | Corporal | Uncredited | |
| 1945 | Junior Miss | Joe - Elevator Operator | |
| A Bell for Adano | Sgt. Trampani | ||
| Doll Face | Flo's Aide | ||
| 1946 | Behind Green Lights | Ruzinsky - Milkman | |
| Do You Love Me | Jay Dilly | ||
| Gentleman Joe Palooka | Rapadsky | ||
| 1947 | The Shocking Miss Pilgrim | Office Lookout | Uncredited |
| Stork Bites Man | Invisible Stork | Voice | |
| 1948 | Here Comes Trouble | Cartoonist | Uncredited |
| A Foreign Affair | Mike | ||
| They Live by Night | Short Order Man | Uncredited | |
| Joe Palooka in Winner Take All | Reporter | ||
| You Gotta Stay Happy | Jack Samuels | ||
| Force of Evil | Wally | ||
| 1949 | The Lady Takes a Sailor | Taxi Driver | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Gun Crazy | Bluey-Bluey | |
| Joe Palooka in Humphrey Takes a Chance | Ward | Uncredited | |
| I'll Get By | Song Plugger | Uncredited | |
| Dark City | Sammy | Uncredited | |
| Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle | TV Announcer | ||
| Three Husbands | Sharpy - Tout | Uncredited | |
| 1951 | M | Police Detective | Uncredited |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "STANLEY PRAGER, DIRECTOR, WAS 54". The New York Times. January 19, 1972. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c Kissel, Howard (September 20, 1998). "The Banned Played On". Daily News. pp. 21–Extra. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ "Silver City Movie Man Defies Quiz". The Los Angeles Times. March 27, 1953. pp. 1, 19, 20. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Broadway Performers Balk at Red Probe". The Meriden Record. Associated Press. August 16, 1955. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ "House Cites Arthur Miller For Contempt". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Associated Press). July 26, 1956. p. 2. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
- ^ Morrison, Hobe (February 17, 1972). "Never a More Welcome Contract". The Herald Statesman. p. 39. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "TV Actress to Wed Comedian". Daily News. February 8, 1956. p. 2. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
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