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.
Movie | Remembering Gene Wilder | Self (archive footage) | 2024-03-15 |
Movie | Zeitgeist: Requiem | Self (archive footage) | 2024-03-15 |
Movie | Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2024-06-07 |
Movie | Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight | 2023-11-11 | |
Movie | I Am Richard Pryor | Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage) | 2019-03-12 |
Movie | And the Oscar Goes To... | Self (archive footage) | 2014-02-01 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Icon | Self (archive footage) | 2014-11-23 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic | Self (archive footage) | 2013-04-23 |
Movie | Mel Brooks: Make a Noise | Self (archive footage) | 2013-05-20 |
Movie | Black and White Trypps Number Four | 2008-06-20 | |
Movie | Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s | Self (archive footage) | 2007-04-10 |
Movie | The N Word | Himself (archive footage) | 2006-01-16 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! | Self (archive footage) | 2003-01-01 |
Movie | Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? | Himself | 1999-04-01 |
Movie | Lost Highway | Arnie | 1997-01-15 |
Movie | Afro Promo | Self (archive footage) | 1997-01-31 |
Movie | Mad Dog Time | Jimmy the Gravedigger | 1996-11-08 |
Movie | But... Seriously | Self (archive footage) | 1994-03-25 |
Series | Chicago Hope | Unknown | 1994-09-18 |
Series | Martin | Unknown | 1992-08-27 |
Movie | Another You | Eddie Dash | 1991-07-26 |
Movie | The Three Muscatels | Narrator / Wino / Bartender | 1991-11-01 |
Movie | Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration | Self | 1990-02-04 |
Movie | Harlem Nights | Sugar Ray | 1989-11-17 |
Movie | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Wallace 'Wally' Karue | 1989-05-12 |
Movie | Moving | Arlo Pear | 1988-03-04 |
Movie | Critical Condition | Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery | 1987-01-16 |
Movie | Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling | Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego | 1986-05-02 |
Movie | The Making of 'Superman III' | Self | 1985-08-26 |
Movie | Brewster's Millions | Montgomery Brewster | 1985-05-22 |
Series | Pryor's Place | Richard Pryor | 1984-09-22 |
Movie | Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever | Self - Host | 1983-05-16 |
Movie | Superman III | August "Gus" Gorman | 1983-06-17 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Here and Now | Self | 1983-10-28 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip | Self | 1982-03-12 |
Movie | The Toy | Jack Brown | 1982-12-10 |
Movie | Some Kind of Hero | Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal | 1982-04-02 |
Movie | Bustin' Loose | Joe Braxton | 1981-05-22 |
Movie | Stir Crazy | Harry Monroe | 1980-12-12 |
Movie | Wholly Moses | Pharaoh | 1980-06-13 |
Movie | In God We Tru$t | G.O.D. | 1980-09-26 |
Movie | A Walking Tour of Sesame Street | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 1979-03-01 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Live in Concert | Self | 1979-01-26 |
Movie | The Muppet Movie | Balloon Vendor | 1979-06-22 |
Movie | The Wiz | The Wiz | 1978-10-24 |
Movie | Blue Collar | Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown | 1978-02-10 |
Movie | California Suite | Dr. Chauncey Gump | 1978-12-15 |
Movie | The Richard Pryor Special? | Self / Various | 1977-05-05 |
Movie | The Complete Richard Pryor Roast | 1977-01-01 | |
Movie | Greased Lightning | Wendell Scott | 1977-07-01 |
Movie | Which Way Is Up? | Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas | 1977-11-04 |
Movie | The Richard Pryor Show Volume I | 1977-09-10 | |
Series | The Richard Pryor Show | Host | 1977-09-13 |
Movie | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings | Charlie Snow | 1976-07-16 |
Movie | Car Wash | Daddy Rich | 1976-10-22 |
Movie | Silver Streak | Grover Muldoon | 1976-12-03 |
Movie | The Lion Roars Again | Self | 1975-01-01 |
Movie | Carter's Army | Pvt. Jonathan Crunk | 1975-05-25 |
Movie | Adiós Amigo | Sam Spade | 1975-12-25 |
Series | Saturday Night Live | Unknown | 1975-10-11 |
Movie | Uptown Saturday Night | Sharp Eye Washington | 1974-07-26 |
Movie | Wattstax | Self | 1973-02-04 |
Movie | The Mack | Slim | 1973-04-04 |
Movie | Hit! | Mike Willmer | 1973-09-18 |
Movie | Some Call It Loving | Jeff | 1973-11-16 |
Movie | Lady Sings the Blues | Piano Man | 1972-10-12 |
Movie | Dynamite Chicken | Self | 1971-01-20 |
Movie | You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat | Wino | 1971-09-19 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' | Self | 1971-04-29 |
Movie | The Phynx | Richard Pryor | 1970-03-06 |
Series | The Young Lawyers | 1970-09-21 | |
Movie | Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales | 1969-01-01 | |
Movie | The Young Lawyers | Otis Tucker | 1969-10-28 |
Movie | Wild in the Streets | Stanley X | 1968-05-29 |
Movie | The Busy Body | Whittaker | 1967-03-12 |