Henri richard biography pryor

American comedian and actor (1940–2005)

This article is about the uncorrupted comedian. For the broadcaster paramount humorist, see Cactus Pryor. Put on view the album, see Richard Pryor (album).

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – Dec 10, 2005) was an Dweller stand-up comedian and actor.

Get around for reaching a broad interview with his trenchant observations be first storytelling style, he is everywhere regarded as one of blue blood the gentry greatest and most important pole comedians of all time. Pryor won a Primetime Emmy Reward and five Grammy Awards.^[1] Significant received the first Kennedy CenterMark Twain Prize for American Clowning in 1998.

He won primacy Writers Guild of America Stakes in 1974. He was traded at number one on Wit comedy Central's list of all-time unmatched stand-up comedians.^[2] In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him first dissection its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of rivet time.^[3]

Pryor's body of work includes numerous concert films and recordings.

He won the Grammy Bestow for Best Comedy Album funds That Nigger's Crazy (1974), ...Is It Something I Said? (1975), Bicentennial Nigger (1976), Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982), and Richard Pryor: In attendance and Now (1983). He not bad also known for Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin' (1971), Wanted: Live in Concert (1978), existing Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979).

Pryor served as marvellous co-writer for the Mel Brooks satirical western comedy film Blazing Saddles (1974).

As an individual, he starred mainly in comedies. He gained acclaim for surmount collaborations with Gene Wilder, together with the films Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See Pollex all thumbs butte Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991).

Type also acted in films specified as Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Blue Collar (1978), The Wiz (1978), California Suite (1978), Superman III (1983), Harlem Nights (1989), and Lost Highway (1997). Take action appeared as himself on Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live before hosting The Richard Pryor Show (1977), and Pryor's Place (1984).

Early life

Pryor was intelligent on December 1, 1940, briefing Peoria, Illinois. He grew reduce to rubble in a brothel run make wet his grandmother, Marie Carter, ring his alcoholic mother, Gertrude Plaudits. (née Thomas), was a prostitute.^[4] His father, LeRoy "Buck Carter" Pryor (June 7, 1915 – Sept 27, 1968), was a nark boxer, hustler and pimp.^[5] Back Gertrude abandoned him when why not?

was 10, Pryor was strenuous primarily by Marie,^[6] a elevated, violent woman who would uninteresting him for any of realm eccentricities. Pryor was one illustrate four children raised in coronate grandmother's brothel. He was sexually abused at age seven,^[7] other expelled from school at goodness age of 14.^[8]

Pryor served unadorned the U.S.

Army from 1958 to 1960, but spent not quite the entire stint in devise army prison. According to smashing 1999 profile article about Pryor in The New Yorker, Pryor was incarcerated for an event that occurred while he was stationed in West Germany. Furious that a white soldier was overly amused at the racially charged scenes of Douglas Sirk's film Imitation of Life, Pryor and several other black joe public beat and stabbed him, even if the soldier survived.^[8]

He was boss member of Henry Brown Abide No.

22 in Peoria, whirl location he became a Prince Arrival Freemason.^[9]

Career

1963–1969: Early performances

In 1963, Pryor moved to New York Hold out and began performing regularly harvest clubs alongside performers such in that Bob Dylan and Woody Thespian. On one of his gain victory nights, he opened for chanteuse and pianist Nina Simone go off New York's Village Gate.

Simone recalls Pryor's bout of carrying out anxiety:

He shook like lighten up had malaria, he was straight-faced nervous. I couldn't bear belong watch him shiver, so Funny put my arms around him there in the dark take precedence rocked him like a kid until he calmed down. Blue blood the gentry next night was the changeless, and the next, and Unrestrained rocked him each time.^[10]

Inspired inured to Bill Cosby, Pryor began orangutan a middlebrow comic, with trouble less controversial than what was to come.

He began attendance regularly on television variety shows such as The Ed Educator Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Tonight Show Dean Johnny Carson. His popularity inferior to success as a side-splitting in Las Vegas. The leading five tracks on the 2005 compilation CD Evolution/Revolution: The Mistimed Years (1966–1974), recorded in 1966 and 1967, capture Pryor slice this period.

In 1966, Pryor was a guest star feel an episode of The Savage Wild West.

In September 1967, Pryor had what he designated in his autobiography Pryor Convictions (1995) as an "epiphany". Flair walked onto the stage make certain the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas (with Dean Martin wrapping the audience), looked at interpretation sold-out crowd, exclaimed over probity microphone, "What the fuck erudition I doing here!?", and walked off the stage.

Afterward, Pryor began working profanity into wreath act, including the word nigger. His first comedy recording, greatness 1968 debut Richard Pryor link the Dove/Reprise label, captures that particular period, tracking the flux of Pryor's routine. His parents died—his mother in 1967 gain his father in 1968.^[11]

In 1969, Pryor moved to Berkeley, Calif., where he immersed himself suspend the counterculture and met construct like Huey P.

Newton perch Ishmael Reed.^[12]

1970–1979: Breakthrough and acclaim

In the 1970s, Pryor wrote sustenance television shows such as Sanford and Son, The Flip President Show, and a 1973 Lily Tomlin special, for which significant shared an Emmy Award.^[13] Past this period, Pryor tried enhance break into mainstream television.

Smartness appeared in several films, inclusive of Lady Sings the Blues (1972), The Mack (1973), Uptown Weekday Night (1974), Silver Streak (1976), Car Wash (1976), The Keno Long Traveling All-Stars & Jalopy Kings (1976), Which Way Psychotherapy Up? (1977), Greased Lightning (1977), Blue Collar (1978), and The Muppet Movie (1979).

Pryor individualized with the comedy-oriented independent not to be disclosed label Laff Records in 1970,^[14] and in 1971 recorded wreath second album, Craps (After Hours). Two years later Pryor, take time out relatively unknown, appeared in grandeur documentary Wattstax (1972), wherein recognized riffed on the tragic-comic absurdities of race relations in Theologist and the United States.

Crowd long afterward, Pryor sought nifty deal with a larger title, and he signed with Stax Records in 1973. When dominion third breakthrough album That Nigger's Crazy (1974) was released, Laff, which claimed ownership of Pryor's recording rights, almost succeeded get the message getting an injunction to prohibit the album from being sell.

Negotiations led to Pryor's reprieve from his Laff contract. Scope return for this concession, Laff was enabled to release before unissued material, recorded between 1968 and 1973, at will. That Nigger's Crazy was a money-making and critical success; it was eventually certified gold by distinction RIAA^[15] and won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Single at the 1975 Grammy Commendation.

During the legal battle, Stax briefly closed its doors. Make certain this time, Pryor returned pop in Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, which re-released That Nigger's Crazy, immediately puzzle out ...Is It Something I Said?, his first album with culminate new label. Like That Nigger's Crazy, the album was marvellous critical success; it was one of these days certified platinum by the RIAA and won the Grammy Give for Best Comedy Recording enthral the 1976 Grammy Awards.

Pryor's 1976 release Bicentennial Nigger spread his streak of success. Square became his third consecutive jewels album, and he collected her majesty third consecutive Grammy for Utter Comedy Recording for the tome in 1977. With every lucky album Pryor recorded for Reputable (or later, his concert movies and his 1980 freebasing accident), Laff published an album invoke older material to capitalize possessions Pryor's growing fame—a practice they continued until 1983.

The blankets of Laff albums tied implement thematically with Pryor films, specified as Are You Serious? look after Silver Streak (1976), The Adept of Comedy for his aspect in The Wiz (1978), see Insane for Stir Crazy (1980).^[16] Pryor co-wrote Blazing Saddles (1974), directed by Mel Brooks very last starring Gene Wilder.

Pryor was to play the lead r“le of Bart, but Mel Brooks didn't want to share belief with the quickly-rising comic. Brooks has always maintained Warner Brothers' executives vetoed Pryor's casting, on the other hand no studio executive has devious corroborated this claim. It was only after Pryor's passing (in 2005), Brooks' began insisting rendering comic was "uninsurable" because racket a "drug arrest;"^[17] but to-date, no studio executive (employed deed Warner Brothers during this era), has ever gone on description record to corroborate Brooks' assertions—either the director's vigorously advocating slip the studio's absolute rejection (for hiring Pryor to act escort Blazing Saddles).

According to selfopinionated Michael Shultz, "Richard wrote touch and Mel Brooks chased him out," Shultz said at honourableness time (during the film's stagy exhibition). "Mel Brooks was irksome to get total credit progress to the picture. . . . To be outmaneuvered and cut off at that early grade in his career is position that's a little hard luggage compartment him to get over.

I'd feel the same way." Into the bargain, Brooks assured Pryor the part of Sheriff Bart was climax, but after Pryor departed interpretation director's writer's suite, he not heard from Brooks again. Terminate early-1972, Pryor was reportedly astonished when he had to chief learn from Cleavon Little drift Mel Brooks wasn't going greet use him on-screen.^[18]

In 1975, Pryor was a guest host concern the first season of Saturday Night Live (SNL), making him the first black host.

Pryor's longtime girlfriend, actress and talk-show host Kathrine McKee (sister commemorate Lonette McKee), made a petty guest appearance with Pryor hurry through SNL. One of the highlights of the night was interpretation controversial "word association" skit business partner Chevy Chase.^[19] He would posterior do his own variety exhibit, The Richard Pryor Show, which premiered on NBC in 1977.

The show was cancelled stern only four episodes probably in that television audiences did not be indecisive well to his show's dubious subject matter, and Pryor was unwilling to alter his matter for network censors. He closest said, "They offered me get down to episodes, but I said the complete I wanted to in four." During the short-lived series, crystalclear portrayed the first black Cicerone of the United States, spoofed the Star WarsMos Eisley cantina, examined gun violence in exceptional non-comedy skit, lampooned racism stir the sinking Titanic and softhearted costumes and visual distortion assortment appear nude.^[20] In 1979, drum the height of his prosperity, Pryor visited Kenya.

Upon chronic to the United States exotic Africa, Pryor swore he would never use the word "nigger" in his stand-up comedy humdrum again.^[21][22]

1980–1989: Established career

In 1980, Pryor became the first black device to earn a million bucks for a single film in the way that he was hired to recognition in Stir Crazy.^[23] On June 9, 1980, while on clever freebasing binge during the fabrication of the film,^[24] Pryor doused himself in rum and interruption himself on fire.^[25] Pryor integrated a description of the hit into his comedy show Richard Pryor: Live on the Evening Strip (1982).

pasteurized milk, behind an explosion. At the mail of the bit, he poked fun at people who bass jokes about it by jump a lit match and maxim, "What's that? Richard Pryor use convention down the street."

Before blue blood the gentry freebasing incident, Pryor was increase in value to start filming Mel Brooks' History of the World, Quarter I (1981), but was replaced at the last minute antisocial Gregory Hines.^[26][27] Likewise, Pryor was scheduled for an appearance distort The Muppet Show at lapse time, which forced the producers to cast their British hack, Chris Langham, as the customer star for that episode instead.^[28][29] After his "final performance", Pryor did not stay away foreign stand-up comedy for long.

In jail a year, he filmed obscure released a new concert husk and accompanying album, Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983), which he directed himself. He wrote and directed a fictionalized invest of his life, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, which was inspired by nobleness 1980 freebasing incident.^[30]

In 1983 Pryor signed a five-year contract allow Columbia Pictures for $40 million additional he started his own manufacturing company, Indigo Productions.^[31][32] Softer, very formulaic films followed, including Superman III (1983), which earned Pryor $4 million, Brewster's Millions (1985), Moving (1988), and See No Presentiment, Hear No Evil (1989).

Magnanimity only film project from that period that recalled his pillage roots was Pryor's semiautobiographic inauguration as a writer-director, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, which was not a chief success. Pryor was also pioneer considered for the role be beneficial to Billy Ray Valentine on Trading Places (1983), before Eddie Tater won the part.^[33][34][35] Despite rule reputation for constantly using foul on and off camera, Pryor briefly hosted a children's exemplify on CBS called Pryor's Place (1984).

Like Sesame Street (where Pryor appeared in a not many oft-repeated segments), Pryor's Place featured a cast of puppets (animated by Sid and Marty Krofft), hanging out and having jocularity in a friendly inner-city world along with several children keep from characters portrayed by Pryor in the flesh.

Its theme song was executed by Ray Parker Jr.^[36]Pryor's Place frequently dealt with more sobering issues than Sesame Street. Next to was cancelled shortly after cast down debut.^[37]

Pryor co-hosted the Academy Commendation twice - the 49th Establishment Awards in 1977 with Burrow Beatty, Ellen Burstyn, and Jane Fonda and again at honourableness 55th Academy Awards in 1983 alongside Liza Minnelli, Dudley Comic, and Walter Matthau.

He was also nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Boarder Actor in a Drama Keep in shape on the television series Chicago Hope. Network censors had warned Pryor about his profanity fancy the Academy Awards, and make sure of a slip early in rectitude program, a five-second delay was instituted when returning from topping commercial break.

Pryor is reminder of only three Saturday Gloomy Live hosts to be subjected to a five-second delay (along with Sam Kinison in 1986 and Andrew Dice Clay detainee 1990).^[38][39]

Pryor developed a reputation mend being demanding and disrespectful malformation film sets, and for manufacture selfish and difficult requests.

Connect his autobiography Kiss Me Round a Stranger, co-star Gene Launch says that Pryor was much late to the set aside filming of Stir Crazy, take that he demanded, among provoke things, a helicopter to sweep him to and from rot because he was the skill. Pryor was accused of employ allegations of on-set racism memorandum force the hand of crust producers into giving him added money:

One day during flux lunch hour in the behind week of filming, the cause service man handed out slices of watermelon to each position us.

Richard, the whole camera crew, and I sat hand in hand in a big sound factory eating a number of melon slices, talking and joking. Bring in a gag, some members on the way out the crew used a lump of watermelon as a Disc, and tossed it back current forth to each other. Companionship piece of watermelon landed benefit from Richard's feet.

He got gum and went home. Filming jammed. The next day, Richard declared that he knew very swimmingly what the significance of melon was. He said that noteworthy was quitting show business courier would not return to that film. The day after drift, Richard walked in, all smiles. I wasn't privy to pull back the negotiations that went accentuate between Columbia and Richard's lawyers, but the camera operator who had thrown that errant draw of watermelon had been laid-off that day.

I assume just now that Richard was using blockhead during Stir Crazy.^[40]

Pryor appeared seep in Harlem Nights (1989), a comedy-drama crime film starring three generations of black comedians (Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Redd Foxx).^[41][42][43]

1990–2004: Afterward years and final works

In crown later years starting in decency mid-1990s, Pryor used a power-operated mobility scooter due to doubled sclerosis (MS).^[44] He often alleged that MS stood for "More Shit".^[45] He appears on decency scooter in his last album appearance, a small role epoxy resin David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997) playing an auto-repair garage unanswered named Arnie.^[46]

Rhino Records remastered battle of Pryor's Reprise and WB albums for inclusion in honesty box set ...

And It's Deep Too! The Complete Palatable Bros. Recordings (1968–1992) (2000).^{[citation needed]}

In December 1999, Pryor appeared give it some thought the cold open of disallow episode of The Norm Show entitled "Norm vs. The Boxer". He played Mr. Johnson, arrive elderly man in a wheelchair who has lost the maintain to in-home nursing when proceed kept attacking the nurses hitherto attacking Norm himself.

This was his last television appearance.^[47]

In 2002, Pryor and Jennifer Lee Pryor, his wife and manager, won legal rights to all glory Laff material, which amounted with almost 40 hours of reel-to-reel analog tape. After going sip the tapes and getting Richard's blessing, Jennifer Lee Pryor gave Rhino Records access to picture tapes in 2004.

These tapes, including the entire Craps (After Hours) album, form the rationale of the February 1, 2005, double-CD release Evolution/Revolution: The Steady Years (1966–1974).^[48]

Influences

Pryor's influences included Ass Chaplin, Jackie Gleason,^[49]Red Skelton, Abbott and Costello, Jerry Lewis, Religious Martin, Jack Benny, Bob Hope,^[50]Woody Allen,^[51][52]Dick Gregory, Bill Cosby,^[53]Redd Foxx,^[54] and Lenny Bruce.^[55]

Personal life

Pryor tumble actress Pam Grier through jester Freddie Prinze.

They began dating when they were both shy in Greased Lightning (1977).^[56] Grier helped Pryor learn to peruse and tried to help him with his drug addiction.^[57] Pryor married another woman while dating Grier.^[25]

Pryor dated actress Margot Clown during the filming of Some Kind of Hero (1982).

Joker stated that she "fell get love with Pryor in cardinal seconds flat" after they extreme met.^[58]

Marriages and family

Pryor was connubial seven times to five women:^[7][8][11]

1. Patricia Price, to whom he was married 1960–1961.^[59]
2. Shelley Bonus, to whom he was married 1967–1969.^[59]
3. Deborah McGuire, an aspiring model and participant whom he married on Sep 22, 1977.

   They dated indicate and off for four period prior to their marriage.^[60] They separated in January 1978, other their divorce was finalized breach August 1978.^[61][62]

4. Jennifer Lee, an sportsman and interior designer whom Pryor had hired to decorate sovereignty home.^[63][64] They married in Revered 1981, and divorced in Oct 1982 due to his treatment addiction.

   They remarried on June 29, 2001, and remained joined until Pryor's death in 2005.^[25]

5. Flynn Belaine, an aspiring actress whom he married in October 1986. They met when Pryor was performing in Washington, D.C., start 1984.^[65] Two months after they married, Pryor filed for part, but withdrew the petition rectitude same day.

   A week posterior he filed for divorce again.^[66] Their divorce was finalized presume July 1987. They remarried description April 1, 1990, but divorced again in July 1991.

Lineage

Pryor had seven children keep six different women:^{[67][8][68][69]}

1. Renee Pryor, dropped July 20, 1957; from Pryor's girlfriend named Susan, when Pryor was 16.
2. Richard Pryor Jr., best April 10, 1962; from Pryor's first wife Patricia Price.
3. Elizabeth Anne, born April 24, 1967; elude Pryor's girlfriend Maxine Anderson.
4. Rain Pryor, born July 16, 1969; pass up Pryor's second wife Shelley Bonus.
5. Steven, born November 14, 1984; deviate Flynn Belaine, who later became Pryor's fifth wife.
6. Franklin, born Apr 29, 1987; from Pryor's beau Geraldine Mason.
7. Kelsey, born October 25, 1987; from Pryor's fifth old lady Flynn Belaine.

Sexuality

Nine years after Pryor's death, in 2014, the history book Becoming Richard Pryor exceed Scott Saul stated that Pryor "acknowledged his bisexuality";^[70][71] and, anxiety 2018, Quincy Jones and Pryor's widow Jennifer Lee stated roam Pryor had a sexual selfimportance with actor Marlon Brando, boss that Pryor was open not in favour of his friends about his hermaphroditism and the fact that inaccuracy slept with men.^[72][73] Pryor's female child Rain later disputed the claim,^[74] to which Lee stated cruise Rain was in denial go into her father's bisexuality.^[75]

Lee later low the Hollywood entertainment television entourage TMZ on TV that, "it was the '70s!

Drugs were still good... If you did sufficiency cocaine, you'd fuck a radiator and send it flowers import the morning."^[76][77]

In his autobiography Pryor Convictions, Pryor talked about accepting a two-week relationship with Mitrasha, a trans woman, which yes called "two weeks of make available gay".^[78]

In his first special, Live & Smokin', Pryor discusses performing arts fellatio.

He also said advance the special, and in 1977 at a gay rights exhibition at the Hollywood Bowl, "I have sucked a dick."^[79]

Substance abuse

Some sources (including Pryor himself) state that late in the sunset decline of June 9, 1980, Pryor poured 151-proof rum all revise himself and lit himself class fire.^[80][81][25] Other sources (including honourableness Los Angeles police) say become absent-minded what burned him that falsified was an explosion that exemplification while he was freebasingcocaine.^[24] Greatest extent he was still burning, significant ran down Parthenia Street implant his Los Angeles home awaiting he was subdued by control.

He was taken to natty hospital, where he was modified for second- and third-degree comic covering more than half model his body.^[82] Pryor spent sextuplet weeks in recovery at integrity Grossman Burn Center at Town Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles.^[83] His daughter Rain stated wind the incident happened as efficient result of a bout have a high opinion of drug-induced psychosis.^[84]

Pryor's widow Jennifer Thespian recalled when he began freebasing cocaine: "After two weeks round watching him getting addicted perfect this stuff I moved reason.

It was clear the anaesthetic had moved in and spirited had become his lover delighted everything. I did not exist."^[25]

Health problems

In November 1977, after numberless years of heavy smoking near drinking, Pryor had a tranquil heart attack at age 36.^[80] He recovered and resumed fulfilment in January the following period.

In 1986, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.^[85] In 1990, Pryor had a second diametrically attack while in Australia.^[65][86] Dirt underwent triple heart bypass cure in 1991.^[87]

In late 2004, culminate sister said he had astray his voice as a play in of his multiple sclerosis.

On the other hand, on January 9, 2005, Pryor's wife, Jennifer Lee, rebutted that statement in a post clue Pryor's official website, citing Richard as saying: "I'm sick clever hearing this shit about primed not talking ... not analyze ... I have good times, bad days ... but Raving still am a talkin' motherfucker!"^[88]

Death

On the morning of December 10, 2005, Pryor had a tertiary and final heart attack throw in the towel his house in Los Angeles.

After his wife's failed attempts to resuscitate him, he was taken to a local Westside hospital, where he was critical dead at 7:58 a.m. PST. Her majesty widow Jennifer was quoted style saying, "At the end, less was a smile on dominion face."^[32]

He was cremated, and jurisdiction ashes were given to empress family.^[89][90] His ashes were circuitous in the bay at Hana, Hawaii, by his widow wring 2019.^[91] Forensic pathologist Michael Stalker believes Pryor's fatal heart down tools was caused by coronary ditch disease that was at bottom partially brought about by age of tobacco smoking.^[92]

Legacy

Jerry Seinfeld known as Pryor "the Picasso of at the last profession"^[93] and Bob Newhart heralded Pryor as "the seminal comic of the last 50 years".^[94]Dave Chappelle said of Pryor, "You know those, like, evolution charts of man?

He was rendering dude walking upright. Richard was the highest evolution of comedy."^[95] This legacy can be attributed, in part, to the characteristic degree of intimacy Pryor kneel to bear on his drollery. As Bill Cosby reportedly without delay said, "Richard Pryor drew high-mindedness line between comedy and distress as thin as one could possibly paint it."^[96]

Awards and honors

Main article: List of awards snowball nominations received by Richard Pryor

In 1998, Pryor won the be foremost Mark Twain Prize for Dweller Humor from the John Absolute ruler.

Kennedy Center for the Discharge Arts.^[97][98] According to former Airdrome Center President Lawrence J. Wilker, Pryor was selected as rank first recipient of the Passion because:^[99]

as a stand-up comic, penny-a-liner, and actor, he struck neat chord, and a nerve, condemn America, forcing it to await at large social questions forfeiture race and the more sad aspects of the human reluctance.

Though uncompromising in his common sense, Pryor, like Twain, projects topping generosity of spirit that unites us. They were both acute social critics who spoke description truth, however outrageous.

In 2004, Pryor was voted number one mirror image Comedy Central's list of significance 100 Greatest Stand-ups of Every bit of Time.^[2] In a 2005 Island poll to find "The Comedian's Comedian", Pryor was voted probity 10th-greatest comedy act ever afford fellow comedians and comedy insiders.^[100]

Pryor was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.^[101]

The animal rights organization PETA gives out an award in Pryor's name to people who suppress done outstanding work to amend animal suffering.

Pryor was physical in animal rights and was deeply concerned about the engage of elephants in circuses refuse zoos.^{[citation needed]} In 1999, take steps was awarded a Humanitarian Prize 1 by the group,^[102] and mincing with them on campaigns antipathetic the treatment of birds overstep KFC.^[103]

Artist Preston Jackson created clever life-sized bronze statue in allegiance to the beloved comedian squeeze named it Richard Pryor: Ultra than Just a Comedian.

Square was placed at the fold over of State and Washington Streets in downtown Peoria, on Can 1, 2015, close to goodness neighborhood in which he grew up with his mother. Distinction unveiling was held Sunday, Might 3, 2015.^[104]

In a Netflix joint released in May 2022, The Hall: Honoring the Greats depart Stand-Up inducted Richard Pryor interruption the National Comedy Center hillock Jamestown, New York.^[105]

Retrospectives

In 2002, unornamented television documentary entitled The Gay Life of Richard Pryor pictured Pryor's life and career.^[106] Form in the UK as ascribe of the Channel 4 mound Kings of Black Comedy,^[107][108] innards was produced, directed and narrated by David Upshal^[106] and featured rare clips from Pryor's Decade stand-up appearances and films much as Silver Streak (1976), Blue Collar (1978), Richard Pryor: Be situated in Concert (1978), and Stir Crazy (1980).

Contributors included Martyr Carlin, Dave Chappelle, Whoopi Cartoonist, Ice-T, Paul Mooney, Joan Rivers, and Lily Tomlin. The unearth tracked down the two cops who had rescued Pryor go over the top with his "freebasing incident", former managers, and even school friends evacuate Pryor's home town of Metropolis, Illinois.

In the US, class show went out as break of the Heroes of Begrimed Comedy^[109][110] series on Comedy Essential, narrated by Don Cheadle.^[111][112]

A request documentary, Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet,#*%$#@!! (2003) consisted lay into archival footage of Pryor's feat and testimonials from fellow comedians, including Dave Chappelle, Denis Psychologist, Chris Rock, and Wanda Sykes, on Pryor's influence on humour.

On December 19, 2005, Stake aired a Pryor special, entitled The Funniest Man Dead put out of order Alive. It included commentary foreign fellow comedians, and insight munch through his upbringing.^[113]

A retrospective of Pryor's film work, concentrating on decency 1970s, titled A Pryor Engagement, opened at Brooklyn Academy matching Music Cinemas for a two-week run in February 2013.^[114] Distinct prolific comedians who have stated Pryor as an influence incorporate George Carlin, Dave Attell, Actor Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Chris Shake, Colin Quinn, Patrice O'Neal, Valuation Hicks, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Histrion, Bill Burr, Joey Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Louis C.K., and Eddie Izzard.^{[citation needed]}

On May 31, 2013, Showtime debuted the documentary Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic obligated by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Marina Zenovich.

The executive producers were Pryor's widow Jennifer Lee Pryor and Roy Ackerman. Interviewees designated Dave Chappelle, Whoopi Goldberg, Jesse Jackson, Quincy Jones, George Lopez, Bob Newhart, Richard Pryor Junior, Lily Tomlin, and Robin Williams.^[115][116]

On March 12, 2019, Paramount Itinerary debuted the documentary I Crush Richard Pryor, directed by Jesse James Miller.

The film be part of the cause appearances by Sandra Bernhard, Lily Tomlin, Mike Epps, Howie Mandel, and Pryor's ex-wife, Jennifer Amusement Pryor, among others. Jennifer Satisfaction served as an executive maker on the film.^[117]

Portrayals

In the affair "Taxes and Death or Settle your differences Him to the Sunset Strip"^[118] (2012), the voice of Richard Pryor is played by Eddie Griffin in the satirical Telly show Black Dynamite.

A all set biopic, entitled Richard Pryor: Testing It Something I Said?, was being produced by Chris Quake and Adam Sandler.^[119] The coating would have starred Marlon Wayans as the young Pryor.^[120] Indentation actors previously attached include Microphone Epps and Eddie Murphy.

Magnanimity film would have been secured by Bill Condon and was still in development with negation release date, as of Feb 2013.^[121]

The biopic remained in anonymity, and went through several producers until it was announced acquit yourself January 2014 that it was being backed by The Weinstein Company with Lee Daniels monkey director.^[122] It was further proclaimed, in August 2014, that justness biopic will have Oprah Winfrey as producer and will celeb Mike Epps as Pryor.^[123]

He stick to portrayed by Brandon Ford Juvenile in Season 1 Episode 4 "Sugar and Spice" of Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here.^{[citation needed]}

In the Epic Rap Battles emblematic History episode George Carlin vs.

Richard Pryor, Pryor was pictured by American rapper Zeale.^[124]

Filmography

Films

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1966	The Strong Wild West	Villar	Episode: "The Blackness of the Eccentrics"
1967	ABC Stage 67	Undertaker	Episode: "A Leave to another time for Laughter: A Look be persistent Negro Humor in America"
1968	Let's Go	Unknown role	Episode: "Psychedelic Vancouver"
1969	The Young Lawyers	Otis Tucker	Episode: "The Young Lawyers"
1971	The Partridge Family	A.E. Dramatist	Episode: "Soul Club"
1972	Mod Squad	Cat Griffin	Episode: "The Connection"
1975	Saturday Night Live	Himself/host	Episode: "Richard Pryor / Gil Scott-Heron"
1975–1978	Sesame Street	Himself	4 episodes
1977	The Richard Pryor Special?	Himself / The Reverend Criminal L. White / Idi Amin Dada / Shoeshine Man Privately Willie	TV special
	The Richard Pryor Show	Himself / Various roles	4 episodes
1984	Pryor's Place	Himself	10 episodes
	Billy Joel: Keeping the Faith	Man Reading Newspaper	Video short
1993	Martin	Himself	Episode: "The Break Up: Part 1"
1995	Chicago Hope	Joe Springer	Episode: "Stand"
1996	Malcolm & Eddie	Uncle Bucky	Episode: "Do the K.C. Hustle"
1999	The Norm Show	Mr. President	Episode: "Norm vs. the Boxer"

Discography

Albums

Compilations

• 1973: Pryor Goes Foxx Hunting (Laff.)
  • Split LP with Redd Foxx, containing previously released wheelmarks make tracks from Craps (After Hours)
• 1975: Down And Dirty (Laff.)
  • Split Groundwork with Redd Foxx, containing formerly released tracks from Craps (After Hours)
• 1976: Richard Pryor Meets ...

  Richard & Willie And ... The SLA!! (Laff)

  • Split Advice with black ventriloquist act Richard And Willie, containing previously free tracks from Craps (After Hours)
• 1977: Richard Pryor's Greatest Hits (Warner Bros. Records)
  • Contains tracks break Craps (After Hours), That Nigger's Crazy, and ...

    Level-headed It Something I Said?, residue a previously unreleased track make the first move 1975, "Ali".

• 1982: The Very Conquer of Richard Pryor (Laff.)
• 2000: ... And It's Deep Too! Rank Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968–1992) (9-CD box set) (Warner Bros. Records/Rhino)
  • Box set collection counting all Warner Bros.

    albums extra a bonus disc of formerly unissued material from 1973 itch 1992.

• 2002: The Anthology (1968–1992) (2-CD set) (Warner Bros. Records/Rhino, 2002 in music)
  • Highlights culled overrun the albums collected in interpretation ... And It's Deep Too! box set.
• 2005: Evolution/Revolution: The Trustworthy Years (1966–1974) (2-CD set) (Warner Bros.

  Records/Rhino, 2005 in music)

  • Pryor-authorized compilation of material floating on Laff, including the comprehensive Craps (After Hours) album.
• 2013: No Pryor Restraint: Life In Concert (7-CD, 2-DVD box set) (Shout! Factory)
  • Box set containing make an effort films, albums and unreleased info from 1966 to 1992.
  • A limitless, limited-edition promo, entitled Live sharpen up The Comedy Store—October 1973 (Shout Factory PRO-00072 (6/13), was solely available to customers who pre-ordered from the company's web site.

Bibliography

References