Richard Pryor

Biography

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III (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.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Saturday Night Live

The Mike Douglas Show

Chicago Hope

The Merv Griffin Show

Martin

The Ed Sullivan Show

All Movies (81)

• Breakdown: 19752025 · as Self (archive footage)
• I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not2025 · as Self (archive footage)
• John Candy: I Like Me2025 · as Self - Actor (archive footage)
• Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution2024 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Group Therapy2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Remembering Gene Wilder2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Zeitgeist: Requiem2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight2023
• The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up2022 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Last Days of Richard Pryor2020 · as Himself
• I Am Richard Pryor2019 · as Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
• Richard Pryor: Icon2014 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mel Brooks: Make a Noise2013 · as Self (archive footage)
• Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic2013 · as Self (archive footage)
• Black and White Trypps Number Four2008
• Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• The N Word2006 · as Self (archive footage)
• Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!2003 · as Self (archive footage)
• 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment2003 · as Self (archive footage)
• A Huey P. Newton Story2001 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?1999 · as Self
• Blacks and Jews1997 · as Self
• Afro Promo1997 · as Self (archive footage)
• Lost Highway1997 · as Arnie
• Mad Dog Time1996 · as Jimmy the Gravedigger
• But... Seriously1994 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Three Muscatels1991 · as Narrator / Wino / Bartender
• Another You1991 · as Eddie Dash
• Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration1990 · as Self
• Harlem Nights1989 · as Sugar Ray
• See No Evil, Hear No Evil1989 · as Wallace 'Wally' Karue
• Moving1988 · as Arlo Pear
• Critical Condition1987 · as Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
• Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling1986 · as Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
• TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines1986 · as Self
• The Making of 'Superman III'1985 · as Self
• Brewster's Millions1985 · as Montgomery Brewster
• Richard Pryor: Here and Now1983 · as Self
• Superman III1983 · as August 'Gus' Gorman
• Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever1983 · as Self
• The Toy1982 · as Jack Brown
• Some Kind of Hero1982 · as Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
• Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip1982 · as Self
• Bustin' Loose1981 · as Joe Braxton
• Stir Crazy1980 · as Harry Monroe
• In God We Tru$t1980 · as G.O.D.
• Wholly Moses1980 · as Pharaoh
• The Muppet Movie1979 · as Balloon Vendor
• A Walking Tour of Sesame Street1979 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Richard Pryor: Live in Concert1979 · as Self
• The Wiz1978 · as The Wiz
• California Suite1978 · as Dr. Chauncey Gump
• Blue Collar1978 · as Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
• Which Way Is Up?1977 · as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
• The Richard Pryor show Volume 21977 · as Self
• Greased Lightning1977 · as Wendell Scott
• The Richard Pryor Special?1977 · as Self / Various
• Silver Streak1976 · as Grover Muldoon
• Car Wash1976 · as Daddy Rich
• The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings1976 · as Charlie Snow
• Adiós Amigo1975 · as Sam Spade
• Carter's Army1975 · as Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
• The Lion Roars Again1975 · as Self
• Flip Wilson... Of Course1974 · as Self
• Uptown Saturday Night1974 · as Sharp Eye Washington
• Juke and Opal1973 · as Juke
• Some Call It Loving1973 · as Jeff
• Lily1973
• Hit!1973 · as Mike Willmer
• The Mack1973 · as Slim
• Wattstax1973 · as Self
• Lady Sings the Blues1972 · as Piano Man
• You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat1971 · as Wino
• Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'1971 · as Self
• Dynamite Chicken1971 · as Self
• The Phynx1970 · as Richard Pryor
• The Young Lawyers1969 · as Otis Tucker
• Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales1969
• Wild in the Streets1968 · as Stanley X
• The Busy Body1967 · as Whittaker
• Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary— · as Self (archive footage)

All TV Shows (24)

• Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hollywood Black2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Dark Side of Comedy2022 · as Self (Archive Footage)
• Superstar2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Comedy Store2020 · as Self (archive footage)
• I Am2012 · as Self
• Legends2006 · as G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Norm Show1999
• Chicago Hope1994 · as Joe Springer
• Martin1992 · as Richard Pryor
• Pryor's Place1984 · as Richard Pryor
• The Richard Pryor Show1977 · as Host
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Host
• Dinah!1974 · as Self
• The Midnight Special1972 · as Self
• The Partridge Family1970 · as A.E. Simon
• The Young Lawyers1970
• The Flip Wilson Show1970 · as Self
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Co-Host
• Kraft Music Hall1958 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self