TROY PRYOR
Troy Osborne Pryor | Respected Entertainment Architect & Cultural Trailblazer
Troy Osborne Pryor has spent the better part of two decades not just navigating the entertainment industry as an actor & producer—but reshaping it. A media producer, host, and visionary strategist with the innate gift of connecting with diverse audiences, Pryor built a legacy rooted in access, authenticity, and audacious innovation.
As Vice President of SAG-AFTRA Chicago and the founder of Creative Cypher—an expansive network of ventures including XL Film Fest, Cypher Newsroom, Dark Berry Productions, and catalog of media ventures—Pryor crafted a new kind of power structure in entertainment. One that feels like the golden era of Hollywood deal-making, but with a bold, inclusive twist. Through Creative Cypher, he didn't just make content—he built community, championing BIPOC creators and bridging overlooked talent with mainstream platforms.
Troy Osborne Pryor has spent the better part of two decades not just navigating the entertainment industry as an actor & producer—but reshaping it. A media producer, host, and visionary strategist with the innate gift of connecting with diverse audiences, Pryor built a legacy rooted in access, authenticity, and audacious innovation.
As Vice President of SAG-AFTRA Chicago and the founder of Creative Cypher—an expansive network of ventures including XL Film Fest, Cypher Newsroom, Dark Berry Productions, and catalog of media ventures—Pryor crafted a new kind of power structure in entertainment. One that feels like the golden era of Hollywood deal-making, but with a bold, inclusive twist. Through Creative Cypher, he didn't just make content—he built community, championing BIPOC creators and bridging overlooked talent with mainstream platforms.
His directorial debut on TV One’s Change Agents opened the doors to a wave of award-winning collaborations, including four Telly Awards and an ADColor Innovator of the Year nomination. A proud son of Chicago and former linebacker at the University of Illinois, Pryor was also the youngest person ever elected to the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Board and a mentor for President Obama’s White House initiative, A Call to Arts.
As he elevates his leadership roles to legacy positions, Pryor reflects on a journey defined by disruption, elevation, and cultural restoration. Recognized by Chicago Scholars, Black Enterprise, and Ariel Investments as a game changer and visionary, he remains grounded in his faith and purpose—ministering, mentoring, and paving the way for the next generation.
BOARDS & TEAMS
OBAMA Foundation
MBK Alliance Chicago Team
SAG-AFTRA Chicago
Vice President
Soho House Global Inclusivity
Board Member
Flossmoor Arts Council
Board Member
Definition Theater
Artistic Advisory Board
Black Arts and Culture Alliance
Board Member
Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals
Advisory Board
Chicago International Film Festival
Advisor
AS SEEN ON
Pryor Holdings
