Richard Pryor
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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.
Known for
Credits
Lost Highway (1997)
as Arnie
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
as Wallace 'Wally' Karue
John Candy: I Like Me (2025)
as Self - Actor (archive footage)
Superman III (1983)
as August 'Gus' Gorman
The Muppet Movie (1979)
as Balloon Vendor
Brewster's Millions (1985)
as Montgomery Brewster
Critical Condition (1987)
as Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not (2025)
as Self (archive footage)
Harlem Nights (1989)
as Sugar Ray
The Wiz (1978)
as The Wiz
Jerry West: The Logo (2026)
as Self (Archive footage & voice)
Lily (1973)
Actor
Stir Crazy (1980)
as Harry Monroe
The Toy (1982)
as Jack Brown
Silver Streak (1976)
as Grover Muldoon
Car Wash (1976)
as Daddy Rich
Zeitgeist: Requiem (2024)
as Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)
as Self
A Party For Richard Pryor (1991)
as Self
Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983)
as Self
The N Word (2006)
as Self (archive footage)
Adiós Amigo (1975)
as Sam Spade
Another You (1991)
as Eddie Dash
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special (1999)
as (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Icon (2014)
as Self (archive footage)
Moving (1988)
as Arlo Pear
Breakdown: 1975 (2025)
as Self (archive footage)
Bustin' Loose (1981)
as Joe Braxton
California Suite (1978)
as Dr. Chauncey Gump
The Young Lawyers (1969)
as Otis Tucker
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)
as Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
Blue Collar (1978)
as Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
as Piano Man
Blacks and Jews (1997)
as Self
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales (1969)
Actor
Carter's Army (1975)
as Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
In God We Tru$t (1980)
as G.O.D.
Mad Dog Time (1996)
as Jimmy the Gravedigger
Uptown Saturday Night (1974)
as Sharp Eye Washington
Juke and Opal (1973)
as Juke
Which Way Is Up? (1977)
as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic (2013)
as Self (archive footage)
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up (2022)
as Self (archive footage)
Wholly Moses (1980)
as Pharaoh
Wild in the Streets (1968)
as Stanley X
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration (1990)
as Self
Greased Lightning (1977)
as Wendell Scott
Wattstax (1973)
as Self
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)
as Charlie Snow
The Mack (1973)
as Slim
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (1983)
as Self
Some Call It Loving (1973)
as Jeff
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (2024)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise (2013)
as Self (archive footage)
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment (2003)
as Self (archive footage)
Some Kind of Hero (1982)
as Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
Remembering Gene Wilder (2024)
as Self (archive footage)
Group Therapy (2024)
as Self (archive footage)
A Century of Cinema (1994)
as Self
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? (1999)
as Self
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
as Self
I Am Richard Pryor (2019)
as Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
The Making of 'Superman III' (1985)
as Self
The Three Muscatels (1991)
as Narrator / Wino / Bartender
The Busy Body (1967)
as Whittaker
A Huey P. Newton Story (2001)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hit! (1973)
as Mike Willmer
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! (2003)
as Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' (1971)
as Self
The Phynx (1970)
as Richard Pryor
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines (1986)
as Self
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street (1979)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight (2023)
Actor
Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary (—)
as Self (archive footage)
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat (1971)
as Wino
The Lion Roars Again (1975)
as Self
The Last Days of Richard Pryor (2020)
as Himself
The Richard Pryor Special? (1977)
as Self / Various
But... Seriously (1994)
as Self (archive footage)
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s (2007)
as Self (archive footage)
Flip Wilson... Of Course (1974)
as Self
Afro Promo (1997)
as Self (archive footage)
Dynamite Chicken (1971)
as Self
Black and White Trypps Number Four (2008)
Actor
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2 (1977)
as Self