Richard Pryor

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III (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.

Filmography (105 Appearances)

Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary

TBA

Jerry West: The Logo

2026

Breakdown: 1975

2025

I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not

2025

John Candy: I Like Me

2025

Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

2024

Hollywood Black

2024

Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

2024

Group Therapy

2024

Zeitgeist: Requiem

2024

Remembering Gene Wilder

2024

Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight

2023

Dark Side of Comedy

2022

The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up

2022

Superstar

2021

The Comedy Store

2020

The Last Days of Richard Pryor

2020

I Am Richard Pryor

2019

Richard Pryor: Icon

2014

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

2013

Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

2013

I Am

2012

Black and White Trypps Number Four

2008

Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s

2007

Legends

2006

The N Word

2006

Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!

2003

101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment

2003

A Huey P. Newton Story

2001

Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

The Norm Show

Blacks and Jews

Afro Promo

Lost Highway

Mad Dog Time

Chicago Hope

But... Seriously

Martin

The Three Muscatels

Another You

Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

1990

Harlem Nights

1989

See No Evil, Hear No Evil

1989

Moving

1988

Critical Condition

1987

Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

1986

TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

1986

The Making of 'Superman III'

1985

Brewster's Millions

1985

Pryor's Place

1984

Richard Pryor: Here and Now

1983

Superman III

1983

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

1983

The Toy

1982

Some Kind of Hero

1982

Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

Bustin' Loose

Stir Crazy

In God We Tru$t

Wholly Moses

The Muppet Movie

A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

1979

Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

The Wiz

California Suite

Blue Collar

Which Way Is Up?

The Richard Pryor Show

1977

The Richard Pryor show Volume 2

1977

Greased Lightning

1977

The Richard Pryor Special?

1977

Silver Streak

1976

Car Wash

1976

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

Adiós Amigo

Saturday Night Live

Carter's Army

The Lion Roars Again

Dinah!

Flip Wilson... Of Course

1974

Uptown Saturday Night

Juke and Opal

Some Call It Loving

Lily

Hit!

The Mack

Wattstax

Lady Sings the Blues

The Midnight Special

You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat

1971

Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'

Dynamite Chicken

The Partridge Family

The Young Lawyers

The Flip Wilson Show

The Phynx

The Young Lawyers

Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales

1969

Wild in the Streets

1968

The Busy Body

1967 Debut

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

The Merv Griffin Show

1962

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

Kraft Music Hall

1958

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948