Research Guru / Moderator
Posted:
Jun 14, 2009, 7:06 PM
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FUNimation anime writer Spencer Prokop dies at 51
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Actor and comedian Spencer Prokop, an award-winning writer who especially treasured his work for FUNimation, died peacefully at home June 7 following a two-year battle with a rare type of pancreatic cancer. He was 51.
Prokop crafted English-language scripts for Japanese anime series. He contributed to several FUNimation projects, including One Piece, Trinity Blood, Beck and Darker Than Black.
Other anime series for which he wrote included Child's Toy, School Rumble, Trinity Blood, SoltyRei, Mushishi, Tsubasa Chronicle, School Rumble: Second Semester and XXXHOLiC.
Born in Milwaukee on August 1, 1957, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point in 1978 and went on to a career as a professional actor, performing at the Fireside Theatre in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
Prokop moved to Dallas in 1980 to attend Trinity University's graduate study program at Dallas Theatre Center. A gifted performer, he played numerous theatrical roles, including Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at Granbury Opera House, multiple roles in All in the Timing at Circle Theatre, Robert Law in Boy Meets Girl at Addison Centre Theatre, and Orgon in Tartuffe at Pegasus Theatre. As a Meadows Foundation Guest Artist, he performed the role of Creon in Antigone at West Texas A&M University.
He was selected in 1990 to study at the Royal National Theater in London. In 1997, Prokop received a Dallas Theater Critics' Forum award for his role as Bernard Nightingale in Arcadia at Theatre Three. He may best be remembered by area theatergoers as Lt. Foster in a number of the popular Black and White productions at Pegasus Theatre.
He was a founding member of Lone Star Comedy, appearing with and serving as an instructor for that improvisational and sketch comedy group for several years. Represented for 20 years by the Mary Collins Agency, Prokop was extremely active in print, voiceover and commercial projects. His work may still be seen in many films and television shows, such as Robocop (as the nervous gas station attendant), Necessary Roughness, and several episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger.
He created corporate scripts, Internet and broadcast pieces, and entertainment projects.
A longtime member of Maria Kannon Zen Center, Prokop found great peace and comfort in his Zen meditation practice. Spencer was married to Patty Lewis in 1988. Despite his many other accolades, his proudest accomplishment was their son Chase.
In addition to his wife and son, Spencer Prokop is survived by mother Mary Ann Link; father Harry Gene Prokop; brothers Jeff and Andy Prokop and sister Kim Hagmann; sisters-in-law Janet and Ina Prokop; nieces Hayley Hagmann, Jordan Prokop, Amber Leone and Erica Mittelstrass; nephews Eric Hagmann and Jacob Prokop; and great-nephew Domanik Maresch.
A private inurnment service will take place at Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery. A public celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 22 at Theatre Three in Dallas, with reception following. The family requests no flowers or plants.
Memorial tributes may be sent to either The Nature Conservancy (one of Prokop's favorite causes) or Lakewood Montessori School.
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