RP
Richard Pryor
Actor, Writer, Producer, Director, Additional Credits
Born December 1, 1940Died December 10, 2005 (65 years)
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.
Known For
Richard Pryor Filmography
| 2008 | |
| 2008 | Role Model: Gene Wilder · as Grover Muldoon |
| 2006 | Legends (TV Series) · as G.o.d. (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 2004 | |
| 2000 | Me, Myself & Irene · as Stand-Up Comedian On Tv (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 1999 | The Norm Show (TV Series) |
| 1997 | Billy Joel: Greatest Hits Volume III · as Man With Newspaper ('keeping The Faith') |
| 1997 | Lost Highway · as Arnie |
| 1996 | Mad Dog Time · as Jimmy The Gravedigger |
| 1996 | Malcolm & Eddie (TV Series) · as Uncle Buck |
| 1994 | Chicago Hope (TV Series) |
| 1991 | The Three Muscatels · as Narrator / Wino / Bartender |
| 1991 | Another You · as Eddie Dash |
| 1990 | Hollywood Mavericks · as Zeke |
| 1989 | Harlem Nights · as Sugar Ray |
| 1989 | See No Evil, Hear No Evil · as Wallace 'wally' Karue |
| 1988 | |
| 1987 | Critical Condition · as Eddie Lenahan/dr. Kevin Slattery |
| 1986 | Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling · as Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego |
| 1985 | Brewster's Millions · as Montgomery Brewster |
| 1983 | Superman III · as August 'gus' Gorman |
| 1982 | The Toy · as Jack Brown |
| 1982 | Some Kind of Hero · as Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal |
| 1981 | Bustin' Loose · as Joe Braxton |
| 1980 | Stir Crazy · as Harry Monroe |
| 1980 | |
| 1980 | Wholly Moses! · as Pharaoh |
| 1979 | The Muppet Movie · as Balloon Vendor |
| 1978 | California Suite · as Dr. Chauncey Gump |
| 1978 | The Wiz · as The Wiz |
| 1978 | Blue Collar · as Ezekiel 'zeke' Brown |
| 1977 | Which Way Is Up? · as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas |
| 1977 | The Richard Pryor Show (TV Series) · as Host |
| 1977 | Greased Lightning · as Wendell Scott |
| 1976 | Silver Streak · as Grover Muldoon |
| 1976 | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings · as Charlie Snow |
| 1976 | Car Wash · as Daddy Rich |
| 1975 | Adios Amigo · as Sam Spade |
| 1974 | Uptown Saturday Night · as Sharp Eye Washington |
| 1973 | |
| 1973 | Some Call It Loving · as Jeff |
| 1973 | Hit! · as Mike Willmer |
| 1973 | The Mack · as Slim |
| 1972 | Lady Sings the Blues · as Piano Man |
| 1972 | The Midnight Special (TV Series) · as Host |
| 1971 | |
| 1970 | The Partridge Family (TV Series) · as A.e. Simon |
| 1970 | Carter's Army · as Pvt. Jonathan Crunk |
| 1969 | The Young Lawyers (TV Series) |
| 1968 | The Mod Squad (TV Series) · as Cat Griffin |
| 1968 | Wild in the Streets · as Stanley X |
| 1967 | The Busy Body · as Whittaker |
| 1965 | The Wild Wild West (TV Series) · as Villar |
| 2025 | Being Eddie · as Self - Actor & Comedian |
| 2025 | John Candy: I Like Me · as Self - Actor |
| 2025 | Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story · as Self |
| 2025 | SNL50: The Anniversary Special · as Self |
| 2024 | Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution · as Self (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 2024 | Group Therapy · as Self |
| 2023 | Albert Brooks: Defending My Life · as Self |
| 2023 | Remembering Gene Wilder · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2022 | Dark Side of Comedy (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2022 | George Carlin's American Dream (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2022 | The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2021 | Live at Mister Kelly's · as Self |
| 2021 | Superstar (2021) (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2021 | Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy · as Self - Actor |
| 2020 | Belushi · as Self |
| 2020 | The Comedy Store (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2019 | Hitsville: The Making of Motown · as Self |
| 2019 | I Am Richard Pryor · as Self - Actor And Comedian (archive Footage) |
| 2018 | Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind · as Self |
| 2017 | Jerry Before Seinfeld · as Self |
| 2017 | The History of Comedy (TV Series) · as Richard Pryor |
| 2016 | Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg · as Self |
| 2014 | Richard Pryor: Icon · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2014 | And the Oscar Goes to... · as Self - Co-Host, 1977 |
| 2013 | |
| 2013 | Mel Brooks: Make a Noise · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2013 | Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2012 | Sunset Strip · as Self |
| 2011 | The 2011 Comedy Awards · as Self |
| 2009 | |
| 2009 | Notorious · as Richard Pryor |
| 2007 | Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s and '70s · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2007 | 100 Greatest Stand-Ups · as Self |
| 2007 | |
| 2006 | The 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Memorial Tribute |
| 2006 | The Curse of Superman · as Self |
| 2006 | The 78th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Memorial Tribute |
| 2006 | The 48th Annual Grammy Awards · as Self (in Memoriam) |
| 2006 | 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - In Memoriam |
| 2005 | |
| 2004 | BET Comedy Awards · as Self |
| 2004 | The N Word · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2004 | 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time (TV Series) · as Self #1 |
| 2004 | |
| 2003 | Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2003 | Bitter Jester · as Self |
| 2003 | A Century of Black Cinema · as Self |
| 2003 | Uncensored Comedy: That's Not Funny! · as Self |
| 2003 | |
| 2001 | A Huey P. Newton Story · as Self (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 1999 | Saturday Night Live 25 · as Self |
| 1999 | Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? · as Self |
| 1999 | The Mark Twain Prize: Richard Pryor · as Self |
| 1997 | Blacks and Jews · as Self |
| 1997 | Afro Promo · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 1996 | Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television · as Self |
| 1996 | 27th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1994 | The Second Annual Comedy Hall of Fame · as Self - Honoree |
| 1994 | A Century of Cinema · as Self |
| 1993 | But... Seriously · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 1993 | Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America · as Self |
| 1992 | Martin (TV Series) · as Richard Pryor |
| 1991 | A Party for Richard Pryor · as Self |
| 1990 | |
| 1989 | The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1987 | Biography (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | The Best of Chevy Chase · as Self |
| 1986 | One Voice · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1986 | |
| 1985 | Larry King Live (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1984 | Pryor's Place (TV Series) · as Richard Pryor |
| 1984 | The Making of 'Superman III' · as Self |
| 1983 | Richard Pryor... Here and Now · as Self |
| 1983 | Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever · as Self |
| 1983 | The 55th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1982 | Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1982 | Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip · as Self |
| 1982 | Late Night With David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1981 | The 53rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1979 | Richard Pryor: Live in Concert · as Self |
| 1979 | Laugh Factory (TV Series) · as Self - Comedian (1979-1980) |
| 1977 | The Richard Pryor Special? · as Self / Various |
| 1977 | The 49th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1977 | The 19th Annual Grammy Awards · as Self |
| 1977 | A Concert: Behind Prison Walls · as Self |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1974 | Dinah! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1973 | Wattstax · as Self |
| 1972 | The New Bill Cosby Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1972 | The David Steinberg Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1971 | Soul Train (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1971 | Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' · as Self |
| 1971 | Dynamite Chicken · as Self |
| 1970 | The Flip Wilson Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1970 | The Phynx · as Richard Pryor |
| 1969 | Sesame Street (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1969 | This is Tom Jones (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1967 | The Phil Donahue Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1967 | Kraft Music Hall (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1966 | ABC Stage 67 (TV Series) · as Self - Undertaker |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2022 | Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank · as Original Film Writer |
| 1999 | |
| 1986 | Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling · as Screenplay |
| 1983 | |
| 1982 | |
| 1979 | |
| 1979 | Laugh Factory (TV Series) |
| 1977 | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles · as Screenplay |
| 1973 | |
| 1971 |
| 1993 | Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America · as Co-Executive Producer |
| 1981 | Bustin' Loose · as Story |
| 1977 | The Richard Pryor Show (TV Series) · as Special Material By |
| 1972 | Sanford and Son (TV Series) · as Written By |