Richard Pryor

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

100

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

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Chicago Hope

    Chicago Hope

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Martin

    Martin

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Me, Myself & Irene

    Me, Myself & Irene

  • Kraft Music Hall

    Kraft Music Hall

  • The Partridge Family

    The Partridge Family

  • A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

    A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

  • The Midnight Special

    The Midnight Special

  • Greased Lightning

    Greased Lightning

  • Silver Streak

    Silver Streak

  • 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

  • See No Evil, Hear No Evil

    See No Evil, Hear No Evil

  • Wattstax

    Wattstax

  • Another You

    Another You

  • The Toy

    The Toy

  • Hit!

    Hit!

  • Lost Highway

    Lost Highway

  • The Flip Wilson Show

    The Flip Wilson Show

  • But... Seriously

    But... Seriously

  • Critical Condition

    Critical Condition

  • The Norm Show

    The Norm Show

  • In God We Tru$t

    In God We Tru$t

  • Superman III

    Superman III

  • Remembering Gene Wilder

    Remembering Gene Wilder

  • Blue Collar

    Blue Collar

  • Legends

    Legends

  • Brewster's Millions

    Brewster's Millions

  • Wholly Moses

    Wholly Moses

  • California Suite

    California Suite

  • The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

    The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

  • The Muppet Movie

    The Muppet Movie

  • Bustin' Loose

    Bustin' Loose

  • The Phynx

    The Phynx

  • Dark Side of Comedy

    Dark Side of Comedy

  • The Wiz

    The Wiz

  • Stir Crazy

    Stir Crazy

  • Harlem Nights

    Harlem Nights

  • Lady Sings the Blues

    Lady Sings the Blues

  • Some Call It Loving

    Some Call It Loving

  • A Huey P. Newton Story

    A Huey P. Newton Story

  • The Busy Body

    The Busy Body

  • Mad Dog Time

    Mad Dog Time

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

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

  • Zeitgeist: Requiem

    Zeitgeist: Requiem

  • Adiós Amigo

    Adiós Amigo

  • Which Way Is Up?

    Which Way Is Up?

  • Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

    Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

  • Wild in the Streets

    Wild in the Streets

  • Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

    Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

  • Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

    Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

  • Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

    Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

  • Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

    Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

  • The N Word

    The N Word

  • Some Kind of Hero

    Some Kind of Hero

  • Car Wash

    Car Wash

  • The Three Muscatels

    The Three Muscatels

  • The Richard Pryor Special?

    The Richard Pryor Special?

  • Superstar

    Superstar

  • Moving

    Moving

  • The Richard Pryor Show

    The Richard Pryor Show

  • I Am Richard Pryor

    I Am Richard Pryor

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

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

  • Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight

    Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight

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

    TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

  • Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

    Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

  • The Comedy Store

    The Comedy Store

  • The Young Lawyers

    The Young Lawyers

  • The Making of 'Superman III'

    The Making of 'Superman III'

  • Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

    Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

  • Flip Wilson... Of Course

    Flip Wilson... Of Course

  • The Young Lawyers

    The Young Lawyers

  • Lily

    Lily

  • Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales

    Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales

  • Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary

    Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary

  • Pryor's Place

    Pryor's Place

  • Blacks and Jews

    Blacks and Jews

  • The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up

    The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up

  • Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

    Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

  • Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

    Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

  • Carter's Army

    Carter's Army

  • Richard Pryor: Here and Now

    Richard Pryor: Here and Now

  • The Mack

    The Mack

  • Uptown Saturday Night

    Uptown Saturday Night

  • Dynamite Chicken

    Dynamite Chicken

  • 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment

    101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment

  • Richard Pryor: Icon

    Richard Pryor: Icon

  • The Lion Roars Again

    The Lion Roars Again

  • Afro Promo

    Afro Promo

  • Juke and Opal

    Juke and Opal

  • Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

    Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

  • Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'

    Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'

  • The Last Days of Richard Pryor

    The Last Days of Richard Pryor

  • The Richard Pryor Show Volume I

    The Richard Pryor Show Volume I

  • Black and White Trypps Number Four

    Black and White Trypps Number Four

  • The Richard Pryor show Volume 2

    The Richard Pryor show Volume 2