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 · 98
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
Saturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Host
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self - Co-Host
Chicago Hope
1994 · Joe Springer
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
Kraft Music Hall
1958 · Self
Martin
1992 · Richard Pryor
The Partridge Family
1970 · A.E. Simon
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self
Dinah!
1974 · Self
The Midnight Special
1972 · Self
Lost Highway
1997 · Arnie
Legends
2006 · G.O.D. (archive footag...
Adiós Amigo
1975 · Sam Spade
The Flip Wilson Show
1970 · Self
The Norm Show
1999
Superman III
1983 · August 'Gus' Gorman
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
1989 · Wallace 'Wally' Karue
Hollywood Black
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Dark Side of Comedy
2022 · Self (Archive Footage)
John Candy: I Like Me
2025 · Self - Actor (archive...
Harlem Nights
1989 · Sugar Ray
Brewster's Millions
1985 · Montgomery Brewster
The Wiz
1978 · The Wiz
The Young Lawyers
1970
The Muppet Movie
1979 · Balloon Vendor
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
2025 · Self (archive footage)
Superstar
2021 · Self (archive footage)
Breakdown: 1975
2025 · Self (archive footage)
Stir Crazy
1980 · Harry Monroe
The Comedy Store
2020 · Self (archive footage)
Silver Streak
1976 · Grover Muldoon
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy
2024 · Self (archive footage)
The Richard Pryor Show
1977 · Host
Car Wash
1976 · Daddy Rich
Critical Condition
1987 · Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevi...
California Suite
1978 · Dr. Chauncey Gump
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
2013 · Self (archive footage)
Lily
1973
Moving
1988 · Arlo Pear
The Toy
1982 · Jack Brown
Another You
1991 · Eddie Dash
Blue Collar
1978 · Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
Remembering Gene Wilder
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Pryor's Place
1984 · Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003 · Self (archive footage)
The Mack
1973 · Slim
Lady Sings the Blues
1972 · Piano Man
The Three Muscatels
1991 · Narrator / Wino / Bart...
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
2024 · Self (archive footage)...
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
2022 · Self (archive footage)
Greased Lightning
1977 · Wendell Scott
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
1986 · Jo Jo Dancer / Alter E...
Group Therapy
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
2013 · Self (archive footage)
Uptown Saturday Night
1974 · Sharp Eye Washington
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
1999 · Self
Zeitgeist: Requiem
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Wholly Moses
1980 · Pharaoh
Mad Dog Time
1996 · Jimmy the Gravedigger
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
2003 · Self (archive footage)
I Am Richard Pryor
2019 · Self - Actor and Comed...
Bustin' Loose
1981 · Joe Braxton
Some Kind of Hero
1982 · Cpl. Eddie Keller / Te...
The N Word
2006 · Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Icon
2014 · Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
1983 · Self
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
1979 · Self
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
1983 · Self
Which Way Is Up?
1977 · Leroy Jones / Rufus Jo...
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
1969
Wild in the Streets
1968 · Stanley X
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
1986 · Self
Hit!
1973 · Mike Willmer
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
1979 · Self (archive footage)...
The Young Lawyers
1969 · Otis Tucker
The Making of 'Superman III'
1985 · Self
In God We Tru$t
1980 · G.O.D.
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
1976 · Charlie Snow
Blacks and Jews
1997 · Self
The Phynx
1970 · Richard Pryor
Carter's Army
1975 · Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
Dynamite Chicken
1971 · Self
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990 · Self
The Busy Body
1967 · Whittaker
Wattstax
1973 · Self
A Huey P. Newton Story
2001 · Self (archive footage)...
The Richard Pryor Special?
1977 · Self / Various
Juke and Opal
1973 · Juke
Some Call It Loving
1973 · Jeff
Flip Wilson... Of Course
1974 · Self
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
1982 · Self
Afro Promo
1997 · Self (archive footage)
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
1971 · Self
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
2023
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
1971 · Wino
The Last Days of Richard Pryor
2020 · Himself
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2
1977 · Self