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.
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Films (87)
Jerry West: The Logo
2026 · Self (Archive footage & voice)
Point de rupture : 1975
2025 · (archive footage)
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
2025 · Self (archive footage)
John Candy: me agrado
2025 · Self - Actor (archive footage)
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
2024 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Group Therapy
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Remembering Gene Wilder
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Zeitgeist: Requiem
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
2023
Samouraï Academy
2022 · Original Film Writer
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
2022 · Self (archive footage)
The Last Days of Richard Pryor
2020 · Himself
I Am Richard Pryor
2019 · Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Icon
2014 · Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
2013 · Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
2013 · Self (archive footage)
Black and White Trypps Number Four
2008
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
2007 · Self (archive footage)
The N Word
2006 · Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003 · Self (archive footage)
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
2003 · Self (archive footage)
A Huey P. Newton Story
2001 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
1999 · (archive footage)
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
1999 · Self
Blacks and Jews
1997 · Self
Afro Promo
1997 · Self (archive footage)
Lost Highway
1997 · Arnie
Mad Dog Time
1996 · Jimmy the Gravedigger
But... Seriously
1994 · Self (archive footage)
A Century of Cinema
1994 · Self
A Party For Richard Pryor
1991 · Self
The Three Muscatels
1991 · Narrator / Wino / Bartender
Another You
1991 · Eddie Dash
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990 · Self
Harlem Nights
1989 · Sugar Ray
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
1989 · Wallace 'Wally' Karue
Moving
1988 · Arlo Pear
Critical Condition
1987 · Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
1986 · Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego, Screenplay, Director, Producer
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
1986 · Self
The Making of 'Superman III'
1985 · Self
Brewster's Millions
1985 · Montgomery Brewster
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
1983 · Self, Writer, Director
Superman III
1983 · August 'Gus' Gorman
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
1983 · Self
The Toy
1982 · Jack Brown
Some Kind of Hero
1982 · Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
1982 · Self, Writer, Producer
Bustin' Loose
1981 · Joe Braxton, Story, Producer
Stir Crazy
1980 · Harry Monroe
In God We Tru$t
1980 · G.O.D.
Wholly Moses
1980 · Pharaoh
The Muppet Movie
1979 · Balloon Vendor
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
1979 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
1979 · Self, Writer
The Wiz
1978 · The Wiz
California Suite
1978 · Dr. Chauncey Gump
Blue Collar
1978 · Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
Which Way Is Up?
1977 · Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2
1977 · Self
Greased Lightning
1977 · Wendell Scott
The Richard Pryor Special?
1977 · Self / Various, Writer
Silver Streak
1976 · Grover Muldoon
Car Wash
1976 · Daddy Rich
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
1976 · Charlie Snow
Adiós Amigo
1975 · Sam Spade
Carter's Army
1975 · Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
The Lion Roars Again
1975 · Self
Flip Wilson... Of Course
1974 · Self
Uptown Saturday Night
1974 · Sharp Eye Washington
Blazing Saddles
1974 · Screenplay
Juke and Opal
1973 · Juke
Some Call It Loving
1973 · Jeff
Lily
1973 · Writer
Hit!
1973 · Mike Willmer
The Mack
1973 · Slim
Wattstax
1973 · Self
Lady Sings the Blues
1972 · Piano Man
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
1971 · Wino
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
1971 · Self, Writer
Dynamite Chicken
1971 · Self
The Phynx
1970 · Richard Pryor
The Young Lawyers
1969 · Otis Tucker
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
1969 · Writer
Wild in the Streets
1968 · Stanley X
The Busy Body
1967 · Whittaker
Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary
· Self (archive footage)
Séries (23)
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Black
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Dark Side of Comedy
2022 · Self (Archive Footage)
Portraits de Stars
2021 · Self (archive footage)
The Comedy Store
2020 · Self (archive footage)
I Am
2012 · Self
Legends
2006 · G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Norm Show
1999
Chicago Hope
1994 · Joe Springer
Martin
1992 · Richard Pryor
Pryor's Place
1984 · Richard Pryor, Creator
The Richard Pryor Show
1977 · Host, Creator
Saturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Host
Dinah!
1974 · Self
The Midnight Special
1972 · Self
The Partridge Family
1970 · A.E. Simon
The Young Lawyers
1970
The Flip Wilson Show
1970 · Self
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
The Tonight Show avec Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self - Co-Host
Kraft Music Hall
1958 · Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self