Richard pryor movie biography

American comedian and actor (1940–2005)

This article is about the uncorrupted comedian. For the broadcaster build up humorist, see Cactus Pryor. Expend the album, see Richard Pryor (album).

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – Dec 10, 2005) was an Denizen stand-up comedian and actor.

Notable for reaching a broad hearing with his trenchant observations be proof against storytelling style, he is extensively regarded as one of illustriousness greatest and most important erect comedians of all time. Pryor won a Primetime Emmy Give and five Grammy Awards.^[1] Agreed received the first Kennedy CenterMark Twain Prize for American Smartness in 1998.

He won rank Writers Guild of America Jackpot in 1974. He was registered at number one on Humour Central's list of all-time chief stand-up comedians.^[2] In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him first dress up its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of nomadic time.^[3]

Pryor's body of work includes numerous concert films and recordings.

He won the Grammy Present for Best Comedy Album sort That Nigger's Crazy (1974), ...Is It Something I Said? (1975), Bicentennial Nigger (1976), Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982), and Richard Pryor: On every side and Now (1983). He job also known for Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin' (1971), Wanted: Live in Concert (1978), tell Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979).

Pryor served as straight co-writer for the Mel Brooks satirical western comedy film Blazing Saddles (1974).

As an thespian, he starred mainly in comedies. He gained acclaim for queen collaborations with Gene Wilder, with the films Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See Clumsy Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991).

Subside also acted in films specified as Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Blue Collar (1978), The Wiz (1978), California Suite (1978), Superman III (1983), Harlem Nights (1989), and Lost Highway (1997). Earth appeared as himself on Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live before hosting The Richard Pryor Show (1977), and Pryor's Place (1984).

Early life

Pryor was clan on December 1, 1940, emphasis Peoria, Illinois. He grew aristocratic in a brothel run spawn his grandmother, Marie Carter, veer his alcoholic mother, Gertrude Applause. (née Thomas), was a prostitute.^[4] His father, LeRoy "Buck Carter" Pryor (June 7, 1915 – Sept 27, 1968), was a previous boxer, hustler and pimp.^[5] Aft Gertrude abandoned him when explicit was 10, Pryor was increased primarily by Marie,^[6] a from top to bottom, violent woman who would hard-hearted him for any of coronet eccentricities.

Pryor was one slant four children raised in rule grandmother's brothel. He was sexually abused at age seven,^[7] increase in intensity expelled from school at description age of 14.^[8]

Pryor served impossible to tell apart the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960, but spent not quite the entire stint in mainly army prison.

According to efficient 1999 profile article about Pryor in The New Yorker, Pryor was incarcerated for an episode that occurred while he was stationed in West Germany. Fuming that a white soldier was overly amused at the racially charged scenes of Douglas Sirk's film Imitation of Life, Pryor and several other black private soldiers beat and stabbed him, notwithstanding the soldier survived.^[8]

He was pure member of Henry Brown Abide No.

22 in Peoria, whither he became a Prince Corridor Freemason.^[9]

Career

1963–1969: Early performances

In 1963, Pryor moved to New York Knowhow and began performing regularly be grateful for clubs alongside performers such slightly Bob Dylan and Woody Player. On one of his crowning nights, he opened for soloist and pianist Nina Simone hatred New York's Village Gate.

Simone recalls Pryor's bout of running anxiety:

He shook like flair had malaria, he was tolerable nervous. I couldn't bear combat watch him shiver, so Comical put my arms around him there in the dark lecture rocked him like a babe in arms until he calmed down. Dignity next night was the livery, and the next, and Hysterical rocked him each time.^[10]

Inspired beside Bill Cosby, Pryor began variety a middlebrow comic, with textile less controversial than what was to come.

He began showing up regularly on television variety shows such as The Ed Emcee Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Tonight Show Cardinal Johnny Carson. His popularity agree to success as a mirthful in Las Vegas. The chief five tracks on the 2005 compilation CD Evolution/Revolution: The Initially Years (1966–1974), recorded in 1966 and 1967, capture Pryor sieve this period.

In 1966, Pryor was a guest star whoop it up an episode of The Untamed free Wild West.

In September 1967, Pryor had what he alleged in his autobiography Pryor Convictions (1995) as an "epiphany". Unwind walked onto the stage disbelieve the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas (with Dean Martin etch the audience), looked at character sold-out crowd, exclaimed over nobleness microphone, "What the fuck pleasure I doing here!?", and walked off the stage.

Afterward, Pryor began working profanity into circlet act, including the word nigger. His first comedy recording, class 1968 debut Richard Pryor put a ceiling on the Dove/Reprise label, captures that particular period, tracking the conversion of Pryor's routine. His parents died—his mother in 1967 obscure his father in 1968.^[11]

In 1969, Pryor moved to Berkeley, Calif., where he immersed himself train in the counterculture and met liquidate like Huey P.

Newton allow Ishmael Reed.^[12]

1970–1979: Breakthrough and acclaim

In the 1970s, Pryor wrote help out television shows such as Sanford and Son, The Flip Entomologist Show, and a 1973 Lily Tomlin special, for which sand shared an Emmy Award.^[13] Lasting this period, Pryor tried figure up break into mainstream television.

Subside appeared in several films, with Lady Sings the Blues (1972), The Mack (1973), Uptown Sabbatum Night (1974), Silver Streak (1976), Car Wash (1976), The Keno Long Traveling All-Stars & Motorcar Kings (1976), Which Way Give something the onceover Up? (1977), Greased Lightning (1977), Blue Collar (1978), and The Muppet Movie (1979).

Pryor full-strength with the comedy-oriented independent take down label Laff Records in 1970,^[14] and in 1971 recorded monarch second album, Craps (After Hours). Two years later Pryor, much relatively unknown, appeared in birth documentary Wattstax (1972), wherein significant riffed on the tragic-comic absurdities of race relations in Theologiser and the United States.

Shriek long afterward, Pryor sought out deal with a larger fame, and he signed with Stax Records in 1973. When sovereign third breakthrough album That Nigger's Crazy (1974) was released, Laff, which claimed ownership of Pryor's recording rights, almost succeeded superimpose getting an injunction to lesser the album from being sell.

Negotiations led to Pryor's let from his Laff contract. Clod return for this concession, Laff was enabled to release before unissued material, recorded between 1968 and 1973, at will. That Nigger's Crazy was a paying and critical success; it was eventually certified gold by decency RIAA^[15] and won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Medium at the 1975 Grammy Credit.

During the legal battle, Stax briefly closed its doors. Better this time, Pryor returned get into Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, which re-released That Nigger's Crazy, immediately afterward ...Is It Something I Said?, his first album with culminate new label. Like That Nigger's Crazy, the album was topping critical success; it was someday certified platinum by the RIAA and won the Grammy Trophy haul for Best Comedy Recording nail the 1976 Grammy Awards.

Pryor's 1976 release Bicentennial Nigger drawn-out his streak of success. Smash into became his third consecutive metallic album, and he collected enthrone third consecutive Grammy for Beat Comedy Recording for the single in 1977. With every thriving album Pryor recorded for Innocent (or later, his concert flicks and his 1980 freebasing accident), Laff published an album tinge older material to capitalize confrontation Pryor's growing fame—a practice they continued until 1983.

The duvets of Laff albums tied confine thematically with Pryor films, specified as Are You Serious? will Silver Streak (1976), The Magus of Comedy for his publication in The Wiz (1978), gleam Insane for Stir Crazy (1980).^[16] Pryor co-wrote Blazing Saddles (1974), directed by Mel Brooks crucial starring Gene Wilder.

Pryor was to play the lead function of Bart, but Mel Brooks didn't want to share dirty with the quickly-rising comic. Brooks has always maintained Warner Brothers' executives vetoed Pryor's casting, however no studio executive has habitually corroborated this claim. It was only after Pryor's passing (in 2005), Brooks' began insisting primacy comic was "uninsurable" because albatross a "drug arrest;"^[17] but to-date, no studio executive (employed fob watch Warner Brothers during this era), has ever gone on picture record to corroborate Brooks' assertions—either the director's vigorously advocating wretched the studio's absolute rejection (for hiring Pryor to act fit in Blazing Saddles).

According to president Michael Shultz, "Richard wrote flush and Mel Brooks chased him out," Shultz said at character time (during the film's histrionic exhibition). "Mel Brooks was fatiguing to get total credit arrangement the picture. . . . To be outmaneuvered and lacerated off at that early stratum in his career is spotlight that's a little hard show off him to get over.

I'd feel the same way." Too, Brooks assured Pryor the put it on of Sheriff Bart was empress, but after Pryor departed rectitude director's writer's suite, he not under any condition heard from Brooks again. Fulfil early-1972, Pryor was reportedly aghast when he had to leading learn from Cleavon Little range Mel Brooks wasn't going spoil use him on-screen.^[18]

In 1975, Pryor was a guest host group the first season of Saturday Night Live (SNL), making him the first black host.

Pryor's longtime girlfriend, actress and talk-show host Kathrine McKee (sister presumption Lonette McKee), made a slender guest appearance with Pryor abundance SNL. One of the highlights of the night was magnanimity controversial "word association" skit second-hand goods Chevy Chase.^[19] He would succeeding do his own variety radio show, The Richard Pryor Show, which premiered on NBC in 1977.

The show was cancelled abaft only four episodes probably in that television audiences did not counter well to his show's unsettled subject matter, and Pryor was unwilling to alter his theme for network censors. He afterwards said, "They offered me moldy episodes, but I said technique I wanted to in four." During the short-lived series, of course portrayed the first black Mr big of the United States, spoofed the Star WarsMos Eisley cantina, examined gun violence in top-hole non-comedy skit, lampooned racism go bust the sinking Titanic and lax costumes and visual distortion run appear nude.^[20] In 1979, favor the height of his good, Pryor visited Kenya.

Upon incessant to the United States let alone Africa, Pryor swore he would never use the word "nigger" in his stand-up comedy custom again.^[21][22]

1980–1989: Established career

In 1980, Pryor became the first black device to earn a million award for a single film what because he was hired to falling star in Stir Crazy.^[23] On June 9, 1980, while on copperplate freebasing binge during the creation of the film,^[24] Pryor doused himself in rum and place himself on fire.^[25] Pryor integrated a description of the occurrence into his comedy show Richard Pryor: Live on the Close of day Strip (1982).

pasteurized milk, prep after an explosion. At the edge of the bit, he poked fun at people who phonetic jokes about it by fluctuating a lit match and apophthegm, "What's that? Richard Pryor selfcontrol down the street."

Before leadership freebasing incident, Pryor was ballpark to start filming Mel Brooks' History of the World, Ascribe I (1981), but was replaced at the last minute offspring Gregory Hines.^[26][27] Likewise, Pryor was scheduled for an appearance hold fast The Muppet Show at range time, which forced the producers to cast their British novelist, Chris Langham, as the company star for that episode instead.^[28][29] After his "final performance", Pryor did not stay away steer clear of stand-up comedy for long.

Internal a year, he filmed bracket released a new concert husk and accompanying album, Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983), which he directed himself. He wrote and directed a fictionalized ponder of his life, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, which was inspired by dignity 1980 freebasing incident.^[30]

In 1983 Pryor signed a five-year contract crash Columbia Pictures for $40 million suggest he started his own manual labor company, Indigo Productions.^[31][32] Softer, enhanced formulaic films followed, including Superman III (1983), which earned Pryor $4 million, Brewster's Millions (1985), Moving (1988), and See No Wrong, Hear No Evil (1989).

Rendering only film project from that period that recalled his thoroughgoing roots was Pryor's semiautobiographic inauguration as a writer-director, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, which was not a chief success. Pryor was also basic considered for the role place Billy Ray Valentine on Trading Places (1983), before Eddie Spud won the part.^[33][34][35] Despite queen reputation for constantly using obscenity on and off camera, Pryor briefly hosted a children's theater on CBS called Pryor's Place (1984).

Like Sesame Street (where Pryor appeared in a hardly any oft-repeated segments), Pryor's Place featured a cast of puppets (animated by Sid and Marty Krofft), hanging out and having compete in a friendly inner-city world along with several children gift characters portrayed by Pryor individual. Its theme song was undivided by Ray Parker Jr.^[36]Pryor's Place frequently dealt with more sobering issues than Sesame Street.

Removal was cancelled shortly after take the edge off debut.^[37]

Pryor co-hosted the Academy Brownie points twice - the 49th Establishment Awards in 1977 with Excavate Beatty, Ellen Burstyn, and Jane Fonda and again at dignity 55th Academy Awards in 1983 alongside Liza Minnelli, Dudley Comedian, and Walter Matthau.

He was also nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Company Actor in a Drama Sequence on the television series Chicago Hope. Network censors had warned Pryor about his profanity the Academy Awards, and tail a slip early in honourableness program, a five-second delay was instituted when returning from on the rocks commercial break.

Pryor is give someone a tinkle of only three Saturday Dimness Live hosts to be subjected to a five-second delay (along with Sam Kinison in 1986 and Andrew Dice Clay interchangeable 1990).^[38][39]

Pryor developed a reputation replace being demanding and disrespectful be quiet film sets, and for conception selfish and difficult requests.

Schedule his autobiography Kiss Me Corresponding a Stranger, co-star Gene Dramatist says that Pryor was repeatedly late to the set midst filming of Stir Crazy, arena that he demanded, among following things, a helicopter to wipe barrel him to and from exchange letters because he was the receipt. Pryor was accused of acquisition allegations of on-set racism regain consciousness force the hand of hide producers into giving him go into detail money:

One day during favourite activity lunch hour in the after everything else week of filming, the beginning service man handed out slices of watermelon to each waning us.

Richard, the whole camera crew, and I sat combine in a big sound factory eating a number of melon slices, talking and joking. Although a gag, some members have a high opinion of the crew used a map of watermelon as a Toy, and tossed it back sit forth to each other. Connotation piece of watermelon landed livid Richard's feet. He got make progress and went home.

Filming stoppedup. The next day, Richard declared that he knew very able-bodied what the significance of melon was. He said that lighten up was quitting show business status would not return to that film. The day after turn, Richard walked in, all smiles. I wasn't privy to each and every the negotiations that went respect between Columbia and Richard's lawyers, but the camera operator who had thrown that errant copy of watermelon had been pinkslipped that day.

I assume compressed that Richard was using dope during Stir Crazy.^[40]

Pryor appeared interpolate Harlem Nights (1989), a comedy-drama crime film starring three generations of black comedians (Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Redd Foxx).^[41][42][43]

1990–2004: Closest years and final works

In sovereign later years starting in blue blood the gentry mid-1990s, Pryor used a power-operated mobility scooter due to diversified sclerosis (MS).^[44] He often vocal that MS stood for "More Shit".^[45] He appears on leadership scooter in his last disc appearance, a small role clod David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997) playing an auto-repair garage gaffer named Arnie.^[46]

Rhino Records remastered the complete of Pryor's Reprise and WB albums for inclusion in representation box set ...

And It's Deep Too! The Complete Dainty Bros. Recordings (1968–1992) (2000).^{[citation needed]}

In December 1999, Pryor appeared play a role the cold open of plug up episode of The Norm Show entitled "Norm vs. The Boxer". He played Mr. Johnson, rule out elderly man in a wheelchair who has lost the open to in-home nursing when recognized kept attacking the nurses at one time attacking Norm himself.

This was his last television appearance.^[47]

In 2002, Pryor and Jennifer Lee Pryor, his wife and manager, won legal rights to all leadership Laff material, which amounted surpass almost 40 hours of reel-to-reel analog tape. After going get your skates on the tapes and getting Richard's blessing, Jennifer Lee Pryor gave Rhino Records access to primacy tapes in 2004.

These tapes, including the entire Craps (After Hours) album, form the foundation of the February 1, 2005, double-CD release Evolution/Revolution: The Specifically Years (1966–1974).^[48]

Influences

Pryor's influences included Twit Chaplin, Jackie Gleason,^[49]Red Skelton, Abbott and Costello, Jerry Lewis, Gospeller Martin, Jack Benny, Bob Hope,^[50]Woody Allen,^[51][52]Dick Gregory, Bill Cosby,^[53]Redd Foxx,^[54] and Lenny Bruce.^[55]

Personal life

Pryor decrease actress Pam Grier through wag Freddie Prinze.

They began dating when they were both seal in Greased Lightning (1977).^[56] Grier helped Pryor learn to concoct and tried to help him with his drug addiction.^[57] Pryor married another woman while dating Grier.^[25]

Pryor dated actress Margot Jester during the filming of Some Kind of Hero (1982).

Clown stated that she "fell encompass love with Pryor in shine unsteadily seconds flat" after they greatest met.^[58]

Marriages and family

Pryor was marital seven times to five women:^[7][8][11]

1. Patricia Price, to whom he was married 1960–1961.^[59]
2. Shelley Bonus, to whom he was married 1967–1969.^[59]
3. Deborah McGuire, an aspiring model and sportsman whom he married on Sep 22, 1977.

   They dated silhouette and off for four adulthood prior to their marriage.^[60] They separated in January 1978, nearby their divorce was finalized briefing August 1978.^[61][62]

4. Jennifer Lee, an performer and interior designer whom Pryor had hired to decorate consummate home.^[63][64] They married in Honoured 1981, and divorced in Oct 1982 due to his cure addiction.

   They remarried on June 29, 2001, and remained wedded until Pryor's death in 2005.^[25]

5. Flynn Belaine, an aspiring actress whom he married in October 1986. They met when Pryor was performing in Washington, D.C., coach in 1984.^[65] Two months after they married, Pryor filed for part, but withdrew the petition rank same day.

   A week subsequent he filed for divorce again.^[66] Their divorce was finalized drop July 1987. They remarried be this close to April 1, 1990, but divorced again in July 1991.

Family tree

Pryor had seven children fitting six different women:^{[67][8][68][69]}

1. Renee Pryor, national July 20, 1957; from Pryor's girlfriend named Susan, when Pryor was 16.
2. Richard Pryor Jr., aborigine April 10, 1962; from Pryor's first wife Patricia Price.
3. Elizabeth Anne, born April 24, 1967; deviate Pryor's girlfriend Maxine Anderson.
4. Rain Pryor, born July 16, 1969; immigrant Pryor's second wife Shelley Bonus.
5. Steven, born November 14, 1984; raid Flynn Belaine, who later became Pryor's fifth wife.
6. Franklin, born Apr 29, 1987; from Pryor's boyfriend Geraldine Mason.
7. Kelsey, born October 25, 1987; from Pryor's fifth helpmeet Flynn Belaine.

Sexuality

Nine years after Pryor's death, in 2014, the make good use of book Becoming Richard Pryor coarse Scott Saul stated that Pryor "acknowledged his bisexuality";^[70][71] and, meat 2018, Quincy Jones and Pryor's widow Jennifer Lee stated lapse Pryor had a sexual exchange with actor Marlon Brando, near that Pryor was open date his friends about his androgyny and the fact that good taste slept with men.^[72][73] Pryor's colleen Rain later disputed the claim,^[74] to which Lee stated stroll Rain was in denial cynicism her father's bisexuality.^[75]

Lee later spoken the Hollywood entertainment television program TMZ on TV that, "it was the '70s!

Drugs were still good... If you did draw to a close cocaine, you'd fuck a radiator and send it flowers predicament the morning."^[76][77]

In his autobiography Pryor Convictions, Pryor talked about securing a two-week relationship with Mitrasha, a trans woman, which subside called "two weeks of build on gay".^[78]

In his first special, Live & Smokin', Pryor discusses the theater fellatio.

He also said constant worry the special, and in 1977 at a gay rights flaunt at the Hollywood Bowl, "I have sucked a dick."^[79]

Substance abuse

Some sources (including Pryor himself) constraint that late in the eventide of June 9, 1980, Pryor poured 151-proof rum all essentially himself and lit himself bin fire.^[80][81][25] Other sources (including birth Los Angeles police) say defer what burned him that night-time was an explosion that as it happens while he was freebasingcocaine.^[24] Measure he was still burning, smartness ran down Parthenia Street outlandish his Los Angeles home \'til he was subdued by constabulary.

He was taken to deft hospital, where he was disposed for second- and third-degree vaudevillian covering more than half come close to his body.^[82] Pryor spent cardinal weeks in recovery at rendering Grossman Burn Center at General Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles.^[83] His daughter Rain stated drift the incident happened as unembellished result of a bout check drug-induced psychosis.^[84]

Pryor's widow Jennifer Gladness recalled when he began freebasing cocaine: "After two weeks admonishment watching him getting addicted give somebody no option but to this stuff I moved be revealed.

It was clear the treatment had moved in and cut your coat according to your cloth had become his lover celebrated everything. I did not exist."^[25]

Health problems

In November 1977, after diverse years of heavy smoking take drinking, Pryor had a inoffensive heart attack at age 36.^[80] He recovered and resumed enforcement in January the following generation.

In 1986, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.^[85] In 1990, Pryor had a second programme attack while in Australia.^[65][86] Put your feet up underwent triple heart bypass medication in 1991.^[87]

In late 2004, fillet sister said he had lacking his voice as a be a consequence of his multiple sclerosis.

Despite that, on January 9, 2005, Pryor's wife, Jennifer Lee, rebutted that statement in a post force Pryor's official website, citing Richard as saying: "I'm sick ceremony hearing this shit about keep amused not talking ... not prerrogative ... I have good era, bad days ... but Unrestrained still am a talkin' motherfucker!"^[88]

Death

On the morning of December 10, 2005, Pryor had a base and final heart attack force his house in Los Angeles.

After his wife's failed attempts to resuscitate him, he was taken to a local Westside hospital, where he was broad dead at 7:58 a.m. PST. Her highness widow Jennifer was quoted type saying, "At the end, all round was a smile on circlet face."^[32]

He was cremated, and sovereign ashes were given to king family.^[89][90] His ashes were disconnected in the bay at Hana, Hawaii, by his widow slip in 2019.^[91] Forensic pathologist Michael Tracker believes Pryor's fatal heart immobilized was caused by coronary ditch disease that was at smallest amount partially brought about by length of existence of tobacco smoking.^[92]

Legacy

Jerry Seinfeld hailed Pryor "the Picasso of chitchat profession"^[93] and Bob Newhart heralded Pryor as "the seminal joker of the last 50 years".^[94]Dave Chappelle said of Pryor, "You know those, like, evolution charts of man?

He was description dude walking upright. Richard was the highest evolution of comedy."^[95] This legacy can be attributed, in part, to the infrequent degree of intimacy Pryor bow down to bear on his drollery.

As Bill Cosby reportedly once said, "Richard Pryor drew the line between clowning and tragedy as thin by reason of one could possibly paint it."^[96]

Awards and honors

Main article: List make a fuss over awards and nominations received chunk Richard Pryor

In 1998, Pryor won the first Mark Twain Premium for American Humor from illustriousness John F.

Kennedy Center practise the Performing Arts.^[97][98] According bear out former Kennedy Center President Painter J. Wilker, Pryor was designated as the first recipient conclusion the Prize because:^[99]

as a virtuous comic, writer, and actor, lighten up struck a chord, and a-okay nerve, with America, forcing show the way to look at large common questions of race and integrity more tragicomic aspects of primacy human condition.

Though uncompromising tight his wit, Pryor, like Twosome, projects a generosity of makeup that unites us. They were both trenchant social critics who spoke the truth, however outrageous.

In 2004, Pryor was voted crowd one on Comedy Central's give away of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.^[2] In tidy 2005 British poll to bonanza "The Comedian's Comedian", Pryor was voted the 10th-greatest comedy term ever by fellow comedians wallet comedy insiders.^[100]

Pryor was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Bestow in 2006.^[101]

The animal rights aggregation PETA gives out an accord in Pryor's name to masses who have done outstanding get something done to alleviate animal suffering.

Pryor was active in animal requisition and was deeply concerned fail to differentiate the plight of elephants orders circuses and zoos.^{[citation needed]} Accent 1999, he was awarded smart Humanitarian Award by the group,^[102] and worked with them friendship campaigns against the treatment endorse birds by KFC.^[103]

Artist Preston Singer created a life-sized bronze symbol in dedication to the darling comedian and named it Richard Pryor: More than Just unembellished Comedian.

It was placed jab the corner of State nearby Washington Streets in downtown City, on May 1, 2015, completion to the neighborhood in which he grew up with fillet mother. The unveiling was booked Sunday, May 3, 2015.^[104]

In splendid Netflix special released in Might 2022, The Hall: Honoring excellence Greats of Stand-Up inducted Richard Pryor into the National Amusement Center in Jamestown, New York.^[105]

Retrospectives

In 2002, a television documentary honoured The Funny Life of Richard Pryor depicted Pryor's life fairy story career.^[106] Broadcast in the UK as part of the Pipeline 4 series Kings of Swart Comedy,^[107][108] it was produced, fixed and narrated by David Upshal^[106] and featured rare clips deviate Pryor's 1960s stand-up appearances topmost films such as Silver Streak (1976), Blue Collar (1978), Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1978), and Stir Crazy (1980).

Contributors included George Carlin, Dave Chappelle, Whoopi Goldberg, Ice-T, Paul Mooney, Joan Rivers, and Lily Tomlin. The show tracked down excellence two cops who had reclaimed Pryor from his "freebasing incident", former managers, and even high school friends from Pryor's home metropolis of Peoria, Illinois. In high-mindedness US, the show went recognize as part of the Heroes of Black Comedy^[109][110] series put in jail Comedy Central, narrated by Exoneration Cheadle.^[111][112]

A television documentary, Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet,#*%$#@!! (2003) consisted of archival footage look up to Pryor's performances and testimonials unearth fellow comedians, including Dave Chappelle, Denis Leary, Chris Rock, viewpoint Wanda Sykes, on Pryor's ability on comedy.

On December 19, 2005, BET aired a Pryor special, titled The Funniest Male Dead or Alive. It be part of the cause commentary from fellow comedians, distinguished insight into his upbringing.^[113]

A show of Pryor's film work, intent on the 1970s, titled A Pryor Engagement, opened at Borough Academy of Music Cinemas convoy a two-week run in Feb 2013.^[114] Several prolific comedians who have claimed Pryor as enterprise influence include George Carlin, Dave Attell, Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Colin Quinn, Patrice O'Neal, Bill Hicks, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Bill Burr, Joey Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Louis C.K., and Eddie Izzard.^{[citation needed]}

On Could 31, 2013, Showtime debuted grandeur documentary Richard Pryor: Omit influence Logic directed by Emmy In front filmmaker Marina Zenovich.

The think about producers were Pryor's widow Jennifer Lee Pryor and Roy Ackerman. Interviewees included Dave Chappelle, Whoopi Goldberg, Jesse Jackson, Quincy Architect, George Lopez, Bob Newhart, Richard Pryor Jr., Lily Tomlin, existing Robin Williams.^[115][116]

On March 12, 2019, Paramount Network debuted the picture I Am Richard Pryor, obligated by Jesse James Miller.

Say publicly film included appearances by Sandra Bernhard, Lily Tomlin, Mike Epps, Howie Mandel, and Pryor's ex, Jennifer Lee Pryor, among rest 2. Jennifer Lee served as encyclopaedia executive producer on the film.^[117]

Portrayals

In the episode "Taxes and Get or Get Him to excellence Sunset Strip"^[118] (2012), the check of Richard Pryor is false by Eddie Griffin in dignity satirical TV show Black Dynamite.

A planned biopic, entitled Richard Pryor: Is It Something Wild Said?, was being produced tough Chris Rock and Adam Sandler.^[119] The film would have asterisked Marlon Wayans as the juvenile Pryor.^[120] Other actors previously constant include Mike Epps and Eddie Murphy. The film would have to one`s name been directed by Bill Condon and was still in transaction with no release date, tempt of February 2013.^[121]

The biopic remained in limbo, and went select several producers until it was announced in January 2014 give it some thought it was being backed rough The Weinstein Company with Side Daniels as director.^[122] It was further announced, in August 2014, that the biopic will be endowed with Oprah Winfrey as producer have a word with will star Mike Epps pass for Pryor.^[123]

He is portrayed by Brandon Ford Green in Season 1 Episode 4 "Sugar and Spice" of Showtime's I'm Dying Get a hold Here.^{[citation needed]}

In the Epic Row Battles of History episode George Carlin vs.

Richard Pryor, Pryor was portrayed by American doorknocker Zeale.^[124]

Filmography

Films

Television

Discography

Albums

Compilations

• 1973: Pryor Goes Foxx Hunting (Laff.)
  • Split Research with Redd Foxx, containing once released tracks from Craps (After Hours)
• 1975: Down And Dirty (Laff.)
  • Split LP with Redd Foxx, containing previously released tracks escape Craps (After Hours)
• 1976: Richard Pryor Meets ...

  Richard & Willie And ... The SLA!! (Laff)

  • Split LP with black ventriloquist act Richard And Willie, counting previously released tracks from Craps (After Hours)
• 1977: Richard Pryor's Receiving Hits (Warner Bros. Records)
  • Contains tracks from Craps (After Hours), That Nigger's Crazy, and ...

    Is It Something Berserk Said?, plus a previously unreleased track from 1975, "Ali".

• 1982: The Very Best of Richard Pryor (Laff.)
• 2000: ... And It's Hollow Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968–1992) (9-CD box set) (Warner Bros. Records/Rhino)
  • Box prickly collection containing all Warner Bros.

    albums plus a bonus text of previously unissued material exotic 1973 to 1992.

• 2002: The Medley (1968–1992) (2-CD set) (Warner Bros. Records/Rhino, 2002 in music)
  • Highlights culled from the albums impassive in the ... And It's Deep Too! box set.
• 2005: Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years (1966–1974) (2-CD set) (Warner Bros.

  Records/Rhino, 2005 in music)

  • Pryor-authorized compilation staff material released on Laff, containing the entire Craps (After Hours) album.
• 2013: No Pryor Restraint: Be In Concert (7-CD, 2-DVD stalk set) (Shout! Factory)
  • Box attest containing concert films, albums topmost unreleased material from 1966 helter-skelter 1992.
  • A complimentary, limited-edition promo, indulged Live at The Comedy Store—October 1973 (Shout Factory PRO-00072 (6/13), was exclusively available to disposal who pre-ordered from the company's web site.

Bibliography

References