Richard Pryor
Stand-up comedian from United States 🇺🇸
About Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor (December 1, 1940 - December 10, 2005), born Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor, was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Known for reaching a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, he is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential comedians of all time. He won a Primetime Emmy Award and five Grammy Awards, received the first Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998, and won the Writers Guild of America Award in 1974.
Pryor's body of work includes numerous concert films and recordings. He won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for That Nigger's Crazy (1974), ...Is It Something I Said? (1975), Bicentennial Nigger (1976), Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982), and Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983). He also served as a co-writer for the Mel Brooks western comedy Blazing Saddles (1974). As an actor he starred mainly in comedies, gaining acclaim for his collaborations with Gene Wilder in Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991), and appearing in films such as Superman III (1983) and Harlem Nights (1989).
Born in Peoria, Illinois, Pryor grew up in a brothel run by his grandmother and served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960. He moved to New York City in 1963 and began performing in clubs, initially inspired by Bill Cosby as a middlebrow comic. After what he described as an "epiphany" on stage at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas in 1967, he began working profanity into his act and became more controversial, hosting The Richard Pryor Show in 1977.
Videos (159)
Videos 1 to 24 of 159.
1:04Robin Williams Roasting Richard Pryor
12.4M views
0:29Richard, Eddie & Cosby
1.9M views
6:52The Richard Pryor Show | The First Black President | 1977 | Richard Pryor President
1.7M views
1:15Robin Williams Roasts Richard Pryor | The Roast of Richard Pryor | 1977
1.3M views
12:20The Richard Pryor Show | To Kill A Mockingbird | 1977 | Robin Williams
1.2M views
22:35Richard Pryor | Pryor's Place | Episode 1 | High Noon at 5:30 P.M. | 1984
1.2M views
0:36Living Near White People
986.9K views
37:15Richard Pryor | NBC Stand Up Comedy Special | Mudbone | 1977
971.8K views
43:31Richard Pryor | The Roast of Richard Pryor | Full Roast | 1977
586K views
1:04Robin Williams roasts Richard Pryor
581K views
50:11The Richard Pryor Show | Episode 2 | NBC | 1977
545.4K views
5:08The Richard Pryor Show - Star Wars Bar (1977)
500.7K views
0:48First Black President
456.9K views
0:47Eddie receiving the Pryor & Cosby puppets by Steve Axtell
369.4K views
1:01Richard Pryor on Racism
366.1K views
10:32The Richard Pryor Show | Reverend James L. White | 1977
294.8K views
0:48Being Brave
267.4K views
49:57The Richard Pryor Show | Episode 4 | NBC | 1977
259.6K views
47:13The Richard Pryor Show | Episode 1 | NBC | 1977
227.3K views
4:05Richard Pryor - Monkeys
225K views
0:47Triple Life
221.8K views
1:01Heartbreak
214.5K views
49:09The Richard Pryor Show | Episode 3 | NBC | 1977
213.1K views
0:57Richard Pryor in Africa
201.7K viewsGuest appearances (48)
Videos on other comedians' channels featuring Richard Pryor.
Guest appearances 1 to 24 of 48.
9:01Full Appearance - Dr. Lendon Smith Can't Stop Talking and Richard Pryor and Tim Conway Lose It
Johnny Carson
3.1M views
14:50Richard Pryor Makes Emotional Return After Setting Himself on Fire | Carson Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
2.9M views
15:33Eddie Murphy on Iconic Celebrity Filled Photo, $100,000 Bet with Richard Pryor & New Christmas Movie
Jimmy Kimmel
2.1M views
3:05Jim Carrey on 70's Comedy Scene with Richard Pryor & Robin Williams
Jimmy Kimmel
1.8M views
12:01Full Appearance - Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase Trade Jabs With Each Other | Carson Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
1.7M views
3:54Godfrey's Richard Pryor Impression
Godfrey
1.1M views
8:32Richard Pryor Made Paul Mooney Apologize for Picking a Fight with Eddie Murphy
Seth Meyers
843.5K views
6:40Lily Tomlin & Jane Fonda on Their Friendship, Porno Movies & Richard Pryor
Jimmy Kimmel
610.7K views
8:13Mike Epps on Playing Richard Pryor & Being Scared of White People at Comedy Shows
Jimmy Kimmel
536.3K views
0:56The Time I Met Richard Pryor | Gary Owen
Gary Owen
235.1K views
20:49Arsenio Hall on Impact of His Talk Show, Meeting Richard Pryor and Michael Jackson & New Memoir
Jimmy Kimmel
195K views
2:47Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase Trade Jabs With Each Other | Carson Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
191.1K views
19:38Full Appearance - Dorothy Fuldheim and Richard Pryor Debate Poverty in America | Carson Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
189.5K views
21:33Richard Pryor Makes a Very Early Appearance | Carson Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
145.1K views
3:51The First Time I Met Richard Pryor, Why I Don't Kiss Contestants Like Richard Dawson, And Tattoos
Steve Harvey
89.8K views
2:53Dorothy Fuldheim and Richard Pryor Debate Poverty in America | July 21st, 1978
Johnny Carson
77.8K views
2:54Dr. Lendon Smith Can't Stop Talking and Richard Pryor and Tim Conway Lose It | January 12th, 1979
Johnny Carson
76.6K views
5:24Richard Pryor Interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson - 01/12/1979 - Part 01
Johnny Carson
57.5K views
5:11Richard Pryor on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson - Part 01 - 08/05/1988
Johnny Carson
56.5K views
10:51Richard Pryor Talks About Co-Writing Blazing Saddles | Carson Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
56.3K views
4:54Richard Pryor on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson - Part 02 - 08/05/1988
Johnny Carson
48.8K views
0:23Godfrey Silences A Baby (As Richard Pryor)
Godfrey
47.1K views
1:40:32Richard Pryor Admitted He F*CKED Marlon Brando | Wil Milz, Dante Nero, and Akeem Woods | IGWT 703
Godfrey
33.6K views
1:02:29Rob Reiner Case Triggers Jennifer Pryor’s Life with Richard Pryor
Howie Mandel
29.1K viewsChannels on this page: Johnny Carson, Jimmy Kimmel, Godfrey, Seth Meyers, Gary Owen, Steve Harvey, Howie Mandel
Frequently asked questions
Why is Richard Pryor considered influential?
He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential comedians of all time, known for reaching a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style.
What major awards did Richard Pryor win?
He won a Primetime Emmy Award and five Grammy Awards, and received the first Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998.
Did Richard Pryor work with Gene Wilder?
Yes, he gained acclaim for his collaborations with Gene Wilder in Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991).
Did Richard Pryor write for films?
He served as a co-writer for the Mel Brooks satirical western comedy Blazing Saddles (1974).
Where was Richard Pryor born?
He was born on December 1, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois, where he grew up in a brothel run by his grandmother Marie Carter.
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