Rest in Peace

Richard Pryor

1940 - 2005

"You'd call him the grandfather of stand-up comedy, if grandfather didn't seem altogether too cosy. He's Richard Pryor: writer, entertainer, film star and the man whose incendiary comic interventions into 1970s America moulded stand-up into the artform we know today. Before Pryor, stand-up in the US was Bob Hope and Bob Newhart: mild one-liners delivered by cheerful men in shirts and ties. Pryor, by stark contrast, was scabrous and confessional, sexy, vernacular, and totally unpredictable."

"Angry, impassioned, truthful and personal, Pryor spoke about his world: a world of winos, bums and junkies; of black-white inequality; of sex, politics and sexual politics. And then there was the delivery - Pryor delivered comedy like a musician delivers jazz. But it wasn't just stand-up that he radicalised: many credit Pryor with blazing a trail for black people in American life. According to the musician Quincy Jones, he was "a pioneer ... who made us understand the truth about ourselves".

MP3 CLIPS:

1. Super Nigger -1968
2. Exorcist - 1974
3. Monkeys - 1978
4. Ali - 1978
5. Southern Hospitality - 1983

Actor - filmography
(1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)

1. Lost Highway (1997) .... Arnie
2. Mad Dog Time (1996) .... Jimmy the Grave Digger
   ... aka Trigger Happy (video title)
3. Another You (1991) .... Eddie Dash
4. The Three Muscatels (1991) .... Narrator/Wino/Bartender
   
   
5. Harlem Nights (1989) .... Sugar Ray
6. See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) .... Wallace 'Wally' Karue
7. Moving (1988) .... Arlo Pear
8. Critical Condition (1987) .... Eddie/Kevin
9. Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986) .... Jo Jo Dancer/Alter Ego
10. Brewster's Millions (1985) .... Montgomery Brewster
11. Superman III (1983) .... Gus Gorman
12. The Toy (1982) .... Jack Brown
13. Some Kind of Hero (1982) .... Cpl. Eddie Keller/Ted Segal
14. Bustin' Loose (1981) .... Joe Braxton
15. Stir Crazy (1980) .... Harry Monroe
16. In God We Tru$t (1980) .... G.O.D.
    ... aka Gimme That Prime Time Religion
17. Wholly Moses! (1980) .... Pharaoh
    
    
18. The Muppet Movie (1979) .... Balloon Vendor (Special Guest Star)
19. California Suite (1978) .... Visitors from Chicago - Dr. Chauncey Gump
    ... aka Neil Simon's California Suite
20. The Wiz (1978/I) .... The Wiz (Herman Smith)
21. Blue Collar (1978) .... Zeke Brown
22. Greased Lightning (1977) .... Wendell Scott
23. Which Way Is Up? (1977) .... Leroy Jones/Rufus Jones/Reverend Lenox Thomas
24. Silver Streak (1976) .... Grover Muldoon
25. The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976) .... Charlie Snow/Carlos Nevada/Chief Takahoma, All-Star (RF)
26. Car Wash (1976) .... Daddy Rich
27. Adiós Amigo (1976) .... Sam Spade
28. Uptown Saturday Night (1974) .... Sharp Eye Washington
29. Some Call It Loving (1973) .... Jeff
    ... aka Sleeping Beauty (USA)
30. Hit! (1973) .... Mike Willmer
31. The Mack (1973) .... Slim
    ... aka The Mack and His Pack
32. Lady Sings the Blues (1972) .... Piano Man
33. You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat (1971) .... Wino
34. Carter's Army (1970) (TV) .... Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
    ... aka Black Brigade
    
    
35. The Young Lawyers (1969) (TV)
36. Wild in the Streets (1968) .... Stanley X
37. Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales (1968)
38. The Busy Body (1967) .... Whittaker
    
    

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Director, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Writer - filmography
(1990s) (1980s) (1970s)

1. The Mark Twain Prize: Richard Pryor (1999) (TV) (uncredited)
   
   
2. Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)
3. Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' (1985)
4. Richard Pryor Here and Now (1983)
5. Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
6. Bustin' Loose (1981) (story)
   
   
7. Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)
8. "The Richard Pryor Show" (1977) TV Series
9. The Richard Pryor Special? (1977) (TV)
10. Blazing Saddles (1974) (screenplay)
11. Lily (1973) (TV)
12. "Sanford and Son" (1972) TV Series
13. "The Flip Wilson Show" (1970) TV Series
    
    

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Director, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Producer - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s)

1. Pryor Offenses (2004) (TV) (executive producer)
   
   
2. Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America (1993) (TV) (co-executive producer)
   
   
3. Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986) (producer)
4. Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip (1982) (producer)
5. Bustin' Loose (1981) (producer)
   
   
6. "The Richard Pryor Show" (1977) TV Series (executive producer)
   
   

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Director, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Miscellaneous Crew - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1970s)

1. "One Night Stand" (2005) TV Series (special thanks) (episode "Louis C.K.")
2. Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! (2003) (TV) (very special thanks)
   ... aka Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! - Uncensored (USA: DVD title)
   
   
3. Sydney (1996) (special thanks)
   ... aka Hard Eight (USA: changed title)
   
   
4. Pacific Inferno (1979) (special thanks)
5. Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979) (executive album producer)
   
   

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Director, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Director - filmography

1. Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)
2. Richard Pryor Here and Now (1983)
   
   

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Director, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Himself - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)

1. Bitter Jester (2003) .... Himself
2. The Comedy Store: The E! True Hollywood Story (2001) (TV) .... Himself
   
   
3. The Mark Twain Prize: Richard Pryor (1999) (TV) .... Himself/Honoree
4. Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? (1998) (TV) .... Himself
5. What Makes You Laugh? (1995) (TV) .... Himself
6. "The Blackberry Inn" (1995) TV Series .... Himself
7. The Comedy Hall of Fame (1994) (TV) .... Himself/honoree
8. Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame (1994) (TV) .... Himself
9. BET's Comicview Awards (1994) (TV) .... Himself
10. A Century of Cinema (1994) .... Himself
11. Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame (1993) (TV) .... Himself (Honoree)
12. Soul Train Comedy Awards (1993) (TV) .... Himself
13. The Comedy Store's 20th Birthday (1992) (TV) .... Himself
14. A Party for Richard Pryor (1991) (TV) .... Himself
15. Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration (1990) (TV) .... Himself
    
    
16. Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' (1985) .... Himself
17. "Pryor's Place" (1984) TV Series .... Himself
18. Richard Pryor Here and Now (1983) .... Himself
19. Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (1983) (TV) .... Himself/Host
    ... aka Motown 25 (USA: short title)
20. The 55th Annual Academy Awards (1983) (TV) .... Co-Host
21. Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982) (TV) .... Himself - Co-host
22. Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip (1982) .... Himself
23. The 53rd Annual Academy Awards (1981) (TV) .... Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Film Editing
    
    
24. The 21st Annual Grammy Awards (1979) (TV) .... Himself
25. Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979) .... Himself
26. "The Richard Pryor Show" (1977) TV Series .... Himself/Various Characters (1977)
27. The Richard Pryor Special? (1977) (TV) .... Himself
28. The 49th Annual Academy Awards (1977) (TV) .... Co-host
29. The 19th Annual Grammy Awards (1977) (TV) .... Himself
30. The Lion Roars Again (1975) (uncredited) .... Himself
31. Lily (1973) (TV) .... Himself/Various Characters
32. Wattstax (1973) .... Himself
33. "The Midnight Special" (1972) TV Series .... Himself - Host
34. Dynamite Chicken (1972) .... Himself
35. The Phynx (1970) .... Himself
    
    
36. "The Kraft Summer Music Hall" (1966) TV Series .... Regular
    
    

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Director, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Archive Footage

1. Out of Africa: Heroes and Icons (2005) (TV) .... Himself
2. Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live (2005) (TV) .... Himself
3. No Joking (2004) (TV)
4. The N-Word (2004) .... Himself
5. "Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time" (2004) (mini) .... Himself #1
6. Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! (2003) (TV) .... Himself
7. 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment (2003) (TV) .... Himself
8. Uncensored Comedy: That's Not Funny! (2003) (TV) .... Himself
9. Richard Pryor: The E! True Hollywood Story (2003) (TV) .... Himself
10. "Heroes of Black Comedy" (2002) (mini) .... Himself
11. A Huey P. Newton Story (2001) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself
12. Me, Myself & Irene (2000) (uncredited) .... Stand-Up Comedian on TV
13. Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary (1999) (TV) .... Himself
14. A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan's 50th Anniversary (1998) (TV) .... Himself
15. Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television (1996) (TV) .... Himself
16. Ed Sullivan All-Star Comedy Special (1995) (TV) .... Himself
17. But... Seriously (1994) (TV) .... Himself
18. Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America (1993) (TV) .... Himself

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Director, Himself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Notable TV Guest Appearances

1. "The Norm Show" playing "Mr. Johnson" in episode: "Norm vs. the Boxer" (episode # 2.11) 1 December 1999
2. "Malcolm & Eddie" playing "Uncle Buck" in episode: "Do the K.C. Hustle" (episode # 1.10) 11 November 1996
3. "Biography" playing "Himself" in episode: "Richard Pryor: Comic on the Edge" 12 March 1996
4. "Chicago Hope" playing "Joe Springer" in episode: "Stand" (episode # 2.9) 20 November 1995
5. "Showbiz Today" playing "Himself" 31 May 1995
6. "Martin" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Break Up: Part 1" (episode # 1.18) 11 February 1993
7. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" playing "Himself" 27 April 1984
8. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" playing "Himself" 9 February 1983
9. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" playing "Himself" 5 September 1980
10. "Saturday Night Live" playing "Host" (episode # 1.7) 13 December 1975
11. "Soul Train" playing "Himself - Guest Emcee" (episode # 4.39) 14 June 1974
12. "The Flip Wilson Show" playing "Himself" 15 November 1973
13. "The Flip Wilson Show" playing "Himself" 20 September 1973
14. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" playing "Himself" 19 September 1973
15. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" playing "Himself" 29 May 1973
16. "The Flip Wilson Show" playing "Himself" 15 March 1973
17. "The Partridge Family" playing "A.E. Simon" in episode: "Soul Club" (episode # 1.18) 29 January 1971
18. "Toast of the Town" playing "Himself - Comedian" (episode # 24.7) 1 November 1970
19. "Toast of the Town" playing "Himself - Comedian" (episode # 23.20) 8 February 1970
20. "The Mod Squad" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Teeth of the Barracuda" (episode # 1.1) 24 September 1968
21. "Toast of the Town" playing "Comedian" (episode # 21.35) 12 May 1968
22. "Toast of the Town" playing "Comedian" (episode # 21.15) 17 December 1967
23. "Away We Go" playing "Himself" 24 June 1967
24. "Toast of the Town" playing "Comedian" (episode # 20.40) 11 June 1967
25. "Toast of the Town" playing "Comedian" (episode # 20.31) 9 April 1967
26. "ABC Stage 67" playing "Himself" in episode: "A Time for Laughter" (episode # 1.23) 6 April 1967
27. "Toast of the Town" playing "Comedian" (episode # 20.12) 27 November 1966
28. "Toast of the Town" playing "Comedian" (episode # 20.5) 9 October 1966
29. "The Wild Wild West" playing "Villar" in episode: "The Night of the Eccentrics" (episode # 2.1) 16 September 1966
30. "Toast of the Town" playing "Herself - Comedian" (episode # 19.38) 5 June 1966
31. "Toast of the Town" playing "Himself - Comedian" (episode # 19.30) 10 April 1966
32. "Toast of the Town" playing "Himself - Comedian" (episode # 19.24) 27 February 1966
33. "Toast of the Town" playing "Himself - Comedian" (episode # 19.7) 24 October 1965
34. "Toast of the Town" playing "Comedian" (episode # 18.32) 9 May 1965
35. "On Broadway Tonight" playing "Himself" 31 August 1964