Cactus Pryor

Deceased Person

1923 – 2011

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43

Who was Cactus Pryor?

Richard "Cactus" Pryor was an American broadcaster. He received his nickname after the old Cactus Theater on Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, which was run by his father, "Skinny" Pryor.

His son, Don Pryor KLBJ, works on the News Team at Austin Radio News Station 590 KLBJ, working as a Mid-Day sky-watch traffic broadcaster, and occasionally filled in for his father when he was unavailable for his segments. Another of Cactus's son, Paul Pryor, once worked in Austin radio as well.

Pryor was first heard on Lady Bird Johnson's radio station 590 KLBJ, though his face became as well known as his voice once he moved to television broadcasting on Austin television station KTBC.

In addition to his work in radio and television, Pryor also appeared in two movies, Hellfighters and The Green Berets with John Wayne. He was the author of a 1995 collection of some 40 essays entitled Playback. At KTBC, Pryor had served as programming manager and had hosted a variety of shows. He had conducted interviews with celebrities such as Arthur Godfrey and Dan Blocker and narrated behind-the-scenes programs about KTBC.

As part of his involvement with the Headliners Club of Austin journalists, Pryor starred in satires of television news. He provided the voiceover for the 1960 KTBC film “Target Austin”, which presents the scenario of a nuclear missile strike on Austin.

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Born
Jan 7, 1923
Austin
Nationality
  • United States of America
Died
Aug 30, 2011
Austin

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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