Ainslie Pryor

James Ainslie Pryor (February 21, 1921 – May 27, 1958) was an American actor born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of William E. Pryor. He attended Christian Brothers College, Southwestern, and VPI before serving with the Merchant Marine during World War II.

Pryor's early career in entertainment began in radio, where he worked as an announcer at stations in New Haven, Connecticut, and New York City, and served as program director at WJPR in Greenville, Mississippi. While based in Greenville, he also organized a school and community theater. He later managed and directed a little theater group in Raleigh, North Carolina. For three years he performed in The Lost Colony in Manteo, North Carolina, where he formed a friendship with Andy Griffith. His work in that production was seen by actor Charles Laughton and producer Paul Gregory, which led directly to his Broadway debut.

Pryor made his Broadway appearance in 1954, playing the prosecuting attorney in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. His film work included 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, he held a regular role as the sidekick to Wally Cox's lead character in the adventure sitcom The Adventures of Hiram Holliday, and portrayed Dr. William Beaumont in the "Who Search for Truth" episode of Medic in 1956. He also appeared in Ford Star Jubilee, Steve Donovan Western Marshal, Lux Video Theatre, Front Row Center, You Are There, Wire Service, Sheriff of Cochise, Meet McGraw, Sugarfoot, Gunsmoke, Suspicion, Cheyenne, Studio One, General Electric Theater, and Playhouse 90.

Pryor was married to Susanne Wellman, and the couple had three children. Both were artists whose work was exhibited at North Carolina's State Art Gallery for several years. He died of cancer on May 27, 1958, in Hollywood, California, at the age of 37.