Jonathan Prince

{{short description|American actor (b. 1958)}} {{Distinguish|Jonathan Price}} {{Infobox person | name = Jonathan Prince | image =  | image_size = 150px | birth_name = Jonathan Alexander Prince | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|8|16}} | birth_place = Beverly Hills, California | occupation = {{flatlist| * Actor * director * screenwriter * movie producer}} | years_active = 1981–present | spouse = {{marriage|Julie Warner|1995|2010|end=divorced}} }}

'''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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Seipp |first=Catherine |title=Cathy's World: 'American Dreams' |date=May 14, 2003 |agency=United Press International |url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2003/05/14/Cathys-World-American-Dreams/90121052926733/ |access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref> He played 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 also hosted ''The Quiz Kids Challenge'' 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 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.

The meeting with Dick Clark led to the creation of ''American Dreams'', set in the period 1963–1967 and tracking the lives of one Catholic family. Clark's ''American Bandstand'' is a key part of the story, as each episode incorporates musical performances from the show. Prince is listed as the creator and an executive producer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |title='American Dreams' relevant to today's news |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/american-dreams-relevant-todays-news-1c9481060 |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=Today |date=November 16, 2004 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Margolis |first1=Seth |title=COVER STORY; The 60's Saga Continues |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/02/arts/television/cover-story-the-60s-saga-continues.html |access-date=26 August 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2 January 2005}}</ref> Prince negotiated with advertisers like Kraft Foods and Campbell Soup Company to place its products into the show.<ref name="squires">{{cite news |last1=Squires |first1=Chase |title=TV redefines the role of ads |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2005/08/02/tv-redefines-the-role-of-ads/ |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref> For example, one of his characters participated in Campbell Soup's essay writing contest in a continuing story line.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manly |first1=Lorne |title=On Television, Brands Go From Props to Stars |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/business/yourmoney/on-television-brands-go-from-props-to-stars.html |access-date=December 8, 2025 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 2, 2005 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

After American Dreams was not renewed by NBC, Prince signed a development deal with the branded entertainment firm, Madison Road Entertainment, in 2005.<ref name="squires" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Schneider |first1=Michael |title=Prince will hit TV road for Madison |url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/prince-will-hit-tv-road-for-madison-1117926581/ |access-date=August 26, 2024 |magazine=Variety |date=July 27, 2005}}</ref> He wrote the script for ''Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen'', which featured marketers Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola Co. and Campbell's Soup.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Graser |first1=Marc |title=Wal-Mart Plays Big Role in Bringing New Christmas Film to Masses |url=https://adage.com/article/madisonvine-news/wal-mart-plays-big-role-bringing-christmas-film-masses/113232 |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=Ad Age |date=15 November 2006 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2021, Prince and film producer Peter Samuelson started the company, Philmco, to produce movies and TV shows with a built-in philanthropic component.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |title=Industry Veterans Launch PhilmCo Production Banner to Back Movies and TV Shows With a Message |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/jonathan-prince-peter-samuelson-philmco-catherine-hardwicke-1235083540/ |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=Variety |date=8 October 2021 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Personal life== Prince was married to actress Julie Warner from 1995 until 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jonathan A. Prince and Julie Warner |newspaper=The New York Times |department=Style: Wedding & Celebrations |date=1995-06-18 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/18/style/weddings-jonathan-a-prince-and-julie-warner.html |access-date=2024-08-27 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310104022/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/18/style/weddings-jonathan-a-prince-and-julie-warner.html |archive-date=2016-03-10 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Jonathan Prince Vs Julie Warner: Entry of Judgement| url=https://unicourt.com/case/ca-la22-jonathan-prince-vs-julie-warner-813499| date=July 16, 2010| via=UniCourt| access-date=December 8, 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name}} * [http://www.vidiot.com/AmericanDreams/Bio/Prince.html Jonathan Prince interview on ''American Dreams'']

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prince, Jonathan}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:American male film actors Category:American game show hosts Category:American male television actors Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Jewish American male actors Category:Male actors from Beverly Hills, California Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American Jews