Ainslie Pryor

Ainslie Pryor
Pryor in an episode of Medic (1955)
Born
James Ainslie Pryor

(1921-02-01)February 1, 1921
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedMay 27, 1958(1958-05-27) (aged 37)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
SpouseSusanne Wellman
Children3

James Ainslie Pryor[1] (February 21, 1921 – May 27, 1958) was an American actor.

Early years

Pryor was born in Memphis, Tennessee,[2] the son of William E. Prior.[1] He graduated from Christian Brothers College[3] and attended Southwestern and VPI.[4] During World War II, he served with the Merchant Marine.[3]

Career

Radio

Pryor's early entertainment activities came in radio when he worked as an announcer at stations in New Haven, Connecticut, and New York City. He also was program director at WJPR radio in Greenville, Mississippi.[3]

Stage

Before Pryor acted in films, he performed on stage.[2] He organized a school and community theater while he worked in Greenville.[3] He also managed and directed a little theater group in Raleigh, North Carolina.[2] For three years he acted in The Lost Colony in Manteo, North Carolina, where he befriended Andy Griffith. His performances there, observed by actor Charles Laughton and producer Paul Gregory, led to his Broadway debut as the prosecuting attorney in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.[5]

Film and television

He appeared in the films The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing, Ransom!, Walk the Proud Land, Four Girls in Town, The Shadow on the Window, The Guns of Fort Petticoat, The Left Handed Gun, Kathy O' and Onionhead.

On television, Pryor portrayed Dr. William Beaumont in the "Who Search for Truth" episode of Medic (1956).[6] He also appeared in the series' Ford Star Jubilee, Steve Donovan, Western Marshal, Lux Video Theatre, Front Row Center, You Are There, Medic, Wire Service, Sheriff of Cochise, Meet McGraw, Sugarfoot, Gunsmoke (In 1957 as “Cole Yankton”, an outlaw who had been Kitty’s first love in S3E4’s Kitty’s Outlaw”), Suspicion, Cheyenne, Studio One, General Electric Theater, Playhouse 90 and The Adventures of Hiram Holliday.[7]

Personal life and death

Pryor was married to Susanne Wellman, and they had three children.[2] Both of them were artists whose work was displayed in North Carolina's State Art Gallery for several years.[4]

He died of cancer on May 27, 1958, in Hollywood, California at age 37.[8]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1955 The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing Sport Donnelly Uncredited
1956 Ransom! Al Stannard
1956 The Last Hunt First Buffalo Hunter
1956 Walk the Proud Land Capt. Larsen
1957 Four Girls in Town James Manning
1957 The Shadow on the Window Dr. Hodges
1957 The Guns of Fort Petticoat Col. Chivington Uncredited
1958 Cole Younger, Gunfighter Captain Follyard
1958 The Left Handed Gun Joe Grant
1958 Kathy O' Lt. Chavez
1958 Onionhead Chief Miller

References

  1. ^ a b "Wellman-Pryor Nuptial Date Set For Feb. 3 In Cleveland". The Commercial Appeal. Tennessee, Memphis. January 19, 1945. p. 6. Retrieved April 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ainslie Pryor dies; 'Caine' prosecutor". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 29, 1958. p. 27. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Little theatre names director". The News and Observer. North Carolina, Raleigh. August 10, 1947. p. 4. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "New Art Display Opens at Gallery". The News and Observer. North Carolina, Raleigh. June 11, 1953. p. 3. Retrieved April 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Wilson, Earl (June 8, 1954). "Pryor's Aspiring Director". The News and Observer. North Carolina, Raleigh. p. 24. Retrieved April 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Pitts, Michael R. (4 June 2003). Charles Bronson: The 95 Films and the 156 Television Appearances. McFarland. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-7864-1702-5. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "Ainslie Pryor". AllMovie. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  8. ^ "The Kansas City Times from Kansas City, Missouri on May 29, 1958 · Page 7". Newspapers.com. 1958-05-29. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
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