Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor 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.
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor 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.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0001640
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q294912
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Filmography (Movies)
Breakdown: 1975
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:18/12/2025
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:04/12/2025
John Candy: I Like Me
Character:Self - Actor (archive footage)
Release Date:04/09/2025
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
Character:Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:07/06/2024
Remembering Gene Wilder
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:15/03/2024
Zeitgeist: Requiem
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:15/03/2024
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
Character:
Release Date:11/11/2023
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:19/05/2022
The Last Days of Richard Pryor
Character:Himself
Release Date:16/01/2020
I Am Richard Pryor
Character:Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
Release Date:12/03/2019
Richard Pryor: Icon
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:23/11/2014
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:20/05/2013
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:23/04/2013
Black and White Trypps Number Four
Character:
Release Date:20/06/2008
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:10/04/2007
The N Word
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:16/01/2006
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:18/07/2003
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/2003
A Huey P. Newton Story
Character:Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:18/06/2001
Me, Myself & Irene
Character:Stand-Up Comedian on TV (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:22/06/2000
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
Character:Self
Release Date:01/04/1999
Blacks and Jews
Character:Self
Release Date:29/07/1997
Afro Promo
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:31/01/1997
Lost Highway
Character:Arnie
Release Date:15/01/1997
Mad Dog Time
Character:Jimmy the Gravedigger
Release Date:08/11/1996
But... Seriously
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:25/03/1994
The Three Muscatels
Character:Narrator / Wino / Bartender
Release Date:01/11/1991
Another You
Character:Eddie Dash
Release Date:26/07/1991
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Character:Self
Release Date:04/02/1990
Harlem Nights
Character:Sugar Ray
Release Date:17/11/1989
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Character:Wallace 'Wally' Karue
Release Date:12/05/1989
Moving
Character:Arlo Pear
Release Date:04/03/1988
Critical Condition
Character:Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
Release Date:16/01/1987
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Character:Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
Release Date:02/05/1986
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Character:Self
Release Date:16/04/1986
The Making of 'Superman III'
Character:Self
Release Date:26/08/1985
Brewster's Millions
Character:Montgomery Brewster
Release Date:22/05/1985
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Character:Self
Release Date:28/10/1983
Superman III
Character:August 'Gus' Gorman
Release Date:17/06/1983
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Character:Self
Release Date:16/05/1983
The Toy
Character:Jack Brown
Release Date:10/12/1982
Some Kind of Hero
Character:Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
Release Date:02/04/1982
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Character:Self
Release Date:12/03/1982
Bustin' Loose
Character:Joe Braxton
Release Date:22/05/1981
Stir Crazy
Character:Harry Monroe
Release Date:12/12/1980
In God We Tru$t
Character:G.O.D.
Release Date:26/09/1980
Wholly Moses
Character:Pharaoh
Release Date:13/06/1980
The Muppet Movie
Character:Balloon Vendor
Release Date:22/06/1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Character:Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:01/03/1979
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Character:Self
Release Date:26/01/1979
The Wiz
Character:The Wiz
Release Date:24/10/1978
California Suite
Character:Dr. Chauncey Gump
Release Date:19/03/1978
Blue Collar
Character:Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
Release Date:10/02/1978
Which Way Is Up?
Character:Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
Release Date:04/11/1977
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2
Character:Self
Release Date:10/09/1977
The Richard Pryor Show Volume I
Character:
Release Date:10/09/1977
Greased Lightning
Character:Wendell Scott
Release Date:01/07/1977
The Richard Pryor Special?
Character:Self / Various
Release Date:05/05/1977
Silver Streak
Character:Grover Muldoon
Release Date:03/12/1976
Car Wash
Character:Daddy Rich
Release Date:22/10/1976
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
Character:Charlie Snow
Release Date:16/07/1976
Adiós Amigo
Character:Sam Spade
Release Date:25/12/1975
Carter's Army
Character:Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
Release Date:25/05/1975
The Lion Roars Again
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1975
Flip Wilson... Of Course
Character:Self
Release Date:18/10/1974
Uptown Saturday Night
Character:Sharp Eye Washington
Release Date:26/07/1974
Juke and Opal
Character:Juke
Release Date:01/12/1973
Some Call It Loving
Character:Jeff
Release Date:16/11/1973
Lily
Character:
Release Date:02/11/1973
Hit!
Character:Mike Willmer
Release Date:18/09/1973
The Mack
Character:Slim
Release Date:04/04/1973
Wattstax
Character:Self
Release Date:04/02/1973
Lady Sings the Blues
Character:Piano Man
Release Date:12/10/1972
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
Character:Wino
Release Date:19/09/1971
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
Character:Self
Release Date:29/04/1971
Dynamite Chicken
Character:Self
Release Date:20/01/1971
The Phynx
Character:Richard Pryor
Release Date:06/03/1970
The Young Lawyers
Character:Otis Tucker
Release Date:28/10/1969
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1969
Wild in the Streets
Character:Stanley X
Release Date:29/05/1968
The Busy Body
Character:Whittaker
Release Date:12/03/1967
Television Appearances
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy
Character:Self (archive footage)
Dark Side of Comedy
Character:Self (Archive Footage)
Superstar
Character:Self (archive footage)
The Comedy Store
Character:Self (archive footage)
I Am
Character:Self
Legends
Character:G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Norm Show
Character:
Chicago Hope
Character:Joe Springer
Martin
Character:Richard Pryor
Pryor's Place
Character:Richard Pryor
The Richard Pryor Show
Character:Host
Saturday Night Live
Character:Self - Host
Dinah!
Character:Self
The Midnight Special
Character:Host
The Partridge Family
Character:A.E. Simon
The Young Lawyers
Character:
The Flip Wilson Show
Character:Self
The Merv Griffin Show
Character:Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Character:Self
The Mike Douglas Show
Character:Self - Co-Host
Kraft Music Hall
Character:Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
Character:Self
Images
