‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘Port Charles’ Actor Nicholas Pryor Passes Away — Cause of Death Revealed

Hollywood and fans are mourning the loss of veteran actor Nicholas Pryor, who died on October 7 at his Wilmington, North Carolina, home after a battle with cancer. Pryor’s wife, Christine Belford, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).

“Nicholas Pryor was enormously grateful to have been, for nearly 70 years, a working actor,” read a note shared by THR on October 8.

Following the news of Pryor’s passing, Jon Lindstrom, Pryor’s co-star on the television shows “Port Charles” and “General Hospital”, paid tribute on Instagram, calling him “an Actor’s [sic] actor.”

He noted that their bond went beyond professionalism, “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 [sic] beyond, yes, playing my own father on #GH and #PortCharles.”

Lindstrom added, “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.”

Netizens who read Lindstrom’s post deeply felt Pryor’s loss. One user wrote, “I’m sooo saddened by Nicholas passing he was an amazing actor on Eight Is Enough & Beverly Hills 90210 & other shows! RIP Nicholas Pryor [sic].”

Some expressed shock, “Oh no… loved him on Beverly Hills, 90210 [sic]❤️😢,” while others praised Pryor’s versatility and memorable performances, noting his perfect timing in every role. They expressed gratitude for Lindstrom’s tribute and shared that Pryor would be fondly remembered.

Aside from Lindstrom, Pryor’s agent, Susan Tolar Walters, expressed her grief, “He was one of the nicest people I have ever met and he will be missed.”

Jeff Maxwell, a podcaster who runs a dedicated Twitter page for the TV series “M*A*S*H,” also paid tribute to the late actor’s appearance in the classic show.

Born Nicholas David Probst in Baltimore on January 28, 1935, Pryor started on Broadway before transitioning to screen acting, bringing depth to comedic and dramatic roles across more than 170 film and TV credits.

Pryor gained fame on TV shows like “The Secret Storm,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “All My Children,” and “Another World,” as well as guest-starring on popular series such as “The West Wing” and “NYPD Blue.”

In a video shared on YouTube on October 9, Pryor reflected on his time with “Beverly Hills, 90210” and his wife Christine’s appearance on the show during its second season. The clip showed him wearing a blue shirt layered with a button-up, appearing attentive and occasionally smiling as he spoke with the interviewer.

“I loved watching it, but more I liked the fact that she was having such a good time…she liked all the people and all the circumstances,” he recalled.

Besides TV, Pryor’s versatility extended to films like “Airplane!,” “Damien: Omen II,” and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1.” He famously portrayed the father of Tom Cruise in “Risky Business” and Robert Downey Jr. in “Less Than Zero.” His final screen appearance was in the 2021 film “Halloween Kills.”

Besides his wife, Pryor is also survived by his daughter, Stacey, and his cherished grandchildren, Auguste and Avril, who will continue to honor his memory.