Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor

Acting
Born 1940-12-01 - Died 2005-12-10Peoria, Illinois, U.S.

Biography

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.

Movies (83)

Lost Highway
7.5

Lost Highway

1997Movie7.5
The Muppet Movie
7.2

The Muppet Movie

1979Movie7.2
Superman III
5.5

Superman III

1983Movie5.5
Harlem Nights
6.1

Harlem Nights

1989Movie6.1
John Candy: I Like Me
7.9

John Candy: I Like Me

2025Movie7.9
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
6.8

See No Evil, Hear No Evil

1989Movie6.8
Brewster's Millions
6.6

Brewster's Millions

1985Movie6.6
The Wiz
6.2

The Wiz

1978Movie6.2
Greased Lightning
6.4

Greased Lightning

1977Movie6.4
The Toy
5.9

The Toy

1982Movie5.9
Lady Sings the Blues
6.9

Lady Sings the Blues

1972Movie6.9
Stir Crazy
6.5

Stir Crazy

1980Movie6.5
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
7.1

Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

2013Movie7.1
Silver Streak
6.7

Silver Streak

1976Movie6.7
California Suite
5.9

California Suite

1978Movie5.9
Breakdown: 1975
6.8

Breakdown: 1975

2025Movie6.8
Jerry West: The Logo
5.5

Jerry West: The Logo

2026Movie5.5
Blue Collar
7.3

Blue Collar

1978Movie7.3
Car Wash
6.0

Car Wash

1976Movie6.0
Adiós Amigo
4.6

Adiós Amigo

1975Movie4.6
Moving
5.5

Moving

1988Movie5.5
Bustin' Loose
6.2

Bustin' Loose

1981Movie6.2
Wholly Moses
4.7

Wholly Moses

1980Movie4.7
Another You
5.4

Another You

1991Movie5.4
The N Word
7.2

The N Word

2006Movie7.2
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
6.9

Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special

1999Movie6.9
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
5.0

101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment

2003Movie5.0
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
6.5

I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not

2025Movie6.5
Critical Condition
5.5

Critical Condition

1987Movie5.5
In God We Tru$t
6.1

In God We Tru$t

1980Movie6.1
Mad Dog Time
5.2

Mad Dog Time

1996Movie5.2
The Lion Roars Again
6.5

The Lion Roars Again

1975Movie6.5
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
8.1

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

2013Movie8.1
Wattstax
6.7

Wattstax

1973Movie6.7
Some Kind of Hero
5.6

Some Kind of Hero

1982Movie5.6
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
6.1

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

1976Movie6.1
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
6.7

Richard Pryor: Here and Now

1983Movie6.7
Uptown Saturday Night
6.2

Uptown Saturday Night

1974Movie6.2
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
7.4

Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

1979Movie7.4
Group Therapy
7.8

Group Therapy

2024Movie7.8
Hit!
5.8

Hit!

1973Movie5.8
I Am Richard Pryor
6.9

I Am Richard Pryor

2019Movie6.9
The Richard Pryor Special?
7.2

The Richard Pryor Special?

1977Movie7.2
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
8.7

Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

1990Movie8.7
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

1979Movie
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
7.4

Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

1982Movie7.4
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
5.9

The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up

2022Movie5.9
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
6.2

Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

2024Movie6.2
The Three Muscatels
9.0

The Three Muscatels

1991Movie9.0
The Mack
6.4

The Mack

1973Movie6.4
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
8.7

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

1983Movie8.7
Zeitgeist: Requiem

Zeitgeist: Requiem

2024Movie
Remembering Gene Wilder
7.3

Remembering Gene Wilder

2024Movie7.3
The Phynx
3.6

The Phynx

1970Movie3.6
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
6.5

Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

1986Movie6.5
Richard Pryor: Icon
6.5

Richard Pryor: Icon

2014Movie6.5
Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary

Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary

Movie
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
6.6

Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'

1971Movie6.6
Wild in the Streets
5.8

Wild in the Streets

1968Movie5.8
Lily

Lily

1973Movie
Which Way Is Up?
5.8

Which Way Is Up?

1977Movie5.8
Carter's Army
4.5

Carter's Army

1975Movie4.5
But... Seriously
8.5

But... Seriously

1994Movie8.5
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
7.8

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

2003Movie7.8
Blacks and Jews
8.0

Blacks and Jews

1997Movie8.0
The Busy Body
7.2

The Busy Body

1967Movie7.2
Dynamite Chicken
5.5

Dynamite Chicken

1971Movie5.5
The Young Lawyers
10.0

The Young Lawyers

1969Movie10.0
The Making of 'Superman III'
6.8

The Making of 'Superman III'

1985Movie6.8
Juke and Opal

Juke and Opal

1973Movie
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s

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

2007Movie
Some Call It Loving
5.0

Some Call It Loving

1973Movie5.0
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines

1986Movie
A Huey P. Newton Story
5.4

A Huey P. Newton Story

2001Movie5.4
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
6.8

Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

1999Movie6.8
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
7.0

Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales

1969Movie7.0
Afro Promo
8.0

Afro Promo

1997Movie8.0
Flip Wilson... Of Course

Flip Wilson... Of Course

1974Movie
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
8.7

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

1971Movie8.7
The Last Days of Richard Pryor
8.0

The Last Days of Richard Pryor

2020Movie8.0
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight

Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight

2023Movie
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2

The Richard Pryor show Volume 2

1977Movie
Black and White Trypps Number Four
5.8

Black and White Trypps Number Four

2008Movie5.8

TV Shows (23)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Chicago Hope
7.2

Chicago Hope

1994Series7.2
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
The Partridge Family
6.8

The Partridge Family

1970Series6.8
Martin
7.5

Martin

1992Series7.5
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948Series6.8
Kraft Music Hall
5.4

Kraft Music Hall

1958Series5.4
The Flip Wilson Show
4.8

The Flip Wilson Show

1970Series4.8
The Midnight Special
8.1

The Midnight Special

1972Series8.1
The Norm Show
7.2

The Norm Show

1999Series7.2
Legends
5.0

Legends

2006Series5.0
Hollywood Black
3.0

Hollywood Black

2024Series3.0
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy

2024Series
The Richard Pryor Show
6.4

The Richard Pryor Show

1977Series6.4
Dark Side of Comedy
8.2

Dark Side of Comedy

2022Series8.2
I Am

I Am

2012Series
Superstar
5.7

Superstar

2021Series5.7
The Comedy Store
7.6

The Comedy Store

2020Series7.6
The Young Lawyers
7.0

The Young Lawyers

1970Series7.0
Pryor's Place
7.0

Pryor's Place

1984Series7.0