Comedian Richard Pryor died today. He was 65.
Pryor had a storied career and life. A lot of comedians will be paying homage to him for weeks to come. Arguably the first successful mainstream black comedian, Pryor inspired many would-be funny men and women.
Rising in the stand-up circuit dishing out “blue” comedy, Pryor hit the big screen years before anyone had ever heard of Eddie Murphy (who lived in the same Long Island, New York, neighborhood as I did when we were kids).
One of my favorite Pryor movies is likely considered his worst by critics, Moving (see the full list). Unfortunately he’s probably most known for almost burning himself up while freebasing cocaine back in the 80s. After that, he was plagued by multiple sclerosis and confined to a wheelchair. In the end, a heart attack took him out.
Related articles:
Pryor Knowledge
Talking Comedy profile
Museum of Broadcast Communications
Kennedy Center profile
Previous obituaries:
- Rosa Parks
- Nipsey Russell
- Johnnie Cochran
- Ossie Davis
- Johnny Carson
- Shirley Chisholm
- Rick James
- Ronald Reagan
- Superman
(AP photo)
Update (12/12): “Some time in 1979, shortly after I had done The Big Fix for Universal, the studio called to ask if I would like to write a movie for Richard Pryor. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Pryor was at the top of his game then, acknowledged by many to be possibly the greatest standup comic of all time. Not only that, he was a cultural icon of extraordinary proportions, the very voice of black America, ‘Daddy Rich.’ What more could a Jewish white boy who grew up on Miles Davis want than to work with this man?” - Roger Simon
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WOW. I just found out by seeing it on your blog. I accept that 65 is time to die, particularly for black men, it always seems a little strange when you hear about a celebrity death. I guess their celebrity and image on the screen gives them a certain quality of immortality. Of course, death respects no mortal and does not ask for your permission to take you out. Richard Pryor was a great talent. A bit vulgar, but a great talent. He will be missed.
Every comedian today who plays vulgarity for laughs should pay royalties to the Pryor estate. What an incredibly funny and talented guy. He was the anti-Cosby in the comedy sense, but was just as funny and important.
Maybe I’ll rent Stir Crazy, a favorite since I was a kid (when I saw it on regular broadcast TV), later this week.
The first time I saw Richard Pryor was in “Car Wash”- playing the “Al Sharpton character” 20 yrs before the ‘real’ Al Sharpton!
R I P.
Richard Pryor had an amazing mind for comedy and he was also beset by demons, many of his own making. May he rest in peace.
I know he influenced and inspired a lot of people, but it’s too bad he had to do it via vulgarity. I hope one day our popular culture will celebrate and emulate good humor rather than dirty and offensive jokes.
Speaking of vulgarity, are you also from the same town as Howard Stern?
R Pryor was one sick guy - mantally as well as physically.
How many divorces? Tells a story - and it’s not about success.
Sickness can translate into genius, Frank. And Pryor was a comedic genius. I IMPLORE you to listen to some of his late-70s comedy albums. Mentally sick or not, they’re some of the best comedic recordings in history.
Not to diminish Pryor’s role, but I think Flip Wilson has him beat for first mainstream successful black comedian.
That’s why I wrote “arguably.”
- Admin
I’m trying not to be envious of Roger Simon. That guy is really blessed.
With the possible exception of the founder of BET, no one black man is more responsible for the whore house culture black culture has turned into than Richard Pryor.
Pryor was the point man for the black criminal underclass. He used his genius to replace mainstream black culture with their whorehouse culture. Rudy Ray Moore tried to do the same thing, but wasn’t as brilliant as Pryor. Nor was Red Fox.
Then came Eddie Murphy who drove the nail further in our coffin. Then came the vile, ghetto criminals and addicts who gave us Hip Hop and Def Jam.
Had Cosby been as brilliant as Pryor none of this might have happened. The wonderful, uplifting music of Motown might still be status-quo. Your kids might not be immulating 50 Cent. Howard University might still be ouur Black Harvard instead of a campus full of gangster rappers and hoochie girls.
ricland
I agree
I would submit that Bill Cosby was the first successful mainstream black comedian, no?
And yes, I think Pryor contributed GREATLY to the degeneracy of “black” culture.
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