Richard Pryor

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (December 1, 1940 - December 10, 2005) was an American comedian, actor and writer. Pryor performed in movies, on television and as a stand-up comedian. He won an Emmy Award in 1973. He won five Grammy Awards (in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1982). In 1974, he also won two American Academy of Humor awards and the Writers Guild of America Award. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay for his work on Blazing Saddles. The first ever Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was given to him in 1998. Pryor is listed at Number 1 on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians.
Pryor died of a heart attack in Encino, Los Angeles, California. He was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, a year after his death.
A biographical movie based on the life of Pryor is being produced by Lee Daniels and Oprah Winfrey. It will star Mike Epps as Pryor.
Personal life
Pryor was born in Peoria, Illinois into an African-American family.
Health problems
Pryor had a mild heart attack in November 1977. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986. In 1990, Pryor had a second and more severe heart attack. He had triple heart bypass surgery. By the early 1990s, he needed to use a wheelchair because of his multiple sclerosis.
The freebasing incident
On June 9, 1980, during the making of the movie Bustin' Loose, Pryor set himself on fire. He was freebasing cocaine while drinking 151-proof rum. He ran down Parthenia Street from his Northridge, California, home, on fire, until stopped by police. He was taken to the hospital. Burns covered more than half of his body. Pryor spent six weeks in recovery at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital.
Marriages and relationships
Pryor was married seven times to five different women:
Patricia Price (1960-1961, divorced) with one child named Richard Pryor Jr.
Shelly Bonis (1967-1969, divorced) with one child named Rain Pryor
Deborah McGuire (September 22, 1977 - 1979, divorced)
Jennifer Lee (August 1981 - October 1982, divorced)
Flynn Belaine (October 1986 - July 1987, divorced) with son Steven (born before the marriage) and daughter Kelsey (before divorce finalized)
Flynn Belaine (April 1, 1990 - July 1991, divorced)
Jennifer Lee (June 29, 2001 - December 10, 2005, his death)
All of his wives, except Belaine, said there was domestic violence. Most of these times were connected to Pryor's drug use.
He had six children: Richard Jr., Elizabeth, Rain, Steven, Franklin and Kelsey.
Discography
Albums
Official canon
1968 - Richard Pryor (Dove/Reprise)
1971 - Craps (After Hours) (Laff Records, reissued 1993 by Loose Cannon/Island)
1974 - That Nigger's Crazy, (Partee/Stax, reissued 1975 by Reprise)
1975 - ...Is It Something I Said?, (Reprise, reissued 1991 on CD by Warner Archives)
1976 - Holy Smoke!, (Laff)
1976 - Bicentennial Nigger, (Reprise)
1976 - L.A. Jail, (Tiger Lily)
1977 - Are You Serious ???, (Laff)
1977 - Who Me? I'm Not Him, (Laff)
1978 - Black Ben The Blacksmith, (Laff)
1978 - The Wizard of Comedy, (Laff)
1978 - Wanted: Live in Concert (2-LP set), (Warner Bros. Records);Others
1979 - Outrageous, (Laff)
1980 - Insane, (Laff)
1981 - Rev. Du Rite, (Laff)
1982 - Richard Pryor Live! (picture disc), (Phoenix/Audiofidelity)
1982 - Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (Warner Bros. Records)
1983 - Here and Now, (Warner Bros. Records)
1983 - Supernigger, (Laff)
Filmography
1967 - The Busy Body
1968 - Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
1968 - Wild in the Streets
1970 - Black Brigade
1970 - The Phynx
1971 - You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
1972 - Dynamite Chicken
1972 - Lady Sings the Blues
1973 - The Mack
1973 - Wattstax
1973 - Hit!
1973 - Some Call It Loving
1974 - Uptown Saturday Night
1975 - The Lion Roars Again
1976 - Adios Amigo
1976 - Car Wash
1976 - The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
1976 - Silver Streak
1977 - Which Way Is Up?
1977 - Greased Lightning
1978 - Blue Collar
1978 - The Wiz
1978 - California Suite
1979 - Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
1979 - The Muppet Movie - (cameo)
1980 - Wholly Moses
1980 - In God We Tru$t
1980 - Stir Crazy
1981 - Bustin' Loose
1982 - Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
1982 - Some Kind of Hero
1982 - The Toy
1983 - Superman III
1983 - Richard Pryor: Here and Now
1983 - Motown 25
1985 - Live & Smokin'
1986 - Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
1987 - Critical Condition
1988 - Moving
1989 - See No Evil, Hear No Evil
1989 - Harlem Nights
1991 - The Three Muscatels
1991 - Another You
1994 - A Century of Cinema
1996 - Mad Dog Time
1997 - Lost Highway
1999 - The Norm Show - (Cameo in Opening of Season 2, Episode 11)
2003 - Bitter Jester
2003 - I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$@!!
2005 - Richard Pryor: The Funniest Man Dead Or Alive (BET Special)
2009 - Black Dynamite - Cameo via archive footage
References
Other websites
African-American movie actors
African American comedians
African American movie directors
African American movie producers
African-American television actors
African American writers
American stand-up comedians
American television personalities
American television writers
Comedians from Illinois
People with multiple sclerosis
Deaths from myocardial infarction
Emmy Award winners
Mark Twain Prize recipients
Movie directors from Illinois
Movie producers from Illinois
Actors from Peoria, Illinois
Writers from Illinois
1940 births
2005 deaths