Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, film director, social critic, satirist, writer, and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time: receiving praise from notable comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Newhart, and Bill Cosby. His body of work includes the concert movies and recordings starting in the 70s and spanning three decades. He also starred in numerous films as an actor, in both comedic and dramatic roles. He collaborated on many projects with actor Gene Wilder and actor/comedian/writer Paul Mooney. Pryor won an Emmy Award (1973), and five Grammy Awards (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1982). In 1974, he also won two American Academy of Humor awards and the Writers Guild of America Award. The first ever Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was presented to him in 1998. Pryor is listed at Number 1 on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians.
104 acting credits · 2 directing credits
Acting · 104
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
Saturday Night Live
1975
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
Chicago Hope
1994
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
Martin
1992
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
Dinah!
1974
The Partridge Family
1970
Kraft Music Hall
1958
The Midnight Special
1972
The Flip Wilson Show
1970
The Norm Show
1999
Legends
2006
Lost Highway
1997
Superman III
1983
Hollywood Black
2024
Dark Side of Comedy
2022
The Muppet Movie
1979
The Wiz
1978
The Comedy Store
2020
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
1989
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy
2024
Harlem Nights
1989
John Candy: I Like Me
2025
Brewster's Millions
1985
Breakdown: 1975
2025
The Richard Pryor Show
1977
Silver Streak
1976
Stir Crazy
1980
California Suite
1978
Car Wash
1976
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
2025
Moving
1988
Superstar
2021
Blue Collar
1978
I Am
2012
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
1976
Mad Dog Time
1996
Wattstax
1973
The Young Lawyers
1970
Another You
1991
The Toy
1982
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
2024
Greased Lightning
1977
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
1986
The N Word
2006
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
2013
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003
Critical Condition
1987
Hit!
1973
Some Kind of Hero
1982
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
1979
Wholly Moses
1980
The Mack
1973
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
2007
Remembering Gene Wilder
2024
Lady Sings the Blues
1972
Which Way Is Up?
1977
Carter's Army
1975
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
1986
The Making of 'Superman III'
1985
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
2003
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
1983
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
2022
I Am Richard Pryor
2019
Pryor's Place
1984
Uptown Saturday Night
1974
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
1999
Bustin' Loose
1981
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
2013
The Young Lawyers
1969
The Busy Body
1967
Wild in the Streets
1968
Adiós Amigo
1975
A Huey P. Newton Story
2001
The Phynx
1970
Group Therapy
2024
Zeitgeist: Requiem
2024
The Richard Pryor Special?
1977
In God We Tru$t
1980
The Lion Roars Again
1975
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
2023
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
1983
Lily
1973
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
1971
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
1969
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
1982
Richard Pryor: Icon
2014
Dynamite Chicken
1971
Afro Promo
1997
Some Call It Loving
1973
But... Seriously
1994
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
1971
Black and White Trypps Number Four
2008
Blacks and Jews
1997
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
1979
Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary
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Juke and Opal
1973
Flip Wilson... Of Course
1974
The Three Muscatels
1991
The Last Days of Richard Pryor
2020
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2
1977