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
Arnie
Lost Highway
Self
Wattstax
Wallace 'Wally' Karue
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Montgomery Brewster
Brewster's Millions
Self
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Self
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Grover Muldoon
Silver Streak
Self
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Joe Braxton
Bustin' Loose
Harry Monroe
Stir Crazy
Piano Man
Lady Sings the Blues
Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
Which Way Is Up?
Eddie Dash
Another You
Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
Critical Condition
Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
Carter's Army
Jack Brown
The Toy
The Wiz
The Wiz
Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
I Am Richard Pryor
Pharaoh
Wholly Moses
Sugar Ray
Harlem Nights
August 'Gus' Gorman
Superman III
Dr. Chauncey Gump
California Suite
Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Wendell Scott
Greased Lightning
Arlo Pear
Moving
Charlie Snow
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
Sharp Eye Washington
Uptown Saturday Night
Whittaker
The Busy Body
Slim
The Mack
Self (archive footage)
Live at Mister Kelly's
Stanley X
Wild in the Streets
Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
Blue Collar
Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
Some Kind of Hero
Richard Pryor
The Phynx
Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Self
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
Self (archive footage)
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
Self
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
Mike Willmer
Hit!
G.O.D.
In God We Tru$t
Jeff
Some Call It Loving
Self (archive footage)
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
Self (archive footage)
But... Seriously
Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Icon
Balloon Vendor
The Muppet Movie
Self (archive footage)
Remembering Gene Wilder
Self (archive footage)
Zeitgeist: Requiem
Sam Spade
Adiós Amigo
Self / Various
The Richard Pryor Special?
Self
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
Dynamite Chicken
Self
The Making of 'Superman III'
Self
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Wino
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
Self
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2
Otis Tucker
The Young Lawyers
Self (archive footage)
Afro Promo
Black and White Trypps Number Four
Self
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
The Richard Pryor Show Volume I
Juke
Juke and Opal
Self (archive footage)
And the Oscar Goes To...
Narrator / Wino / Bartender
The Three Muscatels
Himself
The Last Days of Richard Pryor
Lily
Jimmy the Gravedigger
Mad Dog Time
Self
Blacks and Jews
Daddy Rich
Car Wash
Self (archive footage)
The N Word
Self
The Lion Roars Again
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Self
Flip Wilson... Of Course
Stand-Up Comedian on TV (archive footage) (uncredited)
Me, Myself & Irene
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Huey P. Newton Story
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
79
Gender
Male
Birthday
1940-12-01
Place of Birth
Peoria, Illinois, USA
Also Known As
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor