Richard Pryor

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

98

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 Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Chicago Hope

    Chicago Hope

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • Martin

    Martin

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Kraft Music Hall

    Kraft Music Hall

  • The Flip Wilson Show

    The Flip Wilson Show

  • The Midnight Special

    The Midnight Special

  • Legends

    Legends

  • Lost Highway

    Lost Highway

  • Me, Myself & Irene

    Me, Myself & Irene

  • Remembering Gene Wilder

    Remembering Gene Wilder

  • Brewster's Millions

    Brewster's Millions

  • Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

    Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

  • Flip Wilson... Of Course

    Flip Wilson... Of Course

  • The Wiz

    The Wiz

  • The Norm Show

    The Norm Show

  • The Muppet Movie

    The Muppet Movie

  • A Huey P. Newton Story

    A Huey P. Newton Story

  • Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

    Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

  • Lady Sings the Blues

    Lady Sings the Blues

  • Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

    Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

  • See No Evil, Hear No Evil

    See No Evil, Hear No Evil

  • Silver Streak

    Silver Streak

  • The Mack

    The Mack

  • Carter's Army

    Carter's Army

  • Dark Side of Comedy

    Dark Side of Comedy

  • Wattstax

    Wattstax

  • Superman III

    Superman III

  • Wholly Moses

    Wholly Moses

  • Car Wash

    Car Wash

  • The Phynx

    The Phynx

  • The Busy Body

    The Busy Body

  • Another You

    Another You

  • The Making of 'Superman III'

    The Making of 'Superman III'

  • The Comedy Store

    The Comedy Store

  • Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

    Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

  • Hit!

    Hit!

  • Some Kind of Hero

    Some Kind of Hero

  • Critical Condition

    Critical Condition

  • But... Seriously

    But... Seriously

  • Wild in the Streets

    Wild in the Streets

  • The Toy

    The Toy

  • Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary

    Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary

  • Bustin' Loose

    Bustin' Loose

  • A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

    A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

  • Mad Dog Time

    Mad Dog Time

  • Which Way Is Up?

    Which Way Is Up?

  • Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

    Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

  • Blue Collar

    Blue Collar

  • Pryor's Place

    Pryor's Place

  • Some Call It Loving

    Some Call It Loving

  • Stir Crazy

    Stir Crazy

  • The Richard Pryor Show

    The Richard Pryor Show

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

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

  • Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

    Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

  • The Young Lawyers

    The Young Lawyers

  • I Am Richard Pryor

    I Am Richard Pryor

  • Superstar

    Superstar

  • The Richard Pryor Special?

    The Richard Pryor Special?

  • Greased Lightning

    Greased Lightning

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

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

  • The Young Lawyers

    The Young Lawyers

  • Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

    Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

  • Harlem Nights

    Harlem Nights

  • In God We Tru$t

    In God We Tru$t

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

    TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

  • The Three Muscatels

    The Three Muscatels

  • Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight

    Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight

  • Moving

    Moving

  • Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

    Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

  • Blacks and Jews

    Blacks and Jews

  • Afro Promo

    Afro Promo

  • Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

    Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

  • Adiós Amigo

    Adiós Amigo

  • Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

    Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

  • California Suite

    California Suite

  • Uptown Saturday Night

    Uptown Saturday Night

  • 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment

    101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment

  • The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

    The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

  • The N Word

    The N Word

  • The Lion Roars Again

    The Lion Roars Again

  • Richard Pryor: Here and Now

    Richard Pryor: Here and Now

  • The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up

    The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up

  • Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales

    Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales

  • Lily

    Lily

  • Richard Pryor: Icon

    Richard Pryor: Icon

  • 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

  • Zeitgeist: Requiem

    Zeitgeist: Requiem

  • Black and White Trypps Number Four

    Black and White Trypps Number Four

  • Dynamite Chicken

    Dynamite Chicken

  • The Last Days of Richard Pryor

    The Last Days of Richard Pryor

  • Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'

    Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'

  • The Richard Pryor show Volume 2

    The Richard Pryor show Volume 2

  • Juke and Opal

    Juke and Opal

  • The Richard Pryor Show Volume I

    The Richard Pryor Show Volume I