By Jueseppi B.

 

 

 

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, 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 his era: Jerry Seinfeld called Pryor “The Picasso of our profession”; Bob Newhart has called Pryor “the seminal comedian of the last 50 years.” This legacy can be attributed, in part, to the unusual degree of intimacy Pryor brought to bear on his comedy. As Bill Cosby reportedly once said, “Richard Pryor drew the line between comedy and tragedy as thin as one could possibly paint it.”

 

His body of work includes the concert movies and recordings Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin’ (1971),That Nigger’s Crazy (1974), …Is It Something I Said? (1975), Bicentennial Nigger (1976), Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979), Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982), and Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983). He also starred in numerous films as an actor, such as Superman III (1983) but was usually in comedies such as Silver Streak (1976), and occasionally in dramatic roles, such as Paul Schrader‘s film Blue Collar (1978). He collaborated on many projects with actor Gene Wilder. Another frequent collaborator was 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.

 

Richard Pryor was born December 1, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois. A class clown in school and a community theater actor in his teens, Pryor became a successful stand-up comedian, TV writer, and movie actor, starring in such films as Stir Crazy and Greased Lightning. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986, but continued to perform for several more years. He died of a heart attack in 2005.

 

Comedian, actor, writer. Born on December 1, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois. A skilled social satirist with a fondness for profanity, Richard Pryor was a groundbreaking African American comedian who became one of the top entertainers of the 1970′s and 1980′s. He got a rough start in life. His mother reportedly worked as a prostitute and his father was a bartender and boxer who served in the military during World War II. His parents married when he was three years old, but the union did not last.

 

For much of his youth, Pryor was left in his grandmother’s care and lived in the brothel she ran. He also experienced sexual abuse as a child, according to his official website. To step away from the grim reality of his life, Pryor found solace in going to the movies.

 

At school, Pryor played the part of the class clown. He went on to discover acting in his early teens. A natural performer, Pryor was cast in a production of Rumpelstiltskin by Juliette Whittaker, the director of a local community center. She believed in his talent and encouraged him throughout the years.

 

At the age of 14, Pryor was expelled from school and ended up working a string of jobs until he joined the military in 1958. He served in the army for only two years—he was discharged for fighting with another soldier.

 

 

Richard Pryor owns at his own roast! part 1/2

 

 

 

Richard Pryor owns at his own roast! part 2/2

 

 

 

The comdey album that introduced me to comedy. In MY unhumble opinion, the best comedy album of all time:

 

Richard Pryor – That Nigger’s Crazy album (Part 1)

 

 

 

 

Richard Pryor – That Nigger’s Crazy album Part 2

 

 

 

 

Richard Pryor – That Nigger’s Crazy Part 3

 

 

 

 

Richard Pryor – That N**ger’s Crazy Part 4

 

 

 

 

 

The Richard Pryor Show – Episode 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under: Black History, Celebrity, Celebs & Fame, Comedy, Fun & Games, Good News, History, Joy & Happiness, Obituary, Race, Racism, Videos Tagged: | Gene Wilder, Paul Mooney, Race, Racism, Richard Pryor, Stand Up Comedy, Superman III