Jonathan Prince
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Alexander Prince (born August 16, 1958) is an American
actor, director, screenwriter and movie producer.
. His most prominent roles include "Leo" in the 1981 CBS series Mr. Merlin
, "Roy" in the 1983 sex comedy Private School
and "Zach Armstrong" in the 1986 syndicated sitcom Throb
. He appeared on Super Password
(set the Endgame record at :31) and Match Game
in 1990 and hosted The Quiz Kids Challenge
that year. Prince said he decided to expand into other aspects of show business when he was on the cast of Mr. Merlin. Prince's next break came when George Burns
asked him to co-write and produce Burns' feature film 18 Again
. That led to a job as consultant on the Whatever Became of...? television specials, where Prince met Dick Clark.
This meeting with Dick Clark proved fortuitous because it lead to the creation of "American Dreams
", an ensemble show tracking one Catholic family through the tumultuous years of 1963-1967. Clark's "American Bandstand
" is a key part of the story and the episodes all include musical performances from the show. Prince is listed as the creator but he worked with Josh Goldstein to develop it. Dick Clark also played a large roll in the show's creation and he's listed as an executive producer.
, the son of Gayle Prince (née
Schlanger), a special education
teacher, and Martin Harry Prince, an optometrist. Prince is Jewish.
On June 17, 1995, Prince married actress Julie Warner
. They have one son, Jackson, born in 1997.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, director, screenwriter and movie producer.
Career
Prince embarked on an acting career following graduation from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. His most prominent roles include "Leo" in the 1981 CBS series Mr. Merlin
Mr. Merlin
Mr. Merlin, a Larry Larry Company Production in association with Columbia Pictures Television, was a 1981–82 sitcom starring Barnard Hughes as Merlin the wizard, disguised as Max Merlin, a mechanic in modern-day San Francisco.-Plot:...
, "Roy" in the 1983 sex comedy Private School
Private School (film)
Private School is a 1983 teen oriented sex comedy film, directed by Noel Black.-Cast :* Phoebe Cates as Christine Ramsey* Betsy Russell as Jordan Leigh-Jenson* Matthew Modine as Jim Green...
and "Zach Armstrong" in the 1986 syndicated sitcom Throb
Throb
Throb was an American television sitcom broadcast in syndication from 1986 to 1988. It revolved around thirty-something divorcee Sandy Beatty who gets a job at a small New Wave record label, Throb. Beatty's boss is Zach Armstrong , who looks like Michael J. Fox but dresses like Don Johnson...
. He appeared on Super Password
Password Plus and Super Password
Password Plus and Super Password are American game shows that are revivals of the game show Password. Both Password Plus and Super Password had the same format other than some subtle changes....
(set the Endgame record at :31) and Match Game
Match Game
Match Game is an American television game show in which contestants attempted to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions...
in 1990 and hosted The Quiz Kids Challenge
Quiz Kids Challenge
The Quiz Kids Challenge is an American game show series that aired in syndication from September 10 to December 28, 1990. It was a slightly different version of the Quiz Kids, and was hosted by Jonathan Prince and announced by Johnny Gilbert and Charlie Tuna.-Gameplay:A team of three Quiz Kids...
that year. Prince said he decided to expand into other aspects of show business when he was on the cast of Mr. Merlin. Prince's next break came when George Burns
George Burns
George Burns , born Nathan Birnbaum, was an American comedian, actor, and writer.He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, television and movies, with and without his wife, Gracie Allen. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became...
asked him to co-write and produce Burns' feature film 18 Again
18 Again!
18 Again! is a 1988 comedy film starring George Burns and Charlie Schlatter. The plot involves a grandson switching souls with his grandfather by means of an accident...
. That led to a job as consultant on the Whatever Became of...? television specials, where Prince met Dick Clark.
This meeting with Dick Clark proved fortuitous because it lead to the creation of "American Dreams
American Dreams
American Dreams is an American television comedy-drama program broadcast on the NBC television network, produced by Once A Frog and Dick Clark Productions in association with Universal Network Television and NBC Studios...
", an ensemble show tracking one Catholic family through the tumultuous years of 1963-1967. Clark's "American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show 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 producer...
" is a key part of the story and the episodes all include musical performances from the show. Prince is listed as the creator but he worked with Josh Goldstein to develop it. Dick Clark also played a large roll in the show's creation and he's listed as an executive producer.
Personal life
Prince was born in Beverly Hills, CaliforniaBeverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, the son of Gayle Prince (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Schlanger), a special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
teacher, and Martin Harry Prince, an optometrist. Prince is Jewish.
On June 17, 1995, Prince married actress Julie Warner
Julie Warner
Juliet Mia "Julie" Warner is an American actress.-Early life:Warner was born in Manhattan, New York. Her mother, Naomi, is a literary agent, an independent marketing consultant, and a licensing director. Her father, Neil Warner, is a jingle composer, a pianist, and an arranger...
. They have one son, Jackson, born in 1997.