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Richard Cactus Pryor - Biography
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Early Life
Richard "Cactus" Pryor (born January 7, 1923) is considered a legend in Texas broadcasting. A native Austinite, his grandfather helped build the Texas State Capitol building. His father was Richard “Skinny” Pryor, a vaudevillian performer who sang and danced and later owned one of the first moving picture shows in Austin, The Cactus, hence his nickname. Cactus mother Mary Pryor was a notable woman in her own right. She reared six children, of whom Cactus was the second in birth order, was house mother for over twenty years to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and Camp Longhorn ‘Mom’ to generations of campers. Media Career Cactus Pryor has been prominent in Texas broadcasting and entertainment since 1944. He went to work for Lady Bird Johnson’s radio station and with short absences for jobs in Houston, Alice, & Corpus Christy, TX has remained in that broadcasting network until present day. Filmmaking Career Cactus has also appeared in two movies, Hellfighters and The Green Berets with John Wayne. He and “The Duke” were friends and Cactus was introduced to the crew on the set of The Green Berets as the funniest man alive. Speaking Career As an after dinner speaker, Cactus has entertained audiences all over the world. He would often appear in uniform, or some other guise, as a person from another country who had an expertise in whatever the group assembled was interested in. He talked with many of the group in pre-speech gatherings then gave his speech from the podium after being introduced by an official with the group. After sitting down to applause and laughter he was re-introduced as Cactus Pryor from Austin, TX. His second speech would regale the audience with the things he had earlier been told by the unsuspecting group members. Unsuspecting audience members include Literary Career Cactus has been a distinguished writer all his life and the bulk of his writing has been for the radio ear or the television monitor. He has published two books of his radio commentaries, INSIDE TEXAS, and PLAYBACK. His most recent book to be released in 2009 is MY SAND TRAP OR YOURS? A Collection of Golf Poems, Essays and Tips. His one-man play on J. Frank Dobie, the reknown Texas writer and folklorist, remains unpublished at this time. Awards & Recognitions Humanitarian of the Year – Austin Humane Society |