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Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor

Birthday: 1940-12-01 | Place of Birth: Peoria, Illinois, USA

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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2022
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up

as    Self (archive footage)

2014
Richard Pryor: Icon

as    Self (archive footage)

2013
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

as    Self (archive footage)

2003
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!

as    Self (archive footage)

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

1983
Superman III

as    August "Gus" Gorman

1982
Some Kind of Hero

as    Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal

1982
The Toy

as    Jack Brown

1981
Bustin' Loose

as    Joe Braxton

1980
Stir Crazy

as    Harry Monroe

1978
California Suite

as    Dr. Chauncey Gump

1978
Blue Collar

as    Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown

1978
The Wiz

as    The Wiz

1977
The Richard Pryor Show

as    Host

1977
Greased Lightning

as    Wendell Scott

1976
Silver Streak

as    Grover Muldoon

1975
Adiós Amigo

as    Sam Spade

1973
Hit!

as    Mike Willmer

1973
The Mack

as    Slim