Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor

b. 1940 — d. 2005 (aged 65) Peoria, Illinois, USA
Actor Writer

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

Filmography

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
🎞️
★ 5.8
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
2017 Writer
Jerry Before Seinfeld
🎞️
★ 7.0
Jerry Before Seinfeld
2017 Self
🎬
🎞️
★ 6.1
Pryor Offenses
2004 Writer
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
🎞️
★ 6.9
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
1999 Self
🎬
🎞️
★ 5.7
The Mark Twain Prize: Richard Pryor
1999 Self Writer
Blacks and Jews
🎞️
★ 7.2
Blacks and Jews
1997 Self
🎬
🎞️
BET's Comicview Awards
1994 Self
🎬
🎞️
★ 4.9
The Comedy Store's 20th Birthday
1992 Self
Another You
🎞️
★ 5.3
Another You
1991 Actor
Eddie Dash
The Three Muscatels
🎞️
★ 2.9
The Three Muscatels
1991 Actor
Wino
🎬
🎞️
★ 7.3
A Party for Richard Pryor
1991 Self
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
🎞️
★ 6.9
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
1989 Actor
Wally
Harlem Nights
🎞️
★ 6.1
Harlem Nights
1989 Actor
Sugar Ray
Moving
🎞️
★ 6.1
Moving
1988 Actor
Arlo Pear
Critical Condition
🎞️
★ 5.4
Critical Condition
1987 Actor
Kevin
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
🎞️
★ 6.3
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
1986 Actor Director Writer
Jo Jo Dancer
Brewster's Millions
🎞️
★ 6.5
Brewster's Millions
1985 Actor
Montgomery Brewster
Pryor's Place
📺
★ 7.0
Pryor's Place
1984 Actor
Richard Pryor
🎬
🎞️
Superstars of Comedy Salute the Improv
1984 Self
Superman III
🎞️
★ 5.0
Superman III
1983 Actor
Gus Gorman
Richard Pryor... Here and Now
🎞️
★ 7.2
Richard Pryor... Here and Now
1983 Self Director Writer
🎬
🎞️
★ 5.6
The 55th Annual Academy Awards
1983 Self
🎬
🎞️
★ 6.5
On Location: The Comedy Store's 11th Anniversary Show
1983 Self Writer
The Toy
🎞️
★ 5.8
The Toy
1982 Actor
Jack Brown
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
🎞️
★ 7.6
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
1982 Self Writer
Some Kind of Hero
🎞️
★ 5.8
Some Kind of Hero
1982 Actor
Eddie Keller
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter
🎞️
★ 7.9
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter
1982 Self
🎬
📺
Today's Black Woman
1982 Self
Bustin' Loose
🎞️
★ 6.1
Bustin' Loose
1981 Actor Writer
Joe Braxton
Stir Crazy
🎞️
★ 6.7
Stir Crazy
1980 Actor
Harry Monroe
Wholly Moses!
🎞️
★ 4.8
Wholly Moses!
1980 Actor
Pharaoh
In God We Trust (or Gimme That Prime Time Religion)
🎞️
★ 5.4
In God We Trust (or Gimme That Prime Time Religion)
1980 Actor
G.O.D.
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
🎞️
★ 8.0
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
1979 Self Writer
🎬
📺
★ 2.7
Hot Hero Sandwich
1979 Self
Laugh Factory
📺
★ 5.5
Laugh Factory
1979 Writer
🎬
🎞️
Hollywood's Greatest Wrap Party
1979 Self
The Wiz
🎞️
★ 5.7
The Wiz
1978 Actor
The Wiz
Blue Collar
🎞️
★ 7.5
Blue Collar
1978 Actor
Zeke
California Suite
🎞️
★ 6.2
California Suite
1978 Actor
Dr. Chauncey Gump
🎬
🎞️
Muhammed Ali/Sammy Davis, Jr./Marvin Gaye and Richard Pryor: Celebrity Boxing Match at the Olympic Auditorium
1978 Self
Greased Lightning
🎞️
★ 6.4
Greased Lightning
1977 Actor
Wendell Scott
Which Way Is Up?
🎞️
★ 6.2
Which Way Is Up?
1977 Actor
Rufus Jones
The Richard Pryor Show
📺
★ 7.6
The Richard Pryor Show
1977 Self Writer
The 49th Annual Academy Awards
🎞️
★ 5.9
The 49th Annual Academy Awards
1977 Self
The Richard Pryor Special?
🎞️
★ 7.4
The Richard Pryor Special?
1977 Self Writer
A Concert: Behind Prison Walls
🎞️
★ 7.3
A Concert: Behind Prison Walls
1977 Self
Silver Streak
🎞️
★ 6.9
Silver Streak
1976 Actor
Grover
Car Wash
🎞️
★ 6.2
Car Wash
1976 Actor
Daddy Rich
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
🎞️
★ 6.8
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
1976 Actor
Charlie Snow, All-Star (RF)
🎬
📺
★ 5.4
Dinah and Her New Best Friends
1976 Self
Adiós Amigo
🎞️
★ 4.2
Adiós Amigo
1975 Actor
Sam Spade
Sammy and Company
📺
★ 7.2
Sammy and Company
1975 Self
🎬
🎞️
The Flip Wilson Special
1975 Self
Blazing Saddles
🎞️
★ 7.7
Blazing Saddles
1974 Writer
Uptown Saturday Night
🎞️
★ 6.6
Uptown Saturday Night
1974 Actor
Sharp Eye Washington
Flip Wilson... Of Course
🎞️
★ 7.0
Flip Wilson... Of Course
1974 Self
The Mack
🎞️
★ 6.6
The Mack
1973 Actor
Slim
Hit!
🎞️
★ 6.1
Hit!
1973 Actor
Mike Willmer
Some Call It Loving
🎞️
★ 5.3
Some Call It Loving
1973 Actor
Jeff
Lily
🎞️
★ 7.4
Lily
1973 Actor Writer
Juke
🎬
🎞️
★ 8.2
The Lily Tomlin Show
1973 Actor Writer
Black Omnibus
📺
★ 9.4
Black Omnibus
1973 Self
Sanford and Son
📺
★ 7.9
Sanford and Son
1972 Writer
Lady Sings the Blues
🎞️
★ 7.0
Lady Sings the Blues
1972 Actor
Piano Man
The New Bill Cosby Show
📺
★ 5.8
The New Bill Cosby Show
1972 Self
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
🎞️
★ 6.4
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
1971 Self Writer
Dynamite Chicken
🎞️
★ 4.9
Dynamite Chicken
1971 Self
Creature Features
📺
★ 8.5
Creature Features
1971 Self
You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
🎞️
★ 5.1
You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
1971 Actor
Wino
Flip
📺
★ 7.4
Flip
1970 Self
Carter's Army
🎞️
★ 5.1
Carter's Army
1970 Actor
Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
🎞️
★ 7.4
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
1969 Actor Writer
Wild in the Streets
🎞️
★ 5.9
Wild in the Streets
1968 Actor
Stanley X
Operation: Entertainment
📺
Operation: Entertainment
1968 Self
The Busy Body
🎞️
★ 5.5
The Busy Body
1967 Actor
Whittaker
🎬
📺
The Roger Miller Show
1966 Self
🎬
📺
Let's Go
1964 Self
🎬
📺
On Broadway Tonight
1964 Self