Richard Pryor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Richard Pryor |
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Richard Pryor, February 1986
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| Birth name | Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor |
| Born | December 1, 1940 Peoria, Illinois, United States |
| Died | December 10, 2005 (aged 65) Encino, California, United States |
| Medium | Stand-up, movie, television |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1958–1999 |
| Genres | Satire, Observational comedy, Black comedy, Improvisational comedy, Character comedy |
| Influences | Lenny Bruce, Jack Benny, Jonathan Winters, Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory, Redd Foxx, Paul Mooney |
| Influenced | George Carlin, Martin Lawrence, George Lopez, Denis Leary, Margaret Cho, Eddie Izzard, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, Lewis Black Colin Quinn, Bernie Mac, Joe Rogan, Chris Tucker, Louis C.K., Patton Oswalt Artie Lange, Jon Stewart,Richard Lewis, and Jim Norton |
| Spouse | Patricia Price (1960–1961; divorced) 1 child Shelley R. Bonis (1968–1969; divorced) 1 child Deborah McGuire (1977–1978; divorced) Jennifer Lee (1979–1982; divorced) Flynn Belaine (1986–1987; divorced) 2 children Flynn Belaine (1990–1991; divorced) Jennifer Lee (2001–2005; widow) |
| Notable works and roles | Himself in Richard Pryor: Live in Concert and Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip Daddy Rich in Car Wash Wally Karue in See No Evil, Hear No Evil Gus Gorman in Superman III |
| Emmy Awards | |
| Writing in Variety or Music 1974 Lily |
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| Grammy Awards | |
| Best Comedy Album 1975 1976 ...Is It Something I Said? 1977 1982 Rev. Du Rite 1983 Live on the Sunset Strip |
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| American Comedy Awards | |
| Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy 1993 | |
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (1 December 1940 - 10 December 2005) was an American comedian, actor and writer. Pryor performed in movies, on television and as a stand-up comedian. He won an Emmy Award in 1973. He won five Grammy Awards (in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1982). In 1974, he also won two American Academy of Humor awards and the Writers Guild of America Award. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay for his work on Blazing Saddles. The first ever Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was given to him in 1998. Pryor is listed at Number 1 on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians.
Pryor died of a heart attack in Encino, Los Angeles, California. He was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, a year after his death.
A biographical movie based on the life of Pryor is being produced by Lee Daniels and Oprah Winfrey. It will star Mike Epps as Pryor.
Personal life
Pryor was born in Peoria, Illinois into an African-American family. He had six children: Richard Jr., Elizabeth, Rain, Steven, Franklin and Kelsey.
Health problems
Pryor had a mild heart attack in November 1977. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986. In 1990, Pryor had a second and more severe heart attack. He had triple heart bypass surgery. By the early 1990s, he needed to use a wheelchair because of his multiple sclerosis.
Images for kids
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Publicity photo of Pryor for one of his Mister Kelly's appearances, 1968–1969
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Pryor performed in the Lily Tomlin specials. He is seen here with Tomlin and Alan Alda in Tomlin's 1973 special.
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Pryor performing in 1974
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Pryor in 1986
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Pryor in February 1986
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Richard Pryor's star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, covered with items left by fans
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Preston Jackson's Pryor in Peoria, Illinois
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See also
In Spanish: Richard Pryor para niños
