
Richard Pryor
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
Credits
- 2024 · Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy as Self (archive footage)
- 2024 · Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2024 · Remembering Gene Wilder as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight as
- 2022 · Dark Side of Comedy as Self (Archive Footage)
- 2021 · Superstar as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · The Comedy Store as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · The Last Days of Richard Pryor as Himself
- 2019 · I Am Richard Pryor as Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
- 2014 · And the Oscar Goes To... as Self (archive footage)
- 2013 · Mel Brooks: Make a Noise as Self (archive footage)
- 2006 · Legends as G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2006 · The N Word as Self (archive footage)
- 2003 · Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! as Self (archive footage)
- 2000 · Me, Myself & Irene as Stand-Up Comedian on TV (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1999 · The Norm Show as
- 1997 · Afro Promo as Self (archive footage)
- 1997 · Lost Highway as Arnie
- 1996 · Mad Dog Time as Jimmy the Gravedigger
- 1994 · Chicago Hope as
- 1992 · Martin as
- 1991 · Another You as Eddie Dash
- 1989 · Harlem Nights as Sugar Ray
- 1989 · See No Evil, Hear No Evil as Wallace 'Wally' Karue
- 1988 · Moving as Arlo Pear
- 1987 · Critical Condition as Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
- 1986 · Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling as Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
- 1985 · The Making of 'Superman III' as Self
- 1985 · Brewster's Millions as Montgomery Brewster
- 1983 · Superman III as August 'Gus' Gorman
- 1983 · Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever as Self
- 1982 · The Toy as Jack Brown
- 1981 · Bustin' Loose as Joe Braxton
- 1980 · Stir Crazy as Harry Monroe
- 1980 · Wholly Moses as Pharaoh
- 1979 · The Muppet Movie as Balloon Vendor
- 1978 · California Suite as Dr. Chauncey Gump
- 1978 · The Wiz as The Wiz
- 1978 · Blue Collar as Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
- 1977 · Which Way Is Up? as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
- 1977 · The Richard Pryor Show as Host
- 1976 · Silver Streak as Grover Muldoon
- 1976 · Car Wash as Daddy Rich
- 1976 · The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings as Charlie Snow
- 1975 · Adiós Amigo as Sam Spade
- 1975 · Carter's Army as Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
- 1974 · Dinah! as Self
- 1974 · Uptown Saturday Night as Sharp Eye Washington
- 1973 · Hit! as Mike Willmer
- 1972 · Lady Sings the Blues as Piano Man
- 1972 · The Midnight Special as Host
- 1970 · The Flip Wilson Show as Self
- 1968 · Wild in the Streets as Stanley X
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1962 · The Merv Griffin Show as Self
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Co-Host
- 1958 · Kraft Music Hall as Self
- 1948 · The Ed Sullivan Show as Self
- Future · Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary as Self (archive footage)
- 2024 · Zeitgeist: Requiem as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Live at Mister Kelly's as Self (archive footage)
- 2014 · Richard Pryor: Icon as Self (archive footage)
- 2013 · Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic as Self (archive footage)
- 2008 · Black and White Trypps Number Four as
- 2007 · Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s as Self (archive footage)
- 2003 · 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment as
- 2001 · A Huey P. Newton Story as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1999 · Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? as Self
- 1997 · Blacks and Jews as Self
- 1994 · But... Seriously as Self (archive footage)
- 1991 · The Three Muscatels as Narrator / Wino / Bartender
- 1990 · Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration as Self
- 1986 · TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines as Self
- 1984 · Pryor's Place as Richard Pryor
- 1983 · Richard Pryor: Here and Now as Self
- 1982 · Some Kind of Hero as Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
- 1982 · Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip as Self
- 1980 · In God We Tru$t as G.O.D.
- 1979 · A Walking Tour of Sesame Street as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1979 · Richard Pryor: Live in Concert as Self
- 1977 · The Richard Pryor Show Volume I as
- 1977 · The Richard Pryor show Volume 2 as Self
- 1977 · Greased Lightning as Wendell Scott
- 1977 · The Richard Pryor Special? as Self / Various
- 1975 · The Lion Roars Again as Self
- 1974 · Flip Wilson... Of Course as Self
- 1973 · Juke and Opal as Juke
- 1973 · Some Call It Loving as Jeff
- 1973 · Lily as
- 1973 · The Mack as Slim
- 1973 · Wattstax as Self
- 1971 · You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat as Wino
- 1971 · Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' as Self
- 1971 · Dynamite Chicken as Self
- 1970 · The Young Lawyers as
- 1970 · The Phynx as Richard Pryor
- 1969 · The Young Lawyers as Otis Tucker
- 1969 · Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales as
- 1967 · The Busy Body as Whittaker