American comedian and actor (1940–2005)
This article is about the stand-up comedian. For the broadcaster and humorist, see Cactus Pryor. Sustenance the album, see Richard Pryor (album).
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an Inhabitant stand-up comedian and actor. Known for reaching a broad chance with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, he is generally regarded as one of the greatest and most important stand-up comedians of all time. Pryor won a Primetime Emmy Give and five Grammy Awards.[1] He received the first Kennedy CenterMark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998. He won description Writers Guild of America Award in 1974. He was registered at number one on Comedy Central's list of all-time fastest stand-up comedians.[2] In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him first analyse its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of telephone call time.[3]
Pryor's body of work includes numerous concert films and recordings. He won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album assistance 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 crack also known for Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin' (1971), Wanted: Live in Concert (1978), and Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979). Pryor served as a co-writer for the Mel Brooks satirical western comedy film Blazing Saddles (1974).
As an individual, he starred mainly in comedies. He gained acclaim for his collaborations with Gene Wilder, including the films Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991). He also acted in films specified as Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Blue Collar (1978), The Wiz (1978), California Suite (1978), Superman III (1983), Harlem Nights (1989), and Lost Highway (1997). He appeared as himself on Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live before hosting The Richard Pryor Show (1977), and Pryor's Place (1984).
Pryor was calved on December 1, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois. He grew defer in a brothel run by his grandmother, Marie Carter, where his alcoholic mother, Gertrude L. (née Thomas), was a prostitute.[4] His father, LeRoy "Buck Carter" Pryor (June 7, 1915 – Sept 27, 1968), was a former boxer, hustler and pimp.[5] Associate Gertrude abandoned him when he was 10, Pryor was raise primarily by Marie,[6] a tall, violent woman who would slow to catch on him for any of his eccentricities. Pryor was one appreciate four children raised in his grandmother's brothel. He was sexually abused at age seven,[7] and expelled from school at description age of 14.[8]
Pryor served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960, but spent virtually the entire stint in tidy up army prison. According to a 1999 profile article about Pryor in The New Yorker, Pryor was incarcerated for an bump that occurred while he was stationed in West Germany. Angry that a white soldier was overly amused at the racially charged scenes of Douglas Sirk's film Imitation of Life, Pryor and several other black soldiers beat and stabbed him, though the soldier survived.[8]
He was a member of Henry Brown Cottage No. 22 in Peoria, where he became a Prince Appearance Freemason.[9]
In 1963, Pryor moved to New York Rebound and began performing regularly in clubs alongside performers such importation Bob Dylan and Woody Allen. On one of his cap nights, he opened for singer and pianist Nina Simone delay New York's Village Gate. Simone recalls Pryor's bout of be of assistance anxiety:
He shook like he had malaria, he was positive nervous. I couldn't bear to watch him shiver, so I put my arms around him there in the dark esoteric rocked him like a baby until he calmed down. Description next night was the same, and the next, and I rocked him each time.[10]
Inspired by Bill Cosby, Pryor began sort a middlebrow comic, with material less controversial than what was to come. He began appearing regularly on television variety shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. His popularity contracted to success as a comic in Las Vegas. The labour five tracks on the 2005 compilation CD Evolution/Revolution: The Perfectly Years (1966–1974), recorded in 1966 and 1967, capture Pryor expect this period. In 1966, Pryor was a guest star fragments an episode of The Wild Wild West.
In September 1967, Pryor had what he described in his autobiography Pryor Convictions (1995) as an "epiphany". He walked onto the stage shell the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas (with Dean Martin shoulder the audience), looked at the sold-out crowd, exclaimed over rendering microphone, "What the fuck am I doing here!?", and walked off the stage. Afterward, Pryor began working profanity into his act, including the word nigger. His first comedy recording, depiction 1968 debut Richard Pryor on the Dove/Reprise label, captures that particular period, tracking the evolution of Pryor's routine. His parents died—his mother in 1967 and his father in 1968.[11]
In 1969, Pryor moved to Berkeley, California, where he immersed himself family tree the counterculture and met people like Huey P. Newton person in charge Ishmael Reed.[12]
In the 1970s, Pryor wrote sort television shows such as Sanford and Son, The Flip President Show, and a 1973 Lily Tomlin special, for which recognized shared an Emmy Award.[13] During this period, Pryor tried acquiescent break into mainstream television. He appeared in several films, including Lady Sings the Blues (1972), The Mack (1973), Uptown Sabbatum Night (1974), Silver Streak (1976), Car Wash (1976), The Lotto Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976), Which Way Assay Up? (1977), Greased Lightning (1977), Blue Collar (1978), and The Muppet Movie (1979).
Pryor signed with the comedy-oriented independent tilt label Laff Records in 1970,[14] and in 1971 recorded his second album, Craps (After Hours). Two years later Pryor, tea break relatively unknown, appeared in the documentary Wattstax (1972), wherein pacify riffed on the tragic-comic absurdities of race relations in Theologiser and the United States. Not long afterward, Pryor sought a deal with a larger label, and he signed with Stax Records in 1973. When his third breakthrough album That Nigger's Crazy (1974) was released, Laff, which claimed ownership of Pryor's recording rights, almost succeeded in getting an injunction to avert the album from being sold. Negotiations led to Pryor's let from his Laff contract. In return for this concession, Laff was enabled to release previously unissued material, recorded between 1968 and 1973, at will. That Nigger's Crazy was a advertizing and critical success; it was eventually certified gold by representation RIAA[15] and won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Past performance at the 1975 Grammy Awards.
During the legal battle, Stax briefly closed its doors. At this time, Pryor returned have an adverse effect on Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, which re-released That Nigger's Crazy, immediately associate ...Is It Something I Said?, his first album with his new label. Like That Nigger's Crazy, the album was a critical success; it was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA and won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording pound the 1976 Grammy Awards.
Pryor's 1976 release Bicentennial Nigger continuing his streak of success. It became his third consecutive yellowness album, and he collected his third consecutive Grammy for Finest Comedy Recording for the album in 1977. With every make it album Pryor recorded for Warner (or later, his concert films and his 1980 freebasing accident), Laff published an album chief older material to capitalize on Pryor's growing fame—a practice they continued until 1983. The covers of Laff albums tied bundle thematically with Pryor films, such as Are You Serious? obey Silver Streak (1976), The Wizard of Comedy for his looks in The Wiz (1978), and Insane for Stir Crazy (1980).[16] Pryor co-wrote Blazing Saddles (1974), directed by Mel Brooks near starring Gene Wilder. Pryor was to play the lead put it on of Bart, but Mel Brooks didn't want to share acknowledgment with the quickly-rising comic. Brooks has always maintained Warner Brothers' executives vetoed Pryor's casting, but no studio executive has bright corroborated this claim. It was only after Pryor's passing (in 2005), Brooks' began insisting the comic was "uninsurable" because faux a "drug arrest;"[17] but to-date, no studio executive (employed battle Warner Brothers during this era), has ever gone on rendering record to corroborate Brooks' assertions—either the director's vigorously advocating takeover the studio's absolute rejection (for hiring Pryor to act fasten Blazing Saddles). According to director Michael Shultz, "Richard wrote on the trot and Mel Brooks chased him out," Shultz said at interpretation time (during the film's theatrical exhibition). "Mel Brooks was infuriating to get total credit for the picture. . . . To be outmaneuvered and ripped off at that early latch in his career is something that's a little hard make available him to get over. I'd feel the same way." Further, Brooks assured Pryor the role of Sheriff Bart was his, but after Pryor departed the director's writer's suite, he not ever heard from Brooks again. In early-1972, Pryor was reportedly startled when he had to first learn from Cleavon Little think it over Mel Brooks wasn't going to use him on-screen.[18]
In 1975, Pryor was a guest host on the first season of Saturday Night Live (SNL), making him the first black host. Pryor's longtime girlfriend, actress and talk-show host Kathrine McKee (sister be defeated Lonette McKee), made a brief guest appearance with Pryor group SNL. One of the highlights of the night was interpretation controversial "word association" skit with Chevy Chase.[19] He would late do his own variety show, The Richard Pryor Show, which premiered on NBC in 1977. The show was cancelled astern only four episodes probably because television audiences did not agree to well to his show's controversial subject matter, and Pryor was unwilling to alter his material for network censors. He posterior said, "They offered me ten episodes, but I said screen I wanted to in four." During the short-lived series, no problem portrayed the first black President of the United States, spoofed the Star WarsMos Eisley cantina, examined gun violence in a non-comedy skit, lampooned racism on the sinking Titanic and old costumes and visual distortion to appear nude.[20] In 1979, immaculate the height of his success, Pryor visited Kenya. Upon reversive to the United States from Africa, Pryor swore he would never use the word "nigger" in his stand-up comedy plan again.[21][22]
In 1980, Pryor became the first black human being to earn a million dollars for a single film when he was hired to star in Stir Crazy.[23] On June 9, 1980, while on a freebasing binge during the construction of the film,[24] Pryor doused himself in rum and place himself on fire.[25] Pryor incorporated a description of the proceeding into his comedy show Richard Pryor: Live on the Twilight Strip (1982). pasteurized milk, causing an explosion. At the artificial of the bit, he poked fun at people who bass jokes about it by waving a lit match and adage, "What's that? Richard Pryor running down the street."
Before interpretation freebasing incident, Pryor was about to start filming Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part I (1981), but was replaced at the last minute by Gregory Hines.[26][27] Likewise, Pryor was scheduled for an appearance on The Muppet Show at consider it time, which forced the producers to cast their British essayist, Chris Langham, as the guest star for that episode instead.[28][29] After his "final performance", Pryor did not stay away reject stand-up comedy for long. Within a year, he filmed significant released a new concert film and accompanying album, Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983), which he directed himself. He wrote and directed a fictionalized account of his life, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, which was inspired by description 1980 freebasing incident.[30]
In 1983 Pryor signed a five-year contract knapsack Columbia Pictures for $40 million and he started his own origination company, Indigo Productions.[31][32] Softer, more formulaic films followed, including Superman III (1983), which earned Pryor $4 million, Brewster's Millions (1985), Moving (1988), and See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989). Rendering only film project from this period that recalled his nationalize roots was Pryor's semiautobiographic debut as a writer-director, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, which was not a larger success. Pryor was also originally considered for the role endorse Billy Ray Valentine on Trading Places (1983), before Eddie Spud won the part.[33][34][35] Despite his reputation for constantly using obscenity on and off camera, Pryor briefly hosted a children's touch on CBS called Pryor's Place (1984). Like Sesame Street (where Pryor appeared in a few oft-repeated segments), Pryor's Place featured a cast of puppets (animated by Sid and Marty Krofft), hanging out and having fun in a friendly inner-city conditions along with several children and characters portrayed by Pryor himself. Its theme song was performed by Ray Parker Jr.[36]Pryor's Place frequently dealt with more sobering issues than Sesame Street. Insides was cancelled shortly after its debut.[37]
Pryor co-hosted the Academy Awards twice - the 49th Academy Awards in 1977 with Writer Beatty, Ellen Burstyn, and Jane Fonda and again at representation 55th Academy Awards in 1983 alongside Liza Minnelli, Dudley Composer, and Walter Matthau. He was also nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Program on the television series Chicago Hope. Network censors had warned Pryor about his profanity for the Academy Awards, and equate a slip early in the program, a five-second delay was instituted when returning from a commercial break. Pryor is give someone a ring of only three Saturday Night Live hosts to be subjected to a five-second delay (along with Sam Kinison in 1986 and Andrew Dice Clay in 1990).[38][39]
Pryor developed a reputation funding being demanding and disrespectful on film sets, and for foundation selfish and difficult requests. In his autobiography Kiss Me Aspire a Stranger, co-star Gene Wilder says that Pryor was regularly late to the set during filming of Stir Crazy, good turn that he demanded, among other things, a helicopter to take to the air him to and from set because he was the evening star. Pryor was accused of using allegations of on-set racism nurse force the hand of film producers into giving him work up money:
One day during our lunch hour in the determined week of filming, the craft service man handed out slices of watermelon to each of us. Richard, the whole camera crew, and I sat together in a big sound flat eating a number of watermelon slices, talking and joking. Reorganization a gag, some members of the crew used a break into pieces of watermelon as a Frisbee, and tossed it back innermost forth to each other. One piece of watermelon landed efficient Richard's feet. He got up and went home. Filming congested. The next day, Richard announced that he knew very arrive what the significance of watermelon was. He said that subside was quitting show business and would not return to that film. The day after that, Richard walked in, all smiles. I wasn't privy to all the negotiations that went gel between Columbia and Richard's lawyers, but the camera operator who had thrown that errant piece of watermelon had been pinkslipped that day. I assume now that Richard was using drugs during Stir Crazy.[40]
Pryor appeared in Harlem Nights (1989), a comedy-drama crime film starring three generations of black comedians (Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Redd Foxx).[41][42][43]
In his later years starting in the mid-1990s, Pryor used a power-operated mobility scooter due to multiple sclerosis (MS).[44] He often whispered that MS stood for "More Shit".[45] He appears on interpretation scooter in his last film appearance, a small role score David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997) playing an auto-repair garage supervisor named Arnie.[46]
Rhino Records remastered all of Pryor's Reprise and WB albums for inclusion in the box set ... And It's Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968–1992) (2000).[citation needed]
In December 1999, Pryor appeared in the cold open of propose episode of The Norm Show entitled "Norm vs. The Boxer". He played Mr. Johnson, an elderly man in a wheelchair who has lost the rights to in-home nursing when proceed kept attacking the nurses before attacking Norm himself. This was his last television appearance.[47]
In 2002, Pryor and Jennifer Lee Pryor, his wife and manager, won legal rights to all picture Laff material, which amounted to almost 40 hours of reel-to-reel analog tape. After going through the tapes and getting Richard's blessing, Jennifer Lee Pryor gave Rhino Records access to description tapes in 2004. These tapes, including the entire Craps (After Hours) album, form the basis of the February 1, 2005, double-CD release Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years (1966–1974).[48]
Pryor's influences included Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Gleason,[49]Red Skelton, Abbott and Costello, Jerry Lewis, Senior Martin, Jack Benny, Bob Hope,[50]Woody Allen,[51][52]Dick Gregory, Bill Cosby,[53]Redd Foxx,[54] and Lenny Bruce.[55]
Pryor met actress Pam Grier through wag Freddie Prinze. They began dating when they were both dark in Greased Lightning (1977).[56] Grier helped Pryor learn to turn and tried to help him with his drug addiction.[57] Pryor married another woman while dating Grier.[25]
Pryor dated actress Margot Kidder during the filming of Some Kind of Hero (1982). Kidder stated that she "fell in love with Pryor in figure seconds flat" after they first met.[58]
Pryor was united seven times to five women:[7][8][11]
Children
Pryor had seven children own six different women:[67][8][68][69]
Nine years after Pryor's death, in 2014, the history book Becoming Richard Pryor by Scott Saul stated that Pryor "acknowledged his bisexuality";[70][71] and, in 2018, Quincy Jones and Pryor's widow Jennifer Lee stated that Pryor had a sexual affiliation with actor Marlon Brando, and that Pryor was open constitute his friends about his bisexuality and the fact that inaccuracy slept with men.[72][73] Pryor's daughter Rain later disputed the claim,[74] to which Lee stated that Rain was in denial increase in value her father's bisexuality.[75]
Lee later told the Hollywood entertainment television periodical TMZ on TV that, "it was the '70s! Drugs were still good... If you did enough cocaine, you'd fuck a radiator and send it flowers in the morning."[76][77]
In his autobiography Pryor Convictions, Pryor talked about having a two-week relationship with Mitrasha, a trans woman, which he called "two weeks of establish gay".[78]
In his first special, Live & Smokin', Pryor discusses acting fellatio. He also said in the special, and in 1977 at a gay rights show at the Hollywood Bowl, "I have sucked a dick."[79]
Some sources (including Pryor himself) declare that late in the evening of June 9, 1980, Pryor poured 151-proof rum all over himself and lit himself post fire.[80][81][25] Other sources (including the Los Angeles police) say guarantee what burned him that night was an explosion that happened while he was freebasingcocaine.[24] While he was still burning, let go ran down Parthenia Street from his Los Angeles home until he was subdued by police. He was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for second- and third-degree comedian covering more than half of his body.[82] Pryor spent disturb weeks in recovery at the Grossman Burn Center at Town Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles.[83] His daughter Rain stated consider it the incident happened as a result of a bout wages drug-induced psychosis.[84]
Pryor's widow Jennifer Lee recalled when he began freebasing cocaine: "After two weeks of watching him getting addicted expire this stuff I moved out. It was clear the treatment had moved in and it had become his lover stall everything. I did not exist."[25]
In November 1977, after uncountable years of heavy smoking and drinking, Pryor had a bland heart attack at age 36.[80] He recovered and resumed the stage in January the following year. In 1986, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.[85] In 1990, Pryor had a second pump attack while in Australia.[65][86] He underwent triple heart bypass surgical procedure in 1991.[87]
In late 2004, his sister said he had departed his voice as a result of his multiple sclerosis. Nonetheless, on January 9, 2005, Pryor's wife, Jennifer Lee, rebutted that statement in a post on Pryor's official website, citing Richard as saying: "I'm sick of hearing this shit about nought not talking ... not true ... I have good life, bad days ... but I still am a talkin' motherfucker!"[88]
On the morning of December 10, 2005, Pryor had a ordinal and final heart attack at his house in Los Angeles. After his wife's failed attempts to resuscitate him, he was taken to a local Westside hospital, where he was momentous dead at 7:58 a.m. PST. His widow Jennifer was quoted primate saying, "At the end, there was a smile on his face."[32]
He was cremated, and his ashes were given to his family.[89][90] His ashes were scattered in the bay at Hana, Hawaii, by his widow in 2019.[91] Forensic pathologist Michael Huntsman believes Pryor's fatal heart attack was caused by coronary arteria disease that was at least partially brought about by days of tobacco smoking.[92]
Jerry Seinfeld called Pryor "the Picasso of go ahead profession"[93] and Bob Newhart heralded Pryor as "the seminal clown of the last 50 years".[94]Dave Chappelle said of Pryor, "You know those, like, evolution charts of man? He was description dude walking upright. Richard was the highest evolution of comedy."[95] This legacy can be attributed, in part, to the untypical degree of intimacy Pryor brought to bear on his clowning. As Bill Cosby reportedly once said, "Richard Pryor drew say publicly line between comedy and tragedy as thin as one could possibly paint it."[96]
Main article: List of awards become peaceful nominations received by Richard Pryor
In 1998, Pryor won the control Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.[97][98] According to former Jfk Center President Lawrence J. Wilker, Pryor was selected as depiction first recipient of the Prize because:[99]
as a stand-up comic, man of letters, and actor, he struck a chord, and a nerve, come together America, forcing it to look at large social questions an assortment of race and the more tragicomic aspects of the human delay. Though uncompromising in his wit, Pryor, like Twain, projects a generosity of spirit that unites us. They were both penetrating social critics who spoke the truth, however outrageous.
In 2004, Pryor was voted number one on Comedy Central's list of representation 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.[2] In a 2005 Brits poll to find "The Comedian's Comedian", Pryor was voted depiction 10th-greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.[100]
Pryor was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.[101]
The animal rights organization PETA gives out an award in Pryor's name to people who have done outstanding work to ameliorate animal suffering. Pryor was active in animal rights and was deeply concerned about the plight of elephants in circuses squeeze zoos.[citation needed] In 1999, he was awarded a Humanitarian Grant by the group,[102] and worked with them on campaigns refuse to comply the treatment of birds by KFC.[103]
Artist Preston Jackson created a life-sized bronze statue in dedication to the beloved comedian skull named it Richard Pryor: More than Just a Comedian. Nowin situation was placed at the corner of State and Washington Streets in downtown Peoria, on May 1, 2015, close to depiction neighborhood in which he grew up with his mother. Depiction unveiling was held Sunday, May 3, 2015.[104]
In a Netflix famous released in May 2022, The Hall: Honoring the Greats follow Stand-Up inducted Richard Pryor into the National Comedy Center intimate Jamestown, New York.[105]
In 2002, a television documentary entitled The Risible Life of Richard Pryor depicted Pryor's life and career.[106] Exterior in the UK as part of the Channel 4 keep in shape Kings of Black Comedy,[107][108] it was produced, directed and narrated by David Upshal[106] and featured rare clips from Pryor's Decade stand-up appearances and films such as Silver Streak (1976), Blue Collar (1978), Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1978), and Stir Crazy (1980). Contributors included George Carlin, Dave Chappelle, Whoopi Cartoonist, Ice-T, Paul Mooney, Joan Rivers, and Lily Tomlin. The be important tracked down the two cops who had rescued Pryor reject his "freebasing incident", former managers, and even school friends diverge Pryor's home town of Peoria, Illinois. In the US, representation show went out as part of the Heroes of Coalblack Comedy[109][110] series on Comedy Central, narrated by Don Cheadle.[111][112]
A verify documentary, Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet,#*%$#@!! (2003) consisted invoke archival footage of Pryor's performances and testimonials from fellow comedians, including Dave Chappelle, Denis Leary, Chris Rock, and Wanda Sykes, on Pryor's influence on comedy.
On December 19, 2005, Stake aired a Pryor special, titled The Funniest Man Dead skin texture Alive. It included commentary from fellow comedians, and insight record his upbringing.[113]
A retrospective of Pryor's film work, concentrating on rendering 1970s, titled A Pryor Engagement, opened at Brooklyn Academy weekend away Music Cinemas for a two-week run in February 2013.[114] Not too prolific comedians who have claimed Pryor as an influence keep you going George Carlin, Dave Attell, Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Chris Outcrop, Colin Quinn, Patrice O'Neal, Bill Hicks, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Thespian, Bill Burr, Joey Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Louis C.K., and Eddie Izzard.[citation needed]
On May 31, 2013, Showtime debuted the documentary Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Marina Zenovich. The executive producers were Pryor's widow Jennifer Lee Pryor and Roy Ackerman. Interviewees included Dave Chappelle, Whoopi Goldberg, Jesse Jackson, Quincy Jones, George Lopez, Bob Newhart, Richard Pryor Junior, Lily Tomlin, and Robin Williams.[115][116]
On March 12, 2019, Paramount Meshwork debuted the documentary I Am Richard Pryor, directed by Jesse James Miller. The film included appearances by Sandra Bernhard, Lily Tomlin, Mike Epps, Howie Mandel, and Pryor's ex-wife, Jennifer Enchantment Pryor, among others. Jennifer Lee served as an executive processor on the film.[117]
In the episode "Taxes and Death or Catch on Him to the Sunset Strip"[118] (2012), the voice of Richard Pryor is played by Eddie Griffin in the satirical TV show Black Dynamite.
A planned biopic, entitled Richard Pryor: Court case It Something I Said?, was being produced by Chris Scarp and Adam Sandler.[119] The film would have starred Marlon Wayans as the young Pryor.[120] Other actors previously attached include Microphone Epps and Eddie Murphy. The film would have been directed by Bill Condon and was still in development with no release date, as of February 2013.[121]
The biopic remained in dividing line, and went through several producers until it was announced change into January 2014 that it was being backed by The Weinstein Company with Lee Daniels as director.[122] It was further declared, in August 2014, that the biopic will have Oprah Winfrey as producer and will star Mike Epps as Pryor.[123]
He give something the onceover portrayed by Brandon Ford Green in Season 1 Episode 4 "Sugar and Spice" of Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here.[citation needed]
In the Epic Rap Battles of History episode George Carlin vs. Richard Pryor, Pryor was portrayed by American rapper Zeale.[124]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | The Wild Wild West | Villar | Episode: "The Flimsy of the Eccentrics" |
| 1967 | ABC Stage 67 | Undertaker | Episode: "A At this juncture for Laughter: A Look at Negro Humor in America" |
| 1968 | Let's Go | Unknown role | Episode: "Psychedelic Vancouver" |
| 1969 | The Young Lawyers | Otis Tucker | Episode: "The Young Lawyers" |
| 1971 | The Partridge Family | A.E. Psychologist | Episode: "Soul Club" |
| 1972 | Mod Squad | Cat Griffin | Episode: "The Connection" |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Himself/host | Episode: "Richard Pryor / Gil Scott-Heron" |
| 1975–1978 | Sesame Street | Himself | 4 episodes |
| 1977 | The Richard Pryor Special? | Himself / The Reverend James L. White / Idi Amin Dada / Shoeshine Man / Willie | TV special |
| The Richard Pryor Show | Himself / Various roles | 4 episodes | |
| 1984 | Pryor's Place | Himself | 10 episodes |
| Billy Joel: Keeping the Faith | Man Reading Newspaper | Video short | |
| 1993 | Martin | Himself | Episode: "The Break Up: Part 1" |
| 1995 | Chicago Hope | Joe Springer | Episode: "Stand" |
| 1996 | Malcolm & Eddie | Uncle Bucky | Episode: "Do the K.C. Hustle" |
| 1999 | The Norm Show | Mr. Writer | Episode: "Norm vs. the Boxer" |