Richard Pryor

Personal Info

Known For Actor

Gender Male

Birthday 1940-12-01

Deathday 2005-12-10 (65 years old)

Place of Birth Peoria, Illinois, USA

Also Known As Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor, Ρίτσαρντ Πραιορ, Річард Прайор

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

Actor

2024
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

2024
Remembering Gene Wilder

as Self (archive footage)

2024
Zeitgeist: Requiem

as Self (archive footage)

2024
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

as Self (archive footage)

2022
2022
Dark Side of Comedy

as Self (Archive Footage)

2021
Live at Mister Kelly's

as Self (archive footage)

2021
Superstar

as Self (archive footage)

2020
The Comedy Store

as Self (archive footage)

2019
I Am Richard Pryor

as Self - Actor and Comedian (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 Self (archive footage)

2007
2006
The N Word

as Self (archive footage)

2006
Legends

as G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited)

2003
1997
1997
Afro Promo

as Self (archive footage)

1997
Lost Highway

as Arnie

1996
Mad Dog Time

as Jimmy the Gravedigger

1994
But... Seriously

as Self (archive footage)

1992
1991
The Three Muscatels

as Narrator / Wino / Bartender

1991
Another You

as Eddie Dash

1989
Harlem Nights

as Sugar Ray

1989
See No Evil, Hear No Evil

as Wallace 'Wally' Karue

1988
Moving

as Arlo Pear

1987
Critical Condition

as Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery

1986
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

as Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego

1985
Brewster's Millions

as Montgomery Brewster

1984
Pryor's Place

as Richard Pryor

1983
Superman III

as August 'Gus' Gorman

1982
The Toy

as Jack Brown

1982
Some Kind of Hero

as Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal

1981
Bustin' Loose

as Joe Braxton

1980
Stir Crazy

as Harry Monroe

1980
In God We Tru$t

as G.O.D.

1980
Wholly Moses

as Pharaoh

1979
The Muppet Movie

as Balloon Vendor

1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

1978
California Suite

as Dr. Chauncey Gump

1978
The Wiz

as The Wiz

1978
Blue Collar

as Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown

1977
Which Way Is Up?

as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas

1977
Greased Lightning

as Wendell Scott

1977
The Richard Pryor Special?

as Self / Various

1976
Silver Streak

as Grover Muldoon

1976
Car Wash

as Daddy Rich

1975
Adiós Amigo

as Sam Spade

1975
Carter's Army

as Pvt. Jonathan Crunk

1974
Uptown Saturday Night

as Sharp Eye Washington

1974
Dinah!

as Self

1973
1973
1973
Hit!

as Mike Willmer

1973
The Mack

as Slim

1973
Wattstax

as Self

1972
1971
1970
The Phynx

as Richard Pryor

1969
The Young Lawyers

as Otis Tucker

1968
Wild in the Streets

as Stanley X

1967
The Busy Body

as Whittaker

1961
The Mike Douglas Show

as Self - Co-Host

1958

Creator

1984
Pryor's Place

as Creator

1977