Richard Pryor

Biography

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, film director, social critic, satirist, writer, and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time: receiving praise from notable comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Newhart, and Bill Cosby. His body of work includes the concert movies and recordings starting in the 70s and spanning three decades. He also starred in numerous films as an actor, in both comedic and dramatic roles. He collaborated on many projects with actor Gene Wilder and actor/comedian/writer Paul Mooney. Pryor won an Emmy Award (1973), and five Grammy Awards (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1982). In 1974, he also won two American Academy of Humor awards and the Writers Guild of America Award. The first ever Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was presented to him in 1998. Pryor is listed at Number 1 on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians.

Known For

Me, Myself & Irene

as Stand-Up Comedian on TV (archive footage) (uncredited)

Lost Highway

as Arnie

Superman III

as August 'Gus' Gorman

See No Evil, Hear No Evil

as Wallace 'Wally' Karue

The Muppet Movie

as Balloon Vendor

Brewster's Millions

as Montgomery Brewster

Stir Crazy

as Harry Monroe

Silver Streak

as Grover Muldoon

Harlem Nights

as Sugar Ray

The Wiz

as The Wiz