Jonathan Alexander Prince (born August 16, 1958) is an American actor, director, screenwriter and movie producer.

Career

Prince embarked on an acting career following graduation from

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

. His played Leo in the 1981 CBS series ''

Mr. Merlin ''Mr. Merlin'' is an American sitcom that ran for one season, from 1981 to 1982, about Merlin the wizard (played by Barnard Hughes), who is immortal, living in modern-day San Francisco, and disguised as Max Merlin, a mechanic. ''Mr. Merlin'' was ...

'', Roy in the 1983 sex comedy ''

Private School Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

'' and Zach Armstrong in the 1986 syndicated sitcom ''

Throb ''Throb'' is an American sitcom that aired in syndication from September 6, 1986, to May 21, 1988. The series, created by Fredi Towbin, was produced by Procter & Gamble Productions in association with Taft Entertainment Television, and was dist ...

''. He also hosted ''The

Quiz Kids Challenge ''The Quiz Kids Challenge'' is an American television game show that was based loosely on prior '' Quiz Kids'' programs of the past, which involved schoolchildren trying to answer questions posed to them by various adults. The show premiered in ...

'' in 1990. Prince said he decided to expand into other aspects of show business while working on ''Mr. Merlin''. Prince's next break came when

George Burns George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; January 20, 1896March 9, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer, and one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, radio, film and television. His arched eyebr ...

asked him to co-write and produce Burns' feature film ''

18 Again! ''18 Again!'' is a 1988 American fantasy-comedy film directed by Paul Flaherty and starring George Burns and Charlie Schlatter. The plot involves a college student switching souls with his grandfather by means of an accident. The film is based ...

''. That led to a job as consultant on the ''Whatever Became of...?'' television specials, where Prince met

Dick Clark Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting ''American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 198 ...

. The meeting with Dick Clark led to the creation of ''

American Dreams ''American Dreams'' is an American drama television series that ran on NBC for three seasons & 61 episodes, from September 29, 2002, to March 30, 2005. The show tells the story of the Pryor family of Philadelphia during the mid-1960s, with many ...

'', set in the period 1963–1967 and tracking the lives of one Catholic family. Clark's ''

American Bandstand ''American Bandstand'', abbreviated ''AB'', is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the pro ...

'' is a key part of the story, as each episode incorporates musical performances from the show. Prince is listed as the creator, though he worked with Josh Goldstein to develop it, and Clark is listed as an executive producer.

Personal life

Prince was born in

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...

, the son of Gayle Schlanger Prince, a

special education Special education (known as special-needs education, aided education, exceptional education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, or SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates th ...

teacher, and Martin Harry Prince, an

optometrist Optometry is a specialized health care profession that involves examining the eyes and related structures for defects or abnormalities. Optometrists are health care professionals who typically provide comprehensive primary eye care. In the Uni ...

. He graduated from Beverly Hills High in 1976. Prince is

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

. On June 17, 1995, Prince married actress

Julie Warner Juliet Mia Warner (born ) is an American actress. She is best known as Danni on ''Family Law'' (1999–2001) and Megan on ''Nip/Tuck'' (2003-2006), Elaine in '' Mr. Saturday Night'' (1992), Michelle in ''Tommy Boy'' (1995), Micki in '' Wedding ...

. They have one son, Jackson, born in 1997. He and Warner divorced in 2010.

References

External links

* *
Jonathan Prince interview on ''American Dreams''
1958 births Living people American male film actors American game show hosts American male television actors Harvard University alumni Jewish American male actors Male actors from Beverly Hills, California 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American Jews {{US-tv-actor-1950s-stub