Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor in 1986
Born	December 1, 1940(1940-12-01) Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Died	December 10, 2005 (aged 65) Encino, California, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up comedian, film, television
Nationality	American
Years active	1963–1997
Genres	Satire, Observational comedy, Black comedy, Improvisational comedy, Character comedy
Subject(s)	racism, race relations, American politics, African-American culture, human sexuality, self-deprecation, everyday life, recreational drug use
Influences	Lenny Bruce, Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory, Redd Foxx, Paul Mooney, George Carlin
Influenced	George Carlin,[1] Dave Chappelle,[2] Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, Eddie Murphy, Dean Obeidallah, Patton Oswalt, Chris Rock, Robin Williams, George Lopez, Dane Cook, Lewis Black
Notable works and roles	That Nigger's Crazy Bicentennial Nigger Himself in Richard Pryor: Live in Concert and Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip Zeke Brown in Blue Collar Harry Monroe in Stir Crazy Gus Gorman in Superman III
Website	RichardPryor.com
Emmy Awards
Best Writing in Variety or Music 1974 Lily
Grammy Awards
Best Comedy Album 1975 That Nigger's Crazy 1976 ...Is It Something I Said? 1977 Bicentennial Nigger 1982 Rev. Du Rite 1983 Live on the Sunset Strip
American Comedy Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy 1993

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American comedian, actor, and writer. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (565x695, 217 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Richard Pryor ... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... : See how it plays in Peoria United States Illinois Peoria 46. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Encino is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles, California located in the San Fernando Valley. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Look up stand up in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... In English usage, nationality is the legal relationship between a person and a country. ... Comedy may be divided into multiple genres based on the source of humour, the method of delivery, and the context in which it is delivered. ... 1867 edition of Punch, a ground-breaking British magazine of popular humour, including a good deal of satire of the contemporary social and political scene. ... Observational comedy is a brand of humor based on making remarks about various facets of daily life. ... This article is about a tone of comedy. ... Improvisational comedy (also called improv) is comedy that is performed with a little to no predetermination of subject matter and structure. ... Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Gay bashing Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial... Race relations is the area of sociology that studies the social, political, and economic relations between races at all different levels of society. ... The Federal Government of the United States was established by the United States politics is dominated by the two major parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. ... African-Americans affiliate with subcultures of all kinds; race is not itself an absolute determinant of ones culture. ... This article is about human sexual perceptions. ... Self-deprecation is a form of humour in which a comedian makes jokes about himself, his shortcomings, or his culture. ... Everyday life is the sum total of every aspect of common human life as it is routinely lived. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Lenny Bruce (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966), born Leonard Alfred Schneider, was a controversial American stand-up comedian, writer, social critic and satirist of the 1950s and 1960s. ... William Henry Bill Cosby, Jr. ... Dick Gregory (1964) Richard Dick Claxton Gregory, (born October 12, 1932) is an African American comedian, social activist, writer, entrepreneur, and nutritionist. ... Redd Foxx (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), born John Elroy Sanford,[1] was an American comedian best known for his starring role on the television sitcom Sanford and Son. ... Paul Mooney (born in Louisiana in 1940, USA) is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor. ... George Denis Patrick Carlin[15] (born May 12, 1937) is a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. ... George Denis Patrick Carlin[15] (born May 12, 1937) is a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. ... David Khari Webber Chappelle (born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedian, satirist and actor. ... Whoopi Goldberg (born November 13, 1955) is an American actress, comedian, radio presenter, host, and author. ... This Section does not cite any references or sources. ... A caricature of Sam Kinison exhibiting the aggression and anger of his stand-up comedy acts. ... For other uses, see Eddie Murphy (disambiguation). ... Dean Obeidallah is an Arab/Italian-American comedian, who was born in Lodi, New Jersey. ... Patton Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American actor, writer, voiceover artist, and professional comedian. ... Christopher Julius Rock III[5] (born February 7, 1965)[6][7] is an Emmy Award winning American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. ... For other persons named Robin Williams, see Robin Williams (disambiguation). ... George C. Lopez (born April 23, 1961) is an American comedian and actor. ... Dane Jeffrey Cook (born March 18, 1972) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and musician. ... Lewis Niles Black (born August 30, 1948) is a Grammy Award-winning American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, and actor. ... That Niggers Crazy is the third official album release by Richard Pryor. ... Bicentenntial Nigger is a comedy album by the late comedian Richard Pryor. ... Blue Collar is the 1978 directorial debut of screenwriter Paul Schrader. ... DVD cover Stir Crazy is a 1980 comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor as two men framed for a bank robbery and each ending up with a 125 year prison sentence. ... The computer whiz Gus Gorman. ... Superman III (originally titled Superman vs. ... An Emmy Award. ... Lily Tomlin (born Mary Jean Tomlin on September 1, 1939), is an Academy Award-nominated American actress and comedian. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album was awarded from 1959 to 1993 and in 2004. ... That Niggers Crazy is the third official album release by Richard Pryor. ... The Fourth official album release by Richard Pryor. ... Bicentenntial Nigger is a comedy album by the late comedian Richard Pryor. ... The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually since 1987 to honor performances and performers in the field of comedy. ... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the documentary about Jerry Seinfeld, see Comedian (film). ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... A writer is anyone who creates a written work, although the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ...

Pryor was a storyteller known for unflinching examinations of racism and customs in modern life, and was well-known for his frequent use of colorful language, vulgarities, and racial epithets such as "nigger", "honky," "cracker," and "motherfucker." He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations, although public opinion of his act was often divided. He is commonly regarded as the most important stand up comedian of his time: Jerry Seinfeld called Pryor "The Picasso of our profession";^[3] Whoopi Goldberg cited him as her biggest influence, stating "The major influence was Richard - I want to say those things he's saying." Bob Newhart has called Pryor "the seminal comedian of the last 50 years." ^[4] Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Gay bashing Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial... The following is a list of ethnic slurs, also known as ethnophaulisms, that are, or have been, used to refer to members of a given ethnicity (or, in some cases, nationality, region, or religion) in a derogatory or pejorative manner. ... // Nigger is a racial slur used to refer to dark-skinned people, especially those of African ancestry. ... For other uses, see Honky (disambiguation). ... White cracker or more often just cracker was originally a pejorative term for a white person, mainly used in the Southern United States. ... Motherfucker (also existing in countless contracted forms e. ... Richard Pryor hits the money line A stand-up comedian or stand-up comic is someone that performs in comedy clubs, usually reciting a fast paced succession of amusing stories, short jokes and one-liners, typically called a monologue. ... This article is about the comedian. ... A young Pablo Picasso Pablo Picasso, formally Pablo Ruiz Picasso, (October 25, 1881 - April 8, 1973) was one of the recognized masters of 20th century art. ... Whoopi Goldberg (born November 13, 1955) is an American actress, comedian, radio presenter, host, and author. ... George Robert Bob Newhart (born September 5, 1929 in Oak Park, Illinois) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. ...

His body of work includes such concert movies and recordings as Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' (1971), That Nigger's Crazy (1974), ...Is It Something I Said? (1975), Bicentennial Nigger (1976), Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979), Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982) and Richard Pryor: Here and Now. He also starred in numerous films as an actor, usually in comedies such as Silver Streak, but occasionally in dramatic roles, such as Paul Schrader's film Blue Collar and epic roles like Gus Gorman from Superman III (1983). He also collaborated on many projects with actor Gene Wilder. He won an Emmy Award in 1973, and five Grammy Awards in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1982. In 1974, he also won two American Academy of Humor awards and the Writers Guild of America Award. In 2004, Pryor was voted the greatest stand-up act of all time by Comedy Central. That Niggers Crazy is the third official album release by Richard Pryor. ... The Fourth official album release by Richard Pryor. ... Bicentenntial Nigger is a comedy album by the late comedian Richard Pryor. ... Silver Streak is a 1976 comedy film about murder on a Los Angeles to Chicago train trip. ... Paul Joseph Schrader (born July 22, 1946 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American screenwriter and film director. ... Blue Collar is the 1978 directorial debut of screenwriter Paul Schrader. ... Superman III (originally titled Superman vs. ... // February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Lets Spend the Night Together opens in New York North Americas Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Tootsie Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy WarGames, starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy Superman III Flashdance Staying Alive Octopussy Mr. ... Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933) is an American actor who is best known for his role as Willy Wonka, his collaborations with Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein, and his four movies with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, See No Evil... An Emmy Award. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Annual awards given out by the Writers Guild of America for outstanding achievements in film, TV, or radio writing. ... Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ...

Biography

Early life and career

Born on December 1, 1940 in Peoria, Illinois, Pryor grew up in his grandmother's brothel, where his mother, Gertrude L. Thomas, practiced prostitution. His father, LeRoy "Buck" Pryor (a.k.a. Buck Carter) was a former bartender, boxer, and World War II veteran who worked as his wife's pimp. After his mother deserted him when he was 10, he was raised primarily by his grandmother, Marie Carter. As a small child, Pryor was molested by a neighbor and a priest.^[5] is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... : See how it plays in Peoria United States Illinois Peoria 46. ... A brothel, also known as a bordello or whorehouse, is an establishment specifically dedicated to prostitution, providing the prostitutes a place to meet and to have sex with the clients. ... Whore redirects here. ... For the song by Dave Matthews Band, see Bartender (song). ... For other senses of these words, see boxing (disambiguation) or boxer (disambiguation). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sexual abuse is physical or psychological abuse that involves crimes in most countries. ... This article is about religious workers. ...

He was expelled from school at age 14, and began working various odd jobs. His first professional performance was playing drums at a night club. From 1958 to 1960, Pryor served in the U.S. Army but spent virtually that entire stint in an army prison. According to a 1999 profile about Pryor in The New Yorker, Pryor was incarcerated for an incident that occurred while stationed in Germany. Annoyed that a white soldier was a bit too amused at the racially charged sections of Douglas Sirk's movie Imitation of Life, Pryor and some other black soldiers beat and stabbed the white soldier (not fatally).^[6] The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... For other uses, see New Yorker. ... Douglas Sirk - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... Imitation of Life is a 1959 film directed by Douglas Sirk, adapted from Fannie Hursts novel Imitation of Life, produced by Universal as a vehicle for Lana Turner. ...

In 1963, Pryor moved to New York City and began performing regularly in clubs alongside performers such as Bob Dylan and Woody Allen. On one of his first nights he opened for singer and pianist Nina Simone at the Village Gate. Simone recalls Pryor's bout of performance anxiety: New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... This article is about the recording artist. ... Woody Allen (born Allen Stewart Königsberg on December 1, 1935) is a three-time Academy Award-winning American film director, writer, actor, jazz musician, comedian, and playwright. ... Eunice Kathleen Waymon, better known by her stage name Nina Simone (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rights activist. ... The VIllage Gate Sign still adorns the corner of Thompson and Bleecker streets, January 2006 The Village Gate was a nightclub at the corner of Thompson and Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, New York. ... A summary of Performance anxiety can be found at http://yearoftheowl. ...

Inspired by Bill Cosby, Pryor began as a middlebrow comic far less controversial than what was to come. Soon, he began appearing regularly on television variety shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. His popularity led him to become a rather successful comic in Las Vegas. The first five tracks on the 2005 compilation CD Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years (1966-1974), recorded in 1966 and 1967, capture Pryor in this era. William Henry Bill Cosby, Jr. ... Highbrow is a colloquial synonym for intellectual. ... A variety show is a show with a variety of acts, often including music and comedy skits. ... The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television variety show that ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971, and was hosted by former entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. ... The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was the full name of NBCs The Tonight Show during the years that Johnny Carson hosted. ... GMs Aerotrain, in service as the City of Las Vegas, makes a station stop on its way to Los Angeles in 1957. ... See also: 2005 in heavy metal music 2005 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2005 Record labels established in 2005 Albums released in 2005 January 1 - In most of Europe, copyright expired on a number of classic pop and rock-and-roll songs recorded in 1954 and earlier, including...

In September 1967, Pryor had what he called in his autobiography Pryor Convictions an "epiphany" when he walked onto the stage at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas (with Dean Martin in the audience), looked at the sold-out crowd, said over the microphone "What the fuck am I doing here!?", and walked off the stage. Afterward, Pryor began working at least mild profanity into his act, including the word "nigger". His first comedy recording, the eponymous 1968 debut release on the Dove/Reprise label, captures this particular period, tracking the evolution of Pryor's routine. It was around this time that his parents died-his mother in 1967 and his father in 1968. Richard got his familiar nickname at this point of time. Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Pryor Convictions was an autobiography by the legendary comedian Richard Pryor. ... This article is about a feeling, for other meanings see epiphany (disambiguation). ... The Aladdin is an Arabian Nights theme hotel and casino located at 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. ... GMs Aerotrain, in service as the City of Las Vegas, makes a station stop on its way to Los Angeles in 1957. ... Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti, June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, film actor, and comedian. ... Microphones redirects here. ... Look up Profanity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... // January 4 - Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with bassist Noel Redding. ... Reprise Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, operated through Warner Bros. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

What he thought was his first child was a girl named Renee. Years later however, he found out that this was not his child. In 1960, he married Patricia Price and they had one child together, Richard Jr. (his first child and first son) They divorced in 1961. In 1967, his second child and first daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born to his girlfriend Maxine Anderson. Later that year, he married Shelly Bonus. In 1969, his third child and second daughter Rain Pryor was born. Pryor and Bonus divorced later that year. Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Shelley R. Bonus Shelley R. Bonus, born in 1947, is an astronomical historian and lecturer, and an award winning performer, actress, writer, and photographer who has worked with both Lily Tomlin and Melvin Van Peebles. ... Also: 1969 (number) 1969 (movie) 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... Rain Pryor born July 16, 1969, in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress and comedian. ...

Mainstream success

In 1969, Pryor moved to Berkeley, California, where he immersed himself in the counterculture and rubbed elbows with the likes of Huey P. Newton and Ishmael Reed. He signed with the comedy-centric independent record label Laff Records in 1970 and recorded his second album in 1971, Craps (After Hours). In 1972, the relatively unknown comedian appeared in his first film, a documentary entitled Wattstax, where he riffed on the tragic-comic absurdities of race relations in Watts and the nation. Not long afterward, Pryor sought a deal with a larger label, and after some time, signed with Stax Records. His third, breakthrough album, That Nigger's Crazy, was released in 1974 and, Laff, who claimed ownership of Pryor's recording rights, almost succeeded in getting an injunction to prevent the album from being sold. Negotiations led to Pryor's release from his Laff contract. In return for this concession, Laff was enabled to release previously unissued material, recorded between 1968 and 1973, at will. Berkeley is a city on the east shore of San Francisco Bay in Northern California, in the United States. ... In sociology, counterculture is a term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. ... Huey Newton Dr. Huey Percy Newton (February 17, 1942 – August 22, 1989), was co-founder and inspirational leader of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, a black internationalist/racial equality organization that began in October 1966. ... Ishmael Scott Reed (b. ... Laff Records logo Laff Records was a small independent record label specializing in comedy and party records originating on the West Coast of the United States. ... // Top grossing films The Godfather Fiddler on the Roof Diamonds Are Forever Whats Up, Doc?, starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan ONeal Dirty Harry The Last Picture Show A Clockwork Orange Cabaret, starring Liza Minnelli The Hospital Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex Academy Awards Best Picture... Wattstax DVD Cover Wattstax was a festival at the Los Angeles Coliseum on August 20, 1972 organized by Memphiss Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts riots. ... Race relations is the area of sociology that studies the social, political, and economic relations between races at all different levels of society. ... Watts is a residential district in southern Los Angeles, California. ... Stax Records is an American record label, originally based out of Memphis, Tennessee. ... That Niggers Crazy is the third official album release by Richard Pryor. ...

During the legal battle, Stax briefly closed its doors. It was at this time that Pryor returned to Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, which re-released That Nigger's Crazy immediately after ...Is It Something I Said?, his first album with his new label. With every successful album Pryor recorded for Warner Bros. (or later, his concert films and his 1980 free-basing accident), Laff would quickly publish an album of older material to capitalize on Pryor's growing fame — a practice the label would continue until 1983. Reprise Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, operated through Warner Bros. ... Warner Bros. ... That Niggers Crazy is the third official album release by Richard Pryor. ... The Fourth official album release by Richard Pryor. ... Free-basing is the method by which cocaine is converted into its base form with the intent of making cocaine a smokeable drug. ...

In the 1970s, he wrote for such television shows as Sanford and Son, The Flip Wilson Show and a Lily Tomlin special, for which he shared an Emmy Award. Pryor also made an attempt to break into mainstream television during this period. In 1974, he was arrested for income tax evasion and served 10 days in jail. He was a guest host on the first season of Saturday Night Live, and his "racist word association" skit with Chevy Chase is frequently cited by TV critics as one of the funniest and most daring skits in SNL history (this sketch was replayed on the Season 31 episode hosted by Alec Baldwin, which first aired on the day Pryor died). The Richard Pryor Show premiered on NBC in 1977 but after only four shows, the series was cancelled. Television was not ready for the show's controversial subject matter, and Pryor was not ready to alter the content of his material to meet the demands of network censors. During the short-lived series, he portrayed the first African-American President of the United States and in another skit, used costumes and visual distortion to appear nude. Sanford and Son is an American sitcom that premiered on the NBC television network on January 14, 1972 and was broadcast for six seasons. ... Flip Wilson in character as Geraldine Jones, on a recently released best of DVD set. ... Lily Tomlin (born Mary Jean Tomlin on September 1, 1939), is an Academy Award-nominated American actress and comedian. ... This article is about the American television series. ... For other uses, see Chevy Chase (disambiguation). ... Alexander Rae Alec Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an Emmy- and Academy Award-nominated, and Golden Globe Award-winning, American actor. ... The Richard Pryor Show was a short-lived controversial comedy, variety series starring Richard Pryor. ... This article is about the television network. ... The year 1977 in television involved some significant events. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ...

In 1977, he married actress Deborah McGuire and they divorced in 1978. He soon began dating Jennifer Lee and they married in 1981. They divorced the following year.

Very successful and towards the height of his success, Pryor visited Africa in 1979. Upon returning to the United States, Pryor swore he would never use the word "nigger" in his stand-up comedy routine again. (His favorite epithet, "motherfucker", remains a term of endearment on his official website.) Motherfucker (also existing in countless contracted forms e. ...

In 1983, Pryor signed a five-year contract with Columbia Pictures for $40,000,000.^[8] Pryor appeared in several popular films, including Lady Sings the Blues; The Mack; Uptown Saturday Night; Silver Streak; Which Way Is Up?; Car Wash; Superman III (which earned Pryor $4,000,000); Brewster's Millions; Stir Crazy; Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling; Moving; and See No Evil, Hear No Evil. He also took part in The Toy, one of Jackie Gleason's last projects. Though he made four films with Gene Wilder, the two comic actors were never as close as many thought according to Wilder's autobiography. // February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Lets Spend the Night Together opens in New York North Americas Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Tootsie Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy WarGames, starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy Superman III Flashdance Staying Alive Octopussy Mr. ... The Columbia Pictures logo from 1993 to the present Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. ... USD redirects here. ... Lady Sings the Blues is a 1972 biographical film which tells the story of blues singer Billie Holliday. ... The Mack is a 1970s blaxploitation movie starring Max Julien and Richard Pryor. ... Uptown Saturday Night is a 1974 comedy-film written by Richard Wesley, and directed by Sidney Poitier. ... Silver Streak is a 1976 comedy film about murder on a Los Angeles to Chicago train trip. ... Which Way is Up? is a comedy film starring Richard Pryor. ... For other uses, see Car wash (disambiguation). ... Superman III (originally titled Superman vs. ... Brewsters Millions is a novel written by George Barr McCutcheon in 1902. ... DVD cover Stir Crazy is a 1980 comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor as two men framed for a bank robbery and each ending up with a 125 year prison sentence. ... Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling is a 1986 film starring Richard Pryor. ... Moving is the title of a comedy film produced in 1988 and starring Richard Pryor. ... See No Evil, Hear No Evil is a comedy movie from 1989 starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. ... The Toy is a 1982 comedy film starring Richard Pryor, Jackie Gleason, Ned Beatty and Scott Schwartz. ... Herbert John Jackie Gleason (February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an American comedian, actor, and musician. ... Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933) is an American actor who is best known for his role as Willy Wonka, his collaborations with Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein, and his four movies with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, See No Evil...

Pryor also co-wrote Blazing Saddles directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene Wilder. Pryor was to play the lead role of Bart, but the film's production studio would not insure him, and Mel Brooks chose Cleavon Little instead. Before his infamous 1980 free-basing accident, Pryor was about to start filming Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part I, but was replaced at the last minute by Gregory Hines. Pryor was also originally considered for the role of Billy Ray Valentine on Trading Places (1983), before Eddie Murphy ultimately won the part. Alex Karras as Mongo in Blazing Saddles Blazing Saddles (1974) is a comedy directed by Mel Brooks and starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, and released by Warner Brothers. ... Mel Brooks (born June 28, 1926) is an Academy Award-winning American director, writer, comedian, actor and producer best known as a creator of broad film farces and comedy parodies. ... Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933) is an American actor who is best known for his role as Willy Wonka, his collaborations with Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein, and his four movies with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, See No Evil... Cleavon Little (June 1, 1939 - October 22, 1992) was an American actor, best known for his lead role in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles and as the irreverent Dr. Jerry Noland in the early seventies series Temperatures Rising. He was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, grew up in California... History of the World, Part I is a 1981 film written, produced and directed by Mel Brooks. ... Gregory Hines (February 14, 1946 – August 9, 2003) was a Tony Award-winning American actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer. ... This article is about the 1983 movie. ... // February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Lets Spend the Night Together opens in New York North Americas Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Tootsie Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy WarGames, starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy Superman III Flashdance Staying Alive Octopussy Mr. ... For other uses, see Eddie Murphy (disambiguation). ...

Despite a reputation for profanity, Pryor briefly hosted a children's show on CBS in 1984 called Pryor's Place. Like Sesame Street, Pryor's Place featured a cast of puppets, hanging out and having fun in a surprisingly friendly inner city environment along with several children and characters portrayed by Pryor himself. However, Pryor's Place frequently dealt with more sobering issues than Sesame Street. It was cancelled shortly after its debut, despite the efforts of famed puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft and a theme song by Ray Parker Jr. of Ghostbusters fame to ensure its success. This article is about the broadcast network. ... This is a list of television-related events in 1984. ... Pryors Place was a 1984-1985 CBS television series which starred comedian Richard Pryor as the title character. ... Sesame Street is an American educational childrens television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. ... Sid and Marty Krofft are a sibling team of prolific television producers who were influential in childrens television and variety show programs, particularly throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. ... Ray Erskine Parker Jr. ... Ghostbusters is a song recorded by Ray Parker Jr. ...

Pryor co-hosted the Academy Awards twice, and was also nominated for an Emmy for a guest role on the television series, Chicago Hope. Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... Chicago Hope was a popular CBS drama series created by David E. Kelley that ran from September 18, 1994 to May 4, 2000. ...

The freebasing incident and its aftermath

On June 9, 1980, Pryor set himself on fire while freebasing cocaine. He ran down Parthenia Street from his Northridge, California home until subdued by police, with burns over 50 percent of his body. Pryor spent six weeks in recovery at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. Pryor made this part of his heralded "final" stand up show Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982). After joking that the incident was actually caused when he dunked a cookie into a glass containing two different types of milk, he gave a poignant yet funny account of his accident and recovery, then poked fun at people who told jokes about it by waving a lit match and saying "What's this? It's Richard Pryor running down the street." Interviewed in 2005, his (by then ex-)wife Jennifer Lee Pryor said that Pryor poured high-proof rum over his body and torched himself in a drug psychosis.^{[citation needed]}His daughter, Rain Pryor also stated this in an interview in People Magazine.^[9] In a TV interview with Barbara Walters during his recovery, Pryor said that he tried to commit suicide. He claimed that his managers and lawyers created the "accident" lie in the belief that it would be less damning than a suicide attempt^{[citation needed]}. Regardless of the incident's origins, Pryor continued his tradition of mining comedy out of the most intensely personal events. One of his jokes about this subject was June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ... Sherman Oaks Hopital (SOH) is an 153 bed acute care facility in Sherman Oaks, California, USA and is home of world renowned the Grossman Burn Center. ... Alcoholic proof is a measure of how much ethanol is in an alcoholic beverage, and is approximately twice the percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV, the unit that is commonly used presently). ... This article is about the beverage. ... Rain Pryor born July 16, 1969, in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress and comedian. ... People, a weekly magazine of celebrity and popular culture news, debuted on February 27, 1974. ... Barbara Jill Walters[1] (born September 25, 1929[2]) is an American journalist, writer and media personality who has been a regular fixture on morning television shows (Today and The View), an evening news magazine (20/20), and on The ABC Evening News as the first female evening news anchor. ... For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ...

Fellow comedian George Carlin made reference to this incident during his Carnegie Hall performance in 1983: George Denis Patrick Carlin[15] (born May 12, 1937) is a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. ... Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street. ...

He did not stay away from stand-up comedy very long though — in 1983 he filmed and released a new concert film and accompanying album, Here And Now, which he directed himself. He then wrote and directed a fictionalized account of his life, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling. Interestingly, Jo Jo Dancer depicted a suicide attempt by the main character in which he douses himself in rum and ignites himself. // February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Lets Spend the Night Together opens in New York North Americas Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Tootsie Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy WarGames, starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy Superman III Flashdance Staying Alive Octopussy Mr. ... Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling is a 1986 film starring Richard Pryor. ...

In 1984, his fourth child and second son, Steven, was born to his girlfriend Flynn Belaine. Pryor married Belaine in October 1986. They divorced in July 1987. Before their divorce was final, Belaine conceived Kelsey Pryor. Meanwhile, another of Richard's girlfriends, Geraldine Mason gave birth to Franklin Mason in April 1987 (his fifth child and third son). Six months later (October 1987), Belaine gave birth to Kelsey Pryor (Richard's sixth child and third daughter).

Fight with multiple sclerosis

In 1991, Pryor announced that he had been suffering from multiple sclerosis since 1986. In response to giving up drugs after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, he said:

In 1992, he gave some final live performances, excerpts of which appear on the ...And It's Deep Too! box set. He continued to make occasional film appearances, pairing with Gene Wilder one last time in the unsuccessful 1991 comedy, Another You (in which his physical deterioration was noted by many critics). His final film appearance was a small role in the David Lynch film Lost Highway in 1997; by then, Pryor was wheelchair bound. The year 1991 in film involved many significant films. ... Another You was an American comedy film released in 1991. ... For other persons named David Lynch, see David Lynch (disambiguation). ... For the Bon Jovi album, see Lost Highway (album). ... The year 1997 in film involved some significant events. ...

Marriages

Richard Pryor was married seven times to five different women:

1. Patricia Price (1961 - 1967) (divorced) 1 child Richard Pryor Jr.
2. Shelly Bonus (1967 - 1969) (divorced) 1 child Rain Pryor
3. Deborah McGuire (22 September 1977 - 1979) (divorced)
4. Jennifer Lee (August 1981 - October 1982) (divorced)
5. Flynn Belaine (October 1986 - July 1987) (divorced) 1 child
6. Flynn Belaine (1 April 1990 - July 1991) (divorced) 1 child
7. Jennifer Lee (June 2001 - 10 December 2005) (his death)

Each of his marriages was characterised by accusations of domestic violence and spousal abuse except for his relationship with Belaine (with whom there were no allegations of physical abuse); most of the allegations of abuse were connected to Pryor's drug use. The exception to this rule was the Patricia Price who was married to Pryor before his rise to stardom. Deborah McGuire accused him of shooting her car with a .357 Magnum^{[citation needed]} , but later dropped the charges (even though this was mentioned during one of Pryor's standup routines, Live in Concert). Lee accused him of beating and attempting to strangle her during their first marriage^{[citation needed]}, and did not share his home after they remarried. During his relationship with actress Pam Grier, Pryor proposed to actress Deborah McGuire (1977). Shelley R. Bonus Shelley R. Bonus, born in 1947, is an astronomical historian and lecturer, and an award winning performer, actress, writer, and photographer who has worked with both Lily Tomlin and Melvin Van Peebles. ... Rain Pryor born July 16, 1969, in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress and comedian. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an iconic American actress. ...

He had six children: Richard Jr, Elizabeth, Rain, Steven, Franklin and Kelsey.

Later life

In 1998, Pryor became the first performer to win the inaugural Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. According to Former Kennedy Center President Lawrence J. Wilker, The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is awarded by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts annually since 1998. ... The Kennedy Center as seen from the Potomac River. ...

In 2000, Rhino Records remastered all of Pryor's Reprise and Warner Bros. albums for inclusion in the box set ...And It's Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968-1992). Rhino Entertainment is a specialty record label originally known for releasing retrospectives of famous comedy performers, including Stan Freberg, Tom Lehrer, and Spike Jones. ... ...And Its Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. ...

In 2001, he remarried Jennifer Lee, who also had become his manager.

In 2002, Pryor and his wife/manager Jennifer Lee Pryor, won the legal rights to all of the Laff material; almost 40 hours of reel-to-reel analog tape. After going through the tapes and getting Richard's blessing, Jennifer Lee Pryor gave Rhino Records access to the Laff tapes in 2004. These tapes, including the entire Craps album, form the basis of the double-CD release Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years (1966-1974).

In 2003, a television documentary, Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!, came out. It consisted of archival footage of Pryor's performances and testimonials from fellow comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Wanda Sykes and Denis Leary of the influence Pryor had on comedy. The year 2003 in television involved some significant events. ... David Khari Webber Chappelle (born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedian, satirist and actor. ... Wanda Sykes (born March 7, 1964), also known as Wanda Sykes-Hall or Adriana Bedoya, is an American stand-up comedian and actress. ... Denis Leary (born Denis Colin Leary on August 18, 1957) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated American actor, comedian, writer and director. ...

In 2004, Pryor was voted #1 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time. In a 2005 British poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, Pryor was voted the 10th greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ...

His final performance was at the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos, California. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Downtown San Carlos San Carlos is a city in San Mateo County, California, USA on the San Francisco Peninsula, about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. ...

In his later years, Richard Pryor became a wheelchair user due to multiple sclerosis (M.S., which he said stood for "More Shit"). In late-2004, his sister claimed that Pryor lost his voice. However, on January 9, 2005, Pryor himself via Jennifer Lee, who placed all Pryor's quotes on his website rebutted this statement in a post on his official website,^[11] citing Richard: "Sick of hearing this shit about me not talking... not true... good days, bad days... but I still am a talkin' motherfucker!" is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Pryor was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. The animal rights organization PETA gives out an award in Pryor's name to people who have done outstanding work to alleviate animal suffering. Mr. Pryor was active in animal rights and was deeply concerned about the plight of elephants in circuses and zoos. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording [1]. This award is distinct from the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which honors specific recordings rather than individuals, and...

Death

Richard Pryor's star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame covered with flowers, beer bottles, fan letters etc.

On December 10, 2005, Pryor died of cardiac arrest in Encino, California. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 7:58 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. He died just 9 days after his 65th birthday. He was brought to the hospital after his wife's attempts to resuscitate him failed. His wife was quoted as saying, "At the end, there was a smile on his face." Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x683, 441 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Richard Pryor ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x683, 441 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Richard Pryor ... Buskers perform on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Encino is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles, California located in the San Fernando Valley. ... The Pacific Standard Time Zone is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ...

Remembrance and legacy

On December 19, 2005, BET aired a Pryor special. It included commentary from fellow comedians, as well as insight into Pryor's upbringing. A feature film about Pryor is currently in development. It was written by Pryor and his wife, but no actor as of this date has been hand-picked to portray Pryor (Mike Epps has been said to be front runner up for Pryor portrayal).^[12] is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 2005 in television involved some significant events. ... Black Entertainment Television is an American cable network based in Washington, D.C. targeted toward African-American and urban audiences in the United States. ... Mike Epps (born November 18, 1970 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American comedian and actor. ...

An image of Pryor was shown during both the "In Memoriam" montage at the 2006 Oscars, and the same of the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. The 78th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 2005, were held on March 5, 2006 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. ... The 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, August 27, 2006 on NBC at 8:00pm ET (00:00 UTC) with Conan OBrien hosting the show. ...

Singer Joe Henry's album Scar features a song called "Richard Pryor Addresses A Tearful Nation", which was inspired by Pryor. Joe Henry is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. ...

The Season 31 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Alec Baldwin with musical guest Shakira (which aired the day Pryor died) showed a clip from a famous sketch in SNL's first season where Pryor plays a prospective employee playing a word association game with his prospective boss (played by Chevy Chase) and the two get into a verbal fight when Chase's character begins to use racial slurs. This article is about the American television series. ... Alexander Rae Alec Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an Emmy- and Academy Award-nominated, and Golden Globe Award-winning, American actor. ... This article is about the musician. ... For other uses, see Chevy Chase (disambiguation). ...

On the day of his death, the movie Car Wash (in which Prior has a small, but nevertheless memorable, role) was to air on the BBC in Britain. The movie still aired and a mention of his death was made by the announcer before the movie began. For other uses, see Car wash (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

Discography

• Richard Pryor (Dove/Reprise, 1968)
• Craps (After Hours) (Laff Records, 1971, reissued 1993 by Loose Cannon/Island)
• That Nigger's Crazy, (Partee/Stax, 1974, reissued 1975 by Reprise)
• ...Is It Something I Said?, (Reprise, 1975, reissued 1991 on CD by Warner Archives)
• L.A. Jail, (Tiger Lily, 1976)
• Bicentennial Nigger, (Reprise, 1976)
• Are You Serious???, (Laff, 1977)
• Who Me? I'm Not Him, (Laff, 1977)
• Black Ben The Blacksmith, (Laff, 1978)
  • The title track was first issued as "Prison Play" on Richard Pryor, in spite of Warner Bros.' ownership of that particular master recording.
• The Wizard Of Comedy, (Laff, 1978)
• Wanted: Live in Concert (2-LP set), (Warner Bros. Records, 1978)
• Outrageous, (Laff, 1979)
• Insane, (Laff, 1980)
• Holy Smoke!, (Laff, 1980)
• Rev. Du Rite, (Laff, 1981)
• Live On The Sunset Strip (Warner Bros. Records, 1982)
• Richard Pryor Live! (picture disc), (Phoenix/Audiofidelity, 1982)
• Supernigger, (Laff. 1983)
• Here And Now, (Warner Bros. Records, 1983)

Richard Pryor (1968) 01 - Super Nigger 02 - Girls 03 - Farting 04 - Prison Play 05 - T.V. Panel Show 06 - Smells 07 - Army Life 08 - Frankenstein ... Reprise Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, operated through Warner Bros. ... // January 4 - Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with bassist Noel Redding. ... Laff Records logo Laff Records was a small independent record label specializing in comedy and party records originating on the West Coast of the United States. ... // February 8 - Bob Dylans hour-long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New Yorks Academy of Music. ... See also: 1993 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1993 Record labels established in 1993 // Date Unknown- Christian Rock label Tooth and Nail Records is formed. ... Island Records is a record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. ... That Niggers Crazy is the third official album release by Richard Pryor. ... Stax Records is an American record label, originally based out of Memphis, Tennessee. ... // January - The Ramones form. ... // January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case. ... Reprise Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, operated through Warner Bros. ... The Fourth official album release by Richard Pryor. ... Reprise Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, operated through Warner Bros. ... // January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case. ... See also: 1991 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1991 Record labels established in 1991 // 1991 was the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. ... Warner Bros. ... L.A. Jail is a 1976 album release by the late comedian Richard Pryor. ... Tiger Lil