Richard Pryor Is Dead

[johnnyk]

Died late Friday/early Saturday in LA.

A very funny man who spoke truths many didn't want to hear.

[Neeranam]

RIP - he was funny.

[cdnvic]

Comedian Richard Pryor dies

Last Updated Sat, 10 Dec 2005 17:09:18 EST

CBC Arts

Groundbreaking American comedian and actor Richard Pryor has died of a heart attack at the age of 65.

Widely considered to have been one of the most influential comedians in the United States, Pryor broke many barriers for African Americans in the business during his heyday in the 1960s and 1970s.

Pryor has been battling multiple sclerosis since 1986 and was forced to quit performing in 1997. In 2004, it was revealed he could not speak because of the disease.

Born in Peoria, Ill. in December 1940, Pryor had a grandmother who owned a string of brothels and his mother was a prostitute. He was renowned as a gifted storyteller known for his blunt, often raunchy examinations of race and modern life. He used vulgarities as well as racial epithets in his desire to reflect real life.

"You can do anything you want and you can say anything that comes to mind, just so long as it's funny," said Pryor.

Pryor, who battled cocaine addiction, often took the tragic events in his life and made them a part of his concert movies and recordings including 1971's Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin, Richard Pryor: Wanted - Live In Concert(1979) and Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982). He has several Grammys for his comedy recordings.

He has admitted that a 1980 fire that nearly killed him while free-basing cocaine was actually a suicide attempt.

Pryor appeared in several popular films including Lady Sings the Blues, The Mack, Uptown Saturday Night, Silver Streak, Which Way Is Up?, Car Wash, The Toy, Superman III, and Stir Crazy. In four of his films, he co-starred with Gene Wilder.

In 1998, Pryor won the inaugural Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. And in 2004, Comedy Central voted him the top standup comedian of all time.

He is survived by his wife Jennifer Lee and seven children.

[sbk]

A true pioneeer in standup comedy, he led the way for many of todays comics. I read he died of a heart attack, he was only 65. However, he suffered from MS for years. Too sad.

On another note, Sen Eugene McCarthy has also died, he was 89.

[TRIPxCORE]

Richard Pryor dead. Truly a great loss. He always made me laugh.

[Boon Mee]

RIP: Richard Pryor

Pathbreaking Comedian Richard Pryor Dies

[Tywais]

RIP: Richard Pryor

Pathbreaking Comedian Richard Pryor Dies

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Edited December 11, 2005 by tywais

[Wes Turner]

RIP - he was funny.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Seconded.

Saw him only the other day as Gus Gorman in Superman 2 on Cinemax.

[Boon Mee]

On another note, Sen Eugene McCarthy has also died, he was 89.

McCarthy probably didn't abuse his body as much...

[kat]

RIP Richard. He's brought many tears to my eyes, from fits of hysterical laughter. The truth is often funny and tragic, and he was both. He was a master storyteller/comedian, that turned unflinching honesty into a form that relieved the pressure for all of us.

Goodbye Richard. You will be missed.

[Jeff1]

RIP Richard.  He's brought many tears to my eyes, from fits of hysterical laughter.  The truth is often funny and tragic, and he was both.  He was a master storyteller/comedian, that turned unflinching honesty into a form that relieved the pressure for all of us.

Goodbye Richard.  You will be missed.

Well said Kat . I can not add any more to that . Truely one of the greats .

[suegha]

The first time I saw him live I could not believe it! I nearly got sick I was laughing so much - such a tragic life and a loss to the world of comedy. Although I'm surprised he made it to 65!!! What a life he lived...

[cobra]

RIP (we'll always remember MudBone)

[sriracha john]

The biggest star to arise from my hometown...

Good-bye Richard, we were all so proud of your success.

[thaibebop]

I grew up watching him. I was a six year old kid laughing at whatever I could when he was on stage. Which was really quite alot. A testament to his communication skills I think. I watched every movie he ever did and to this day still them funny as h3ll, even The Toy! I am very, very sad about his passing.