Richard Pryor
Acting • Born 1940-12-01 – Died 2005-12-10
Biography
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (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.
Filmography
103 credits
Lost Highway
Movie • 1997
Arnie
Wattstax
Movie • 1973
Self
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Movie • 1989
Wallace 'Wally' Karue
Brewster's Millions
Movie • 1985
Montgomery Brewster
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Movie • 1982
Self
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Movie • 1983
Self
Silver Streak
Movie • 1976
Grover Muldoon
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Movie • 1979
Self
Bustin' Loose
Movie • 1981
Joe Braxton
Stir Crazy
Movie • 1980
Harry Monroe
Lady Sings the Blues
Movie • 1972
Piano Man
Which Way Is Up?
Movie • 1977
Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
Another You
Movie • 1991
Eddie Dash
Critical Condition
Movie • 1987
Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
Carter's Army
Movie • 1975
Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
The Toy
Movie • 1982
Jack Brown
The Wiz
Movie • 1978
The Wiz
I Am Richard Pryor
Movie • 2019
Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
Wholly Moses
Movie • 1980
Pharaoh
Harlem Nights
Movie • 1989
Sugar Ray
Superman III
Movie • 1983
August 'Gus' Gorman
California Suite
Movie • 1978
Dr. Chauncey Gump
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
Greased Lightning
Movie • 1977
Wendell Scott
Moving
Movie • 1988
Arlo Pear
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
Movie • 1976
Charlie Snow
Uptown Saturday Night
Movie • 1974
Sharp Eye Washington
The Busy Body
Movie • 1967
Whittaker
The Mack
Movie • 1973
Slim
Wild in the Streets
Movie • 1968
Stanley X
Blue Collar
Movie • 1978
Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
Some Kind of Hero
Movie • 1982
Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
The Phynx
Movie • 1970
Richard Pryor
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Movie • 1986
Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
Movie • 1971
Self
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
Movie • 2007
Self (archive footage)
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
Movie • 1999
Self
Hit!
Movie • 1973
Mike Willmer
In God We Tru$t
Movie • 1980
G.O.D.
Some Call It Loving
Movie • 1973
Jeff
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
Movie • 2022
Self (archive footage)
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
Movie • 2023
But... Seriously
Movie • 1994
Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Icon
Movie • 2014
Self (archive footage)
The Muppet Movie
Movie • 1979
Balloon Vendor
Remembering Gene Wilder
Movie • 2024
Self (archive footage)
Zeitgeist: Requiem
Movie • 2024
Self (archive footage)
Adiós Amigo
Movie • 1975
Sam Spade
The Richard Pryor Special?
Movie • 1977
Self / Various
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Movie • 1990
Self
Dynamite Chicken
Movie • 1971
Self
The Making of 'Superman III'
Movie • 1985
Self
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Movie • 1986
Self
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
Movie • 1971
Wino
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
Movie • 1969
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
Movie • 2024
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2
Movie • 1977
Self
The Young Lawyers
Movie • 1969
Otis Tucker
Afro Promo
Movie • 1997
Self (archive footage)
Black and White Trypps Number Four
Movie • 2008
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Movie • 1983
Self
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
Juke and Opal
Movie • 1973
Juke
The Three Muscatels
Movie • 1991
Narrator / Wino / Bartender
The Last Days of Richard Pryor
Movie • 2020
Himself
Lily
Movie • 1973
Mad Dog Time
Movie • 1996
Jimmy the Gravedigger
Blacks and Jews
Movie • 1997
Self
Car Wash
Movie • 1976
Daddy Rich
The N Word
Movie • 2006
Self (archive footage)
The Lion Roars Again
Movie • 1975
Self
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Movie • 1979
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Flip Wilson... Of Course
Movie • 1974
Self
Me, Myself & Irene
Movie • 2000
Stand-Up Comedian on TV (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Huey P. Newton Story
Movie • 2001
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Breakdown: 1975
Movie • 2025
Self (archive footage)
John Candy: I Like Me
Movie • 2025
Self - Actor (archive footage)
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
Movie • 2025
Self (archive footage)
Martin
TV • 1992
Richard Pryor
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
The Richard Pryor Show
TV • 1977
Host
Chicago Hope
TV • 1994
Joe Springer
The Comedy Store
TV • 2020
Self (archive footage)
Pryor's Place
TV • 1984
Richard Pryor
The Young Lawyers
TV • 1970
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self - Co-Host
The Midnight Special
TV • 1972
Self
Dark Side of Comedy
TV • 2022
Self (Archive Footage)
Superstar
TV • 2021
Self (archive footage)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
The Flip Wilson Show
TV • 1970
Self
Legends
TV • 2006
G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dinah!
TV • 1974
Self
Kraft Music Hall
TV • 1958
Self
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy
TV • 2024
Self (archive footage)
The Norm Show
TV • 1999
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
The Partridge Family
TV • 1970
A.E. Simon
I Am
TV • 2012
Self