Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor 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.
Movie | The Fall of 2008 | Arlo Pear (Moving) | 2026 |
Movie | The Bigger Bubble | Arlo Pear (Blue Collar) | 2026 |
Movie | Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2024-06-07 |
Series | The Comedy Store | Self (archive footage) | 2020-10-04 |
Movie | I Am Richard Pryor | Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage) | 2019-03-12 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Icon | Self (archive footage) | 2014-11-23 |
Movie | And the Oscar Goes To... | Self (archive footage) | 2014-02-01 |
Movie | Mel Brooks: Make a Noise | Self (archive footage) | 2013-05-20 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic | Self (archive footage) | 2013-04-23 |
Movie | Black and White Trypps Number Four | 2008-06-20 | |
Movie | Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s | Self (archive footage) | 2007-04-10 |
Movie | The N Word | Self (archive footage) | 2006-01-16 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! | Self (archive footage) | 2003-01-01 |
Movie | Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? | Self | 1999-04-01 |
Movie | Afro Promo | Self (archive footage) | 1997-01-31 |
Movie | Lost Highway | Arnie | 1997-01-15 |
Movie | Mad Dog Time | Jimmy the Gravedigger | 1996-11-08 |
Series | Chicago Hope | Unknown | 1994-09-18 |
Movie | But... Seriously | Self (archive footage) | 1994-03-25 |
Series | Martin | Unknown | 1992-08-27 |
Movie | Another You | Eddie Dash | 1991-07-26 |
Movie | Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration | Self | 1990-02-04 |
Movie | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Wallace 'Wally' Karue | 1989-05-12 |
Movie | Harlem Nights | Sugar Ray | 1989-11-17 |
Movie | Moving | Arlo Pear | 1988-03-04 |
Movie | Critical Condition | Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery | 1987-01-16 |
Movie | Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling | Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego | 1986-05-02 |
Movie | Brewster's Millions | Montgomery Brewster | 1985-05-22 |
Movie | Superman III | August 'Gus' Gorman | 1983-06-17 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Here and Now | Self | 1983-10-28 |
Movie | Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever | Self - Host | 1983-05-16 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip | Self | 1982-03-12 |
Movie | Some Kind of Hero | Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal | 1982-04-02 |
Movie | The Toy | Jack Brown | 1982-12-10 |
Movie | Bustin' Loose | Joe Braxton | 1981-05-22 |
Movie | In God We Tru$t | G.O.D. | 1980-09-26 |
Movie | Wholly Moses | Pharaoh | 1980-06-13 |
Movie | Stir Crazy | Harry Monroe | 1980-12-12 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Live in Concert | Self | 1979-01-26 |
Movie | A Walking Tour of Sesame Street | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 1979-03-01 |
Movie | The Muppet Movie | Balloon Vendor | 1979-06-22 |
Movie | The Wiz | The Wiz | 1978-10-24 |
Movie | Blue Collar | Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown | 1978-02-10 |
Movie | California Suite | Dr. Chauncey Gump | 1978-12-15 |
Movie | The Complete Richard Pryor Roast | 1977-01-01 | |
Movie | Greased Lightning | Wendell Scott | 1977-07-01 |
Series | The Richard Pryor Show | Host | 1977-09-13 |
Movie | Which Way Is Up? | Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas | 1977-11-04 |
Movie | The Richard Pryor Special? | Self / Various | 1977-05-05 |
Movie | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings | Charlie Snow | 1976-07-16 |
Movie | Silver Streak | Grover Muldoon | 1976-12-03 |
Movie | Car Wash | Daddy Rich | 1976-10-22 |
Movie | The Lion Roars Again | Self | 1975-01-01 |
Movie | Carter's Army | Pvt. Jonathan Crunk | 1975-05-25 |
Series | Saturday Night Live | Unknown | 1975-10-11 |
Movie | Adiós Amigo | Sam Spade | 1975-12-25 |
Movie | Uptown Saturday Night | Sharp Eye Washington | 1974-07-26 |
Movie | Wattstax | Self | 1973-02-04 |
Movie | The Mack | Slim | 1973-04-04 |
Movie | Some Call It Loving | Jeff | 1973-11-16 |
Movie | Hit! | Mike Willmer | 1973-09-18 |
Movie | Lady Sings the Blues | Piano Man | 1972-10-12 |
Movie | Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' | Self | 1971-04-29 |
Movie | Dynamite Chicken | Self | 1971-01-20 |
Movie | You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat | Wino | 1971-09-19 |
Series | The Young Lawyers | 1970-09-21 | |
Movie | The Phynx | Richard Pryor | 1970-03-06 |
Movie | The Young Lawyers | Otis Tucker | 1969-10-28 |
Movie | Wild in the Streets | Stanley X | 1968-05-29 |
Movie | The Busy Body | Whittaker | 1967-03-12 |