He was a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer recognized for his personal views and narrative style. He is widely considered as one of the most talented and influential stand-up comedians of all time. Pryor began his professional comedy career in 1963. He was based in Los Angeles, California. Pryor's act focused on social issues such as racism, religion, and poverty. He also incorporated self-deprecating humor into his routine. His audience loved him because he always made them laugh even when they didn't think that they could laugh anymore. He had a very unique style that only he could do. This made every show worth watching. After becoming successful, Pryor wanted to move away from comedy and focus on acting. In 1981, he appeared in his first film, Private Benjamin, which was a success at the box office. Three years later, he starred in Nippy, the story of a free-spirited young woman who moves out of her parents' house in search of life in New York City. This movie also became popular and earned Pryor his first Golden Globe Award nomination. In 1989, Pryor released his first special titled Oh, My God! He reached millions of fans across America and around the world with this one-hour stand-up performance. It was followed by two more specials in 1990 (Touch the Sky) and 1991 (Classics Club).