Richard Pryor

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

103

Gender

Male

Birthday

1940-12-01

Day of death

2005-12-10 (65 years old)

Place of Birth

Peoria, Illinois, USA

Richard Pryor

Biography

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, film director, social critic, satirist, writer, and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time: receiving praise from notable comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Newhart, and Bill Cosby. His body of work includes the concert movies and recordings starting in the 70s and spanning three decades. He also starred in numerous films as an actor, in both comedic and dramatic roles. He collaborated on many projects with actor Gene Wilder and actor/comedian/writer Paul Mooney. Pryor won an Emmy Award (1973), and five Grammy Awards (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1982). In 1974, he also won two American Academy of Humor awards and the Writers Guild of America Award. The first ever Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was presented to him in 1998. Pryor is listed at Number 1 on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians.

Known For

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • Chicago Hope

    Chicago Hope

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Martin

    Martin

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Hit!

    Hit!

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • Critical Condition

    Critical Condition

  • Me, Myself & Irene

    Me, Myself & Irene

  • See No Evil, Hear No Evil

    See No Evil, Hear No Evil

  • Wholly Moses

    Wholly Moses

  • I Am Richard Pryor

    I Am Richard Pryor

  • The Partridge Family

    The Partridge Family

  • Legends

    Legends

  • Breakdown: 1975

    Breakdown: 1975

  • Kraft Music Hall

    Kraft Music Hall

  • The Muppet Movie

    The Muppet Movie

  • The Midnight Special

    The Midnight Special

  • Lost Highway

    Lost Highway

  • Lady Sings the Blues

    Lady Sings the Blues

  • The Flip Wilson Show

    The Flip Wilson Show

  • Superman III

    Superman III

  • The Busy Body

    The Busy Body

  • I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not

    I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not

  • Bustin' Loose

    Bustin' Loose

  • Wattstax

    Wattstax

  • Dark Side of Comedy

    Dark Side of Comedy

  • The Norm Show

    The Norm Show

  • Brewster's Millions

    Brewster's Millions

  • The Wiz

    The Wiz

  • The Young Lawyers

    The Young Lawyers

  • Mad Dog Time

    Mad Dog Time

  • Harlem Nights

    Harlem Nights

  • John Candy: I Like Me

    John Candy: I Like Me

  • Stir Crazy

    Stir Crazy

  • Blacks and Jews

    Blacks and Jews

  • Silver Streak

    Silver Streak

  • Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary

    Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary

  • Greased Lightning

    Greased Lightning

  • Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

    Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

  • Car Wash

    Car Wash

  • The Richard Pryor Show

    The Richard Pryor Show

  • The N Word

    The N Word

  • The Comedy Store

    The Comedy Store

  • California Suite

    California Suite

  • Superstar

    Superstar

  • But... Seriously

    But... Seriously

  • The Toy

    The Toy

  • Dynamite Chicken

    Dynamite Chicken

  • Lily

    Lily

  • Moving

    Moving

  • The Young Lawyers

    The Young Lawyers

  • Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

    Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

  • Adiós Amigo

    Adiós Amigo

  • Zeitgeist: Requiem

    Zeitgeist: Requiem

  • Blue Collar

    Blue Collar

  • Some Kind of Hero

    Some Kind of Hero

  • Carter's Army

    Carter's Army

  • Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

    Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

  • The Mack

    The Mack

  • 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment

    101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment

  • Which Way Is Up?

    Which Way Is Up?

  • Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

    Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

  • The Phynx

    The Phynx

  • Another You

    Another You

  • Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

    Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

  • Pryor's Place

    Pryor's Place

  • The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up

    The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up

  • Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

    Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

  • The Lion Roars Again

    The Lion Roars Again

  • Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!

    Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!

  • I Am

    I Am

  • Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

    Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

  • Wild in the Streets

    Wild in the Streets

  • A Huey P. Newton Story

    A Huey P. Newton Story

  • Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

    Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

  • A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

    A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

  • Uptown Saturday Night

    Uptown Saturday Night

  • Flip Wilson... Of Course

    Flip Wilson... Of Course

  • Richard Pryor: Here and Now

    Richard Pryor: Here and Now

  • The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

    The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

  • Juke and Opal

    Juke and Opal

  • In God We Tru$t

    In God We Tru$t

  • The Richard Pryor Special?

    The Richard Pryor Special?

  • Remembering Gene Wilder

    Remembering Gene Wilder

  • Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'

    Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'

  • Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

    Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

  • You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat

    You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat

  • Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

    Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

  • Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales

    Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales

  • Some Call It Loving

    Some Call It Loving

  • TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

    TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

  • The Making of 'Superman III'

    The Making of 'Superman III'

  • Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s

    Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s

  • Richard Pryor: Icon

    Richard Pryor: Icon

  • Afro Promo

    Afro Promo

  • Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight

    Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight

  • The Three Muscatels

    The Three Muscatels

  • Black and White Trypps Number Four

    Black and White Trypps Number Four

  • The Richard Pryor show Volume 2

    The Richard Pryor show Volume 2

  • The Last Days of Richard Pryor

    The Last Days of Richard Pryor