Richard Pryor
Acting
Born: December 1, 1940 · Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Died: December 10, 2005 (aged 65)
Highest Rated
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
Lost Highway
1997
Blazing Saddles
1974
Superman III
1983
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
1989
The Muppet Movie
1979
Brewster's Millions
1985
Stir Crazy
1980
Silver Streak
1976
Harlem Nights
1989
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
2022
The Wiz
1978
The Toy
1982
Photos (8)
Movies (43)
Lost Highway
Arnie
The Muppet Movie
Balloon Vendor
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Wallace 'Wally' Karue
Superman III
August 'Gus' Gorman
Harlem Nights
Sugar Ray
The Wiz
The Wiz
Brewster's Millions
Montgomery Brewster
Stir Crazy
Harry Monroe
Silver Streak
Grover Muldoon
California Suite
Dr. Chauncey Gump
Blue Collar
Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
The Toy
Jack Brown
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
(archive footage)
Another You
Eddie Dash
Adiós Amigo
Sam Spade
Greased Lightning
Wendell Scott
Bustin' Loose
Joe Braxton
Wholly Moses
Pharaoh
In God We Tru$t
G.O.D.
Moving
Arlo Pear
Mad Dog Time
Jimmy the Gravedigger
Critical Condition
Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
Some Kind of Hero
Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
Car Wash
Daddy Rich
Hit!
Mike Willmer
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
Charlie Snow
Uptown Saturday Night
Sharp Eye Washington
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
The Phynx
Richard Pryor
Which Way Is Up?
Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
Lady Sings the Blues
Piano Man
The Mack
Slim
Carter's Army
Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
The Young Lawyers
Otis Tucker
The Busy Body
Whittaker
Lily
1973
The Three Muscatels
Narrator / Wino / Bartender
Some Call It Loving
Jeff
Juke and Opal
Juke
Wild in the Streets
Stanley X
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
2023
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
1969
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
Wino
TV Shows (8)
Chicago Hope
Joe Springer · 1 eps
The Partridge Family
A.E. Simon · 1 eps
Martin
Richard Pryor · 1 eps
The Norm Show
1 eps
Legends
G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1 eps
The Richard Pryor Show
Host · 5 eps
The Young Lawyers
24 eps
Pryor's Place
Richard Pryor · 13 eps
Self / Appearances (50)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · 7 eps
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · 1 eps
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · 2 eps
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · 10 eps
Dinah!
Self · 1 eps
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · 1 eps
Kraft Music Hall
Self · 1 eps
The Midnight Special
Self · 1 eps
The Flip Wilson Show
Self · 1 eps
John Candy: I Like Me
Self - Actor (archive footage)
Hollywood Black
Self (archive footage) · 4 eps
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy
Self (archive footage) · 1 eps
Jerry West: The Logo
Self (Archive footage & voice)
Dark Side of Comedy
Self (Archive Footage) · 1 eps
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Comedy Store
Self (archive footage) · 5 eps
Breakdown: 1975
Self (archive footage)
Breakdown: 1975
Self (archive photo/footage)
Superstar
Self (archive footage) · 1 eps
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Icon
Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
Self (archive footage)
The Richard Pryor Special?
Self / Various
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Self
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Self
Remembering Gene Wilder
Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Self
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
Self
Group Therapy
Self (archive footage)
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
I Am Richard Pryor
Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
Zeitgeist: Requiem
Self (archive footage)
The N Word
Self (archive footage)
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Self (archive footage)
Wattstax
Self
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Self
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self (archive footage)
Dynamite Chicken
Self
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
Self
A Huey P. Newton Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Afro Promo
Self (archive footage)
Blacks and Jews
Self
The Making of 'Superman III'
Self
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Self
The Last Days of Richard Pryor
Himself
Flip Wilson... Of Course
Self
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2
Self
Directing (2)
Writing (12)
Epic Rap Battles of History
Characters
Blazing Saddles
Screenplay
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Original Film Writer
Bustin' Loose
Story
The Richard Pryor Special?
Writer
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Writer
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Writer
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Writer
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Screenplay
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
Writer
Lily
Writer
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
Writer