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Richard Pryor

Comedian / Screenwriter / Journalist / Television Producer / Film Director | * 12/01/1940 († 65, 12/10/2005) | Peoria, Illinois (United States of America (USA))
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Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most important stand-up comedians of all time. Pryor won a Primetime Emmy Award and five Grammy Awards. He received the first Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998. He won the Writers Guild of America Award in 1974. He was listed at number one on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him first on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time. Pryor's body of work includes numerous concert films and recordings. He won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for 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: Here and Now (1983). He is also known for Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin' (1971), Wanted: Live in Concert (1978), and ()
Photo of Richard Pryor

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.

Most frequent genres for this person: Comedies | Documentaries | Drama

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Richard Pryor

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 3x Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Primetime Emmy Awards Writers Guild of America Awards Star On Hollywood Walk of Fame Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor
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Movies with Richard Pryor as Actor(68)

as Self (Archival Footage)2024 Remembering Gene Wilder
as Self (archive footage)2022 The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
as Self (archive footage)2021 Live at Mister Kelly's
as Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)2019 I Am Richard Pryor
as Self (archive footage)2014 Richard Pryor: Icon
as Self (archive footage)2014 And the Oscar Goes To...
as Self (archive footage)2013 Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
as Self (archive footage)2013 Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
as Himself (archive footage)2006 The N Word
as Himself (archive footage)2003 Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
as Arnie1997 Lost Highway
as himself1997 Blacks and Jews
as Self (archive footage)1997 Afro Promo
as Jimmy the Gravedigger1996 Mad Dog Time
as Himself (archive footage)1994 But... Seriously
as Eddie Dash1991 Another You
as Narrator / Wino / Bartender1991 The Three Muscatels
as Wallace 'Wally' Karue1989 See No Evil, Hear No Evil
as Sugar Ray1989 Harlem Nights
as Arlo Pear1988 Moving
as Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery1987 Critical Condition
as Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego1986 Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
as Montgomery Brewster1985 Brewster's Millions
as Gus Gorman1983 Superman III
as Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal1982 Some Kind of Hero
as Jack Brown1982 The Toy
as Joe Braxton1981 Bustin' Loose
as G.O.D.1980 In God We Tru$t
as Pharaoh1980 Wholly Moses
as Harry Monroe1980 Stir Crazy
as Balloon Vendor1979 The Muppet Movie
as Himself (archive footage)1979 A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
as Dr. Chauncey Gump1978 California Suite
as Zeke Brown1978 Blue Collar
as The Wiz1978 The Wiz
as Wendell Scott1977 Greased Lightning
as Leroy Jones/Rufus Jones/Rev. Lenox Thoma1977 Which Way Is Up?
as Grover Muldoon1976 Silver Streak
as Daddy Rich1976 Car Wash
as Sam Spade1975 Adiós Amigo
as himself1975 The Lion Roars Again
as Sharp Eye Washington1974 Uptown Saturday Night
as Mike Willmer1973 Hit!
as Slim1973 The Mack
as himself1973 Wattstax
as Piano Man1972 Lady Sings the Blues
as himself1971 Dynamite Chicken
as himself1970 The Phynx
as Pvt. Jonathan Crunk1970 Carter's Army
as Otis Tucker1969 The Young Lawyers
as Stanley X1968 Wild in the Streets
as Whittaker1967 The Busy Body

TV Shows/Series with Richard Pryor as Actor(11)

as Self (archive footage)2021 Superstar
as Self (archive footage)2020 The Comedy Store
as G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited)2006 Legends
1992 Martin
as himself1984 Pryor's Place
as himself1970 The Flip Wilson Show
as himself1962 The Merv Griffin Show
as himself1958 Kraft Music Hall

Movies with Richard Pryor as Crew(14)

Writing/Original Film Writer2022 Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Directing/Director1986 Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Production/Producer1986 Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Writing/Screenplay1986 Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Directing/Director1983 Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Writing/Writer1983 Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Production/Producer1981 Bustin' Loose
Writing/Story1981 Bustin' Loose
Writing/Screenplay1974 Blazing Saddles
Writing/Writer1969 Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales

TV Shows/Series with Richard Pryor as Crew(2)

Creator/Creator1984 Pryor's Place
Creator/Creator1977 The Richard Pryor Show

Additional Information

Official websites:
Born: Sunday, 12/01 1940 (December) in Peoria, Illinois (United States of America (USA))
Died: Saturday, 12/10 2005 (December) in Encino (aged: 65)
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius (Chinese zodiac sign: Dragon)
Languages: English (EN)
Educated at: Peoria High School
Member of: Writers Guild of America, West
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
Spouses (current/former): Deborah McGuire, Jennifer Lee Pryor, Flynn Belaine
Children: Rain Pryor
Other names for Richard Pryor (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor"
"Ρίτσαρντ Πραιορ"
"Річард Прайор"
Richard Pryor frequently works together with these people:
Mel Brooks (13x, Actor)
Gene Wilder (11x, Actor)
Paul Mooney (8x, Actor)
George Carlin (7x, Actor)
Bill Cosby (7x, Actor)
David Lynch (6x, Crew)
Billy Dee Williams (6x, Actor)
Lily Tomlin (6x, Actress)
Jennifer Lee Pryor (6x, Actress)
Michael Schultz (6x, Crew)
Tony Lloyd (5x, Crew)
Steve Lawrence (4x, Actor)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:1053, Added: 03/23/2018, Last updated: 09/20/2024