Nicholas Pryor, ‘Risky Business’ And ‘90210’ Actor, Dead At 89

Actor Nicholas Pryor, best known for roles in the film Risky Business and the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, has died at the age of 89 following a battle with cancer, his agent, Susan Tolar Walters, confirmed to the New York Post on Wednesday (October 9).

Pryor, a Baltimore native, died at his home in Wilmington, North Carolina, according to Walters. The actor appeared in the coming-of-age film Risky Business as the father of the main character, Joel, played by Tom Cruise, in 1983.

Pryor later appeared in Beverly Hills, 90210 as A. Milton Arnold, the father of Clare Arnold, played by Kathleen Robertson. The actor also appeared on the shows Another World, NYPD Blue, The Bronx Zoo, Constantine, Nashville, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and The Outsider, as well as playing Victor Collins on the Soap Opera General Hospital and its spinoff Port Charles in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Jon Lindstrom, who worked with Pryor on both soap operas, shared a tribute to his colleague on Instagram Tuesday (October 8).

“It is my solemn task to announce the passing of the great Nicholas Pryor,” Lindstrom wrote. “Nick was an Actor’s actor, and an exceptional friend. He passed on October 7, 2024, surrounded by loving family. Nick may be best known for his role as the father of #TomCruise in #RiskyBusiness, or as the same to #RobertDowneyJr in #LessThanZero. He shared the screen with the likes of #JackNicholson #KurtRussell #EwanMcGregor 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 #PortCharles. 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. R.I.P. #FlightOfAngels #RIP @generalhospitalabc.”