Kinky Friedman, known for his satirical and often provocative style, has passed away at 79. A post on his social media announced, “Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends.
Kinkster endured tremendous pain & unthinkable loss in recent years but he never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit.
Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung.”
Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman earned a cult following for his unique take on country and Western music.
He released numerous albums, starting with “Sold American” in 1973, a record that laid the foundation for his career.
Known as the “governor of the heart of Texas,” he even toured with Bob Dylan during the “Rolling Thunder Revue” and made history as the “first full-blooded Jew” to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Apart from his musical endeavors, Friedman was a prolific writer. He wrote detective novels and contributed as a columnist for Texas Monthly.
He also ventured into politics, running for Governor of Texas in 2006 with the campaign slogan “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy,” securing 12.6 percent of the votes among six candidates.
Born in Chicago and raised in Texas, Friedman studied psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.
His passion for music led him to form King Arthur & the Carrots and later Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys. He described the latter as a “country band with a social conscience, a demented love child of Lenny Bruce and Bob Wills.”
Reflecting on his life, Friedman once wrote, “Somewhere in heaven, I’m sure there’s a quiet corner with a big easy chair, a bright floor lamp, a big stack of biographical books, and a few old dogs wagging their tails to the faint smell of cigar smoke.”
Beloved ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ Star Nicholas Pryor Dies — Shocking Cause of Death Revealed
Nicholas Pryor, a well-known actor recognized for his long career in movies and TV, has passed away at the age of 89. Pryor, famous for playing fatherly roles to young stars, died on October 7 at his home in Wilmington, North Carolina, after a battle with cancer. His wife, Christine Belford, shared the sad news with The Hollywood Reporter.
Pryor’s death has left both Hollywood and his fans mourning. A message shared by The Hollywood Reporter on October 8 stated, “Nicholas Pryor was enormously grateful to have been a working actor for nearly 70 years.” He had a long, successful career and was thankful for all the opportunities he had in the entertainment industry.
Jon Lindstrom, one of Pryor’s co-stars from the TV shows Port Charles and General Hospital, also paid tribute to him on Instagram. He called Pryor an “Actor’s actor,” meaning someone who was highly respected in the acting world. But beyond work, Lindstrom shared that Pryor was a close friend. He wrote, “He was my friend, mentor, and even a father figure, not just on-screen but in real life too.” Lindstrom remembered how funny Pryor was and how much fun they had spending time together, especially over good food and wine. Lindstrom said he would miss him deeply.
Fans reacted strongly to Lindstrom’s tribute. Many expressed their sadness, remembering Pryor’s roles in popular shows like Eight Is Enough and Beverly Hills, 90210. One fan wrote, “I’m so saddened by Nicholas Pryor’s passing. He was an amazing actor.” Others shared their shock at the news and thanked Lindstrom for his heartfelt tribute, saying Pryor’s work would always be remembered.
In addition to Lindstrom, Pryor’s agent, Susan Tolar Walters, also shared her sorrow, calling him “one of the nicest people” she had ever met. Jeff Maxwell, who runs a podcast about the TV show MASH*, where Pryor made a guest appearance, also paid tribute to the actor.
Born on January 28, 1935, in Baltimore, Maryland, Pryor’s full name was Nicholas David Probst. He began his acting career on Broadway before moving into film and TV. Over the course of his career, Pryor acted in more than 170 roles, showing his talent in both comedy and drama.
Pryor was best known for his roles in TV shows like The Secret Storm, Beverly Hills, 90210, All My Children, and Another World. He also appeared as a guest star in well-loved series like The West Wing and NYPD Blue. In a video interview shared on YouTube on October 9, Pryor talked about his time on Beverly Hills, 90210 and how much he enjoyed watching his wife, Christine, guest-star on the show. He said it made him happy to see her having such a good time with the cast and crew.
Pryor wasn’t just a TV actor. He also had memorable roles in movies. He appeared in films like Airplane!, Damien: Omen II, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1. He played the father of Tom Cruise’s character in Risky Business and Robert Downey Jr.’s character in Less Than Zero. His last role was in the 2021 movie Halloween Kills.
Nicholas Pryor is survived by his wife, Christine, his daughter Stacey, and his two grandchildren, Auguste and Avril. They will carry on his memory and the impact he left behind in his nearly 70-year acting career.
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