Richard Pryor
Born: 1940-12-01 in Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Died: 2005-12-10
Known For: Acting
Biography
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) 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.
Filmography
2025
- Breakdown: 1975 as Self (archive footage)
- John Candy: I Like Me as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not as Self (archive footage)
- Saturday Night Live: 50th Anniversary Special as Self (archive footage)
2024
- Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood Black as Self (archive footage)
- Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Group Therapy as Self (archive footage)
- Remembering Gene Wilder as Self (archive footage)
- Zeitgeist: Requiem as Self (archive footage)
2022
- Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank ... (Original Film Writer)
- Dark Side of Comedy as Self (Archive Footage)
- The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up as Self (archive footage)
2021
- Superstar as Self (archive footage)
2020
- The Comedy Store as Self (archive footage)
- The Last Days of Richard Pryor as Himself
2019
- I Am Richard Pryor as Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
2014
- Richard Pryor: Icon as Self (archive footage)
2013
- Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic as Self (archive footage)
- Mel Brooks: Make a Noise as Self (archive footage)
2012
- I Am as Self
2007
- Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s as Self (archive footage)
2006
- Legends as G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The N Word as Self (archive footage)
2003
- 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment as Self (archive footage)
- Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! as Self (archive footage)
2001
- A Huey P. Newton Story as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1999
1997
- Lost Highway as Arnie
- Afro Promo as Self (archive footage)
- Blacks and Jews as Self
1996
- Mad Dog Time as Jimmy the Gravedigger
1994
- Chicago Hope as Joe Springer
- But... Seriously as Self (archive footage)
1992
- Martin as Richard Pryor
1991
- Another You as Eddie Dash
- The Three Muscatels as Narrator / Wino / Bartender
1990
1989
- Harlem Nights as Sugar Ray
- See No Evil, Hear No Evil as Wallace 'Wally' Karue
1988
- Moving as Arlo Pear
1987
- Critical Condition as Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
1986
- Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling as Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
- TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines as Self
1985
- Brewster's Millions as Montgomery Brewster
- The Making of 'Superman III' as Self
1984
- Pryor's Place as Richard Pryor
1983
- Superman III as August 'Gus' Gorman
- Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever as Self
- Richard Pryor: Here and Now as Self
1982
- The Toy as Jack Brown
- Some Kind of Hero as Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
- Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip as Self
1981
- Bustin' Loose as Joe Braxton
1980
- Stir Crazy as Harry Monroe
- Wholly Moses as Pharaoh
- In God We Tru$t as G.O.D.
1979
- The Muppet Movie as Balloon Vendor
- A Walking Tour of Sesame Street as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Richard Pryor: Live in Concert as Self
1978
- The Wiz as The Wiz
- California Suite as Dr. Chauncey Gump
- Blue Collar as Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
1977
- The Richard Pryor Show as Host
- Greased Lightning as Wendell Scott
- Which Way Is Up? as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
- The Richard Pryor Special? as Self / Various
- The Richard Pryor show Volume 2 as Self
1976
- Silver Streak as Grover Muldoon
- Car Wash as Daddy Rich
- The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings as Charlie Snow
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- Carter's Army as Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
- Adiós Amigo as Sam Spade
- The Lion Roars Again as Self
1974
- Dinah! as Self
- Blazing Saddles ... (Screenplay)
- Uptown Saturday Night as Sharp Eye Washington
- Flip Wilson... Of Course as Self
1973
- The Mack as Slim
- Hit! as Mike Willmer
- Wattstax as Self
- Some Call It Loving as Jeff
- Lily
- Juke and Opal as Juke
1972
- The Midnight Special as Self
- Lady Sings the Blues as Piano Man
1971
1970
- The Partridge Family as A.E. Simon
- The Flip Wilson Show as Self
- The Young Lawyers
- The Phynx as Richard Pryor
1969
- The Young Lawyers as Otis Tucker
- Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
1968
- Wild in the Streets as Stanley X
1967
- The Busy Body as Whittaker
1962
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show as Self
1961
- The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Co-Host
1958
- Kraft Music Hall as Self
1948
- The Ed Sullivan Show as Self