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Richard Pryor
Changing stand-up through candid storytelling about race, fear and his own life.
That Nigger’s Crazy · Live in Concert
- Born
- 1 December 1940
- Birthplace
- Peoria, Illinois, United States
- Died
- 10 December 2005
More people
Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor was an American comedian and actor whose performances influenced generations of stand-up artists.
Early life
Peoria childhood
Grew up amid difficult family circumstances.
Early performing
Developed his act in clubs after military service.
Career
- 1960s
Club and television work
Built a career before moving towards more personal material.
- 1970s
Breakthrough recordings
Released influential albums and starred in films.
- 1980s–1990s
Film and later work
Continued performing before illness increasingly limited his activity.
Recordings & films
That Nigger’s Crazy
A landmark comedy album using a deliberately provocative title.
Live in Concert
Brought the energy of his stand-up to cinema.
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Directed a partly autobiographical film.
Beyond work
Health
Lived with multiple sclerosis.
Influence
Comedians including Eddie Murphy acknowledged his importance to their work.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: NBC Television. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
