Richard Pryor(1940-2005)
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Highly influential, and always controversial, African-American
actor/comedian who was equally well known for his colorful language
during his live comedy shows, as for his fast paced life, multiple
marriages and battles with drug addiction. He has been acknowledged by
many modern comic artist's as a key influence on their careers, and
Pryor's observational humor on African-American life in the USA during
the 1970s was razor sharp brilliance.
He was born Richard Franklin Lennox Pryor III on December 1, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Gertrude L. (Thomas) and LeRoy "Buck Carter" Pryor. His mother, a prostitute, abandoned him when he was ten years of age, after
which he was raised in his grandmother's brothel. Unfortunately, Pryor
was molested at the age of six by a teenage neighbor, and later by a
neighborhood preacher. To escape this troubled life, the young Pryor
was an avid movie fan and a regular visitor to local movie theaters in
Peoria. After numerous jobs, including truck driver and meat packer,
the young Pryor did a stint in the US Army between 1958 & 1960 in which
he performed in amateur theater shows. After he left the services in
1960, Pryor started singing in small clubs, but inadvertently found
that humor was his real forte.
Pryor spent time in both New York & Las Vegas, honing his comic craft.
However, his unconventional approach to humor sometimes made bookings
difficult to come by and this eventually saw Pryor heading to Los
Angeles. He first broke into films with minor roles in
The Busy Body (1967) and
Wild in the Streets (1968).
However, his performance as a drug addicted piano player in
Lady Sings the Blues (1972),
really got the attention of fans and film critics alike.
He made his first appearance with
Gene Wilder in the very popular
action/comedy Silver Streak (1976),
played three different characters in
Which Way Is Up? (1977) and
portrayed real-life stock-car driver "Wendell Scott" in
Greased Lightning (1977).
Proving he was more than just a comedian, Pryor wowed audiences as a
disenchanted auto worker who is seduced into betraying his friends and
easy money in the Paul Schrader
working class drama
Blue Collar (1978), also starring
Yaphet Kotto and
Harvey Keitel. Always a strong
advocate of African-American talent, Pryor next took a key role in
The Wiz (1978), starring an all
African-American cast, including Diana Ross
and Michael Jackson, retelling
the story of
The Wizard of Oz (1939). His
next four screen roles were primarily cameos in
California Suite (1978);
The Muppet Movie (1979);
Wholly Moses! (1980) and
In God We Trust (or Gimme That Prime Time Religion) (1980). However,
Pryor teamed up with Gene Wilder once more
for the prison comedy
Stir Crazy (1980), which did strong
box office business.
His next few films were a mixed bag of material, often inhibiting
Pryor's talent, with equally mixed returns at the box office. Pryor
then scored second billing to
Christopher Reeve in the big budget
Superman III (1983), and starred
alongside fellow funny man John Candy in
Brewster's Millions (1985)
before revealing his inner self in the autobiographical
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986).
Again, Pryor was somewhat hampered by poor material in his following
film ventures. However, he did turn up again in
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
with Gene Wilder, but the final product was
not as sharp as their previous pairings. Pryor then partnered on-screen
with two other very popular African-American comic's. The legendary
Redd Foxx and 1980s comic newcomer
Eddie Murphy starred with Pryor in
the gangster film
Harlem Nights (1989) which was also
directed by Eddie Murphy. Having contracted multiple sclerosis in 1986,
Pryor's remaining film appearances were primarily cameos apart from his
fourth and final outing with Gene Wilder in
the lukewarm Another You (1991), and
his final appearance in a film production was a small role in the
David Lynch road flick
Lost Highway (1997).
Fans of this outrageous comic genius are encouraged to see his live
specials
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' (1971);
the dynamic
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979);
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
and
Richard Pryor... Here and Now (1983).
In addition,
The Richard Pryor Show (1977)
is a must-have for any Richard Pryor fans' DVD collection.
Unknown to many, Pryor was a long time advocate against animal cruelty,
and he campaigned against fast food chains and circus shows to address
issues of animal welfare. He was married a total of seven times, and
fathered eight children.
After long battles with ill health, Richard Pryor passed away on
December 10th, 2005.
actor/comedian who was equally well known for his colorful language
during his live comedy shows, as for his fast paced life, multiple
marriages and battles with drug addiction. He has been acknowledged by
many modern comic artist's as a key influence on their careers, and
Pryor's observational humor on African-American life in the USA during
the 1970s was razor sharp brilliance.
He was born Richard Franklin Lennox Pryor III on December 1, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Gertrude L. (Thomas) and LeRoy "Buck Carter" Pryor. His mother, a prostitute, abandoned him when he was ten years of age, after
which he was raised in his grandmother's brothel. Unfortunately, Pryor
was molested at the age of six by a teenage neighbor, and later by a
neighborhood preacher. To escape this troubled life, the young Pryor
was an avid movie fan and a regular visitor to local movie theaters in
Peoria. After numerous jobs, including truck driver and meat packer,
the young Pryor did a stint in the US Army between 1958 & 1960 in which
he performed in amateur theater shows. After he left the services in
1960, Pryor started singing in small clubs, but inadvertently found
that humor was his real forte.
Pryor spent time in both New York & Las Vegas, honing his comic craft.
However, his unconventional approach to humor sometimes made bookings
difficult to come by and this eventually saw Pryor heading to Los
Angeles. He first broke into films with minor roles in
The Busy Body (1967) and
Wild in the Streets (1968).
However, his performance as a drug addicted piano player in
Lady Sings the Blues (1972),
really got the attention of fans and film critics alike.
He made his first appearance with
Gene Wilder in the very popular
action/comedy Silver Streak (1976),
played three different characters in
Which Way Is Up? (1977) and
portrayed real-life stock-car driver "Wendell Scott" in
Greased Lightning (1977).
Proving he was more than just a comedian, Pryor wowed audiences as a
disenchanted auto worker who is seduced into betraying his friends and
easy money in the Paul Schrader
working class drama
Blue Collar (1978), also starring
Yaphet Kotto and
Harvey Keitel. Always a strong
advocate of African-American talent, Pryor next took a key role in
The Wiz (1978), starring an all
African-American cast, including Diana Ross
and Michael Jackson, retelling
the story of
The Wizard of Oz (1939). His
next four screen roles were primarily cameos in
California Suite (1978);
The Muppet Movie (1979);
Wholly Moses! (1980) and
In God We Trust (or Gimme That Prime Time Religion) (1980). However,
Pryor teamed up with Gene Wilder once more
for the prison comedy
Stir Crazy (1980), which did strong
box office business.
His next few films were a mixed bag of material, often inhibiting
Pryor's talent, with equally mixed returns at the box office. Pryor
then scored second billing to
Christopher Reeve in the big budget
Superman III (1983), and starred
alongside fellow funny man John Candy in
Brewster's Millions (1985)
before revealing his inner self in the autobiographical
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986).
Again, Pryor was somewhat hampered by poor material in his following
film ventures. However, he did turn up again in
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
with Gene Wilder, but the final product was
not as sharp as their previous pairings. Pryor then partnered on-screen
with two other very popular African-American comic's. The legendary
Redd Foxx and 1980s comic newcomer
Eddie Murphy starred with Pryor in
the gangster film
Harlem Nights (1989) which was also
directed by Eddie Murphy. Having contracted multiple sclerosis in 1986,
Pryor's remaining film appearances were primarily cameos apart from his
fourth and final outing with Gene Wilder in
the lukewarm Another You (1991), and
his final appearance in a film production was a small role in the
David Lynch road flick
Lost Highway (1997).
Fans of this outrageous comic genius are encouraged to see his live
specials
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' (1971);
the dynamic
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979);
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
and
Richard Pryor... Here and Now (1983).
In addition,
The Richard Pryor Show (1977)
is a must-have for any Richard Pryor fans' DVD collection.
Unknown to many, Pryor was a long time advocate against animal cruelty,
and he campaigned against fast food chains and circus shows to address
issues of animal welfare. He was married a total of seven times, and
fathered eight children.
After long battles with ill health, Richard Pryor passed away on
December 10th, 2005.