David H. Pryor was born in Camden, Arkansas. He attended public schools in Camden, attended Henderson State Teacher's College and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1957. Pryor was founder and publisher of the Ouachita Citizen from 1957 to 1960. He graduated from law school at the University of Arkansas in 1964 and was admitted to the bar that same year.

Pryor served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1960 to 1966.

He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in a special election to fill the unexpired term in the 89th Congress of Representative Oren Harris, and at the same time elected to the 90th Congress for a full term. Pryor was reelected to the House twice and served from November 8, 1966 to January 3, 1973. Pryor was not a candidate for reelection in 1972 in order to wage an unsuccessful campaign for nomination for the United States Senate.

Pryor served as Governor of Arkansas from 1975 to 1979.

He was elected to the United States Senate in 1978 and served three terms. Pryor did not run for reelection in 1996 and retired from elected office in 1997. Pryor served as Chairman of the Committee on Aging. Pryor was known for his advocacy for the aged and for promoting taxpayer rights. During his tenure, he was secretary of the Democratic Conference, third in the Senate Democratic Leadership.

In 2000 Pryor became Director of the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He currently serves as Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, Arkansas.

He is the father of United States Senator Mark Pryor.

Preceded by: Bob C. Riley Governor of Arkansas 1975-1979 Succeeded by: Joe Purcell Preceded by: Kaneaster Hodges, Jr. U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Arkansas 1979-1997 Succeeded by: Tim Hutchinson