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Richard Pryor

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Richard Pryor

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an African American comedian, actor, and writer.

Pryor was a gifted storyteller known for unflinching examinations of race and custom in modern life, and was well-known for his frequent use of colorful language, vulgarities, as well as such racial epithets as "nigger," "honky" and "cracker." He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations, although public opinion of his act was often divided. He is commonly regarded as the most important stand up comedian of his time: Jerry Seinfeld called Pryor "The Picasso of our profession."[3]; Whoopi Goldberg cited him as her biggest influence, stating "The major influence was Richard - I want to say those things he's saying."

His catalog includes such concert movies and recordings as Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin' (1971), That Nigger's Crazy (1974), Bicentennial Nigger (1976), Richard Pryor: Wanted – Live In Concert (1979) and Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982). He also starred in numerous films as an actor, usually in comedies such as Silver Streak, but occasionally in dramatic roles, such as Paul Schrader's film Blue Collar. He also collaborated on many projects with actor Gene Wilder. He won an Emmy Award in 1973, and 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.

Early life and career

Born on December 1, 1940 in Peoria, Illinois, Pryor grew up in his grandmother's brothel, where his mother Gertude practiced prostitution. His father LeRoy Pryor (a.k.a. Buck Carter) was a former bartender, boxer, and World War II veteran who worked as his wife's pimp. After his mother deserted him when he was 10, he was raised primarily by his grandmother, Marie Carter. As a small child, Pryor was molested by a neighbor and a priest.[4]

He was expelled from school at age 14, and began working various odd jobs. His first professional performance was playing drums at a night club. From 1958 to 1960, Pryor served in the U.S. Army but spent virtually that entire stint in an army prison. According to a 1999 profile about Pryor in The New Yorker, Pryor was incarcerated for an incident that occurred while stationed in Germany. Annoyed that a white soldier was a bit too amused at the racially charged sections of Douglas Sirk's movie Imitation of Life, Pryor and some other black soldiers beat and stabbed the white soldier (not fatally). [5]

In 1963, Pryor moved to New York City and began performing regularly in clubs alongside performers such as Bob Dylan and Woody Allen. Inspired by Bill Cosby, Pryor began as a middlebrow comic far less controversial than what was to come. Soon, he began appearing regularly on television variety shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. His popularity led him to become a rather successful comic in Las Vegas. The first five tracks on the 2005 compilation CD Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years (1966-1974), recorded in 1966 and 1967, capture Pryor in this era.

In September 1967, Pryor had what he called in his autobiography Pryor Convictions an "epiphany" when he walked onto the stage at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas (with Dean Martin in the audience), looked at the sold-out crowd, said over the microphone "What the fuck am I doing here!?", and walked off the stage. Afterward, Pryor began working at least mild profanity into his act, including the word "nigger". His first comedy recording, the eponymous 1968 debut release on the Dove/Reprise label, captures this particular period, tracking the evolution of Pryor's routine post his Las Vegas creative breakthrough.

His mother died in 1967; his father died the following year.

His first child (he thought) was a girl named Renee. But years later, he found out that this was not his child. In 1960, he married Patricia Price and they had one child together, Richard Jr.(his first child and first son) They divorced in 1961. In 1967, his second child and first daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born to his girlfriend Maxine Anderson. Later that year, he married Shelley Bonus. In 1969, his third child and second daughter Rain Pryor was born. They divorced later that year.

Mainstream success

In 1969, Pryor moved to Berkeley, California, where he immersed himself in the counterculture and rubbed elbows with the likes of Huey P. Newton and Ishmael Reed. He signed with the comedy-centric independent record label Laff Records in 1970 and recorded his second album, Craps (After Hours). In 1972, the relatively unknown comedian appeared in his first film, a documentary entitled Wattstax, where he riffed on the tragic-comic absurdities of race relations in Watts and the nation. Not long afterward, Pryor sought a deal with a larger label, and after a protracted period of time, signed with Stax Records. His third, breakthrough album, That Nigger's Crazy, was released in 1974 and, Laff, who claimed ownership of Pryor's recording rights, almost succeeded in getting an injunction to prevent the album from being sold. Negotiations led to Pryor being released from his Laff contract in exchange for the small label being allowed to release previously unissued material, recorded between 1968 and 1973, at their leisure.

During the legal battle, Stax briefly closed its doors. Pryor then re-signed with Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, who immediately rereleased That Nigger's Crazy on the heels of his first album under his new Reprise/Warner Bros. deal, ...Is It Something I Said?. With every successful album Pryor recorded for Warner Bros. (or later, his concert films and his 1980 free-basing accident), Laff would quickly publish an album of older material to capitalize on Pryor's growing fame - a practice the label would continue until 1983.

Pryor also made an attempt to break into mainstream television during this period. The Richard Pryor Show premiered on NBC in 1977 but after only five shows, the series was cancelled. Television was not ready for the show's controversial subject matter, and Pryor was not ready to alter the content of his program to meet the demands of network censors. During the short-lived series, he portrayed the first African-American President of the United States and in another skit, used costumes and visual distortion to appear nude.

In 1977, he married actress Deborah McGuire and they divorced in 1978. He soon began dating Jennifer Lee and they married in 1981. They divorced the following year.

Comfortably successful and into the zenith of his career, Pryor visited Africa in 1979. Upon returning to the United States, Pryor swore he would never use the word "nigger" in his stand-up comedy routine again. (His favorite epithet, "motherfucker", remains a term of endearment on his official website.)

In 1983, Pryor signed a five-year contract with Columbia Pictures for $40,000,000.[6]

Early in his career he wrote for such television shows as Sanford and Son, The Flip Wilson Show and a Lily Tomlin special, for which he shared an Emmy Award. 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 (which earned Pryor $4,000,000), Brewster's Millions, Stir Crazy, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, Moving, and See No Evil, Hear No Evil. He also took part in The Toy, one of Jackie Gleason's last projects. Though he made four films with Gene Wilder, the two comic actors were never as close as many thought according to the latter's autobiography.

Pryor also co-wrote Blazing Saddles directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene Wilder. Pryor was to play the lead role of Bart, but the film's production studio would not insure him, and Mel Brooks chose Cleavon Little instead. Before his infamous 1980 free-basing accident, Pryor was about to start filming Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part I, but was replaced at the last minute by Gregory Hines. Pryor was also originally considered for the role of Billy Ray Valentine on Trading Places (1983), before Eddie Murphy ultimately won the part.

Despite a reputation for profanity, Richard Pryor briefly hosted a children's show on CBS in 1984 called Pryor's Place. Like Sesame Street, Pryor's Place featured a cast of puppets, hanging out and having fun in a surprisingly friendly inner city environment along with several children and characters portrayed by Pryor himself. However, Pryor's Place frequently dealt with more sobering issues than the series it so closely resembled. This could be why the show was cancelled shortly after its debut, despite the best efforts of critically acclaimed puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft, and a catchy theme song by Ray Parker Jr. of Ghostbusters fame.

Pryor co-hosted the Academy Awards twice, and was also nominated for an Emmy for a guest role on the television series, Chicago Hope.

The freebasing incident and its aftermath

On June 1, 1980, Pryor set himself on fire while freebasing cocaine. Pryor made this part of his heralded "final" stand up show Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982). After joking that the incident was actually caused when he dunked a cookie into a glass containing two different types of milk, he gave a poignant yet funny account of his accident and recovery, then poked fun at people who told jokes about it by waving a lit match and saying "What's this? It's Richard Pryor running down the street." Interviewed in 2005, his wife Jennifer Lee Pryor said that Richard poured high-proof rum over his body and torched himself in a drug psychosis. His daughter, Rain Pryor also stated this in an interview in People Magazine.In a TV interview with Barbara Walters during his recovery, Pryor said that he tried to commit suicide. His management created the "accident" lie for the press in hopes of protecting him. One of his jokes about this subject was

When you're running down the street on fire, people get out of your way.

He didn't stay away from live stand-up too long, though - in 1983 he filmed and released a new concert film and accompanying album, Here And Now, which he directed himself. He then wrote and directed a fictionalized account of his life, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling.

In 1984, another son, Steven, was born to his girlfriend Flynn Belaine. (his fourth child and second son) Richard married Flynn in October 1986. They divorced in July 1987. Before their divorce was final, Flynn conceived Kelsey Pryor. Meanwhile, another of Richard's girlfriend, Geraldine Mason gave birth to Franklin Mason in April 1987 (his fifth child and third son). Six months later (October 1987), Flynn gave birth to Kelsey Pryor (Richard's sixth child and third daughter).

In 1991, Pryor announced that he had been suffering from multiple sclerosis since 1986. In response to giving up drugs after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, he said:

God gave me this M.S. shit to save my life.

In 1992, he gave some final live performances, excerpts of which appear on the ...And It's Deep Too! box set. He continued to make occasional film appearances, pairing with Gene Wilder one last time in the unsuccessful 1991 comedy, Another You (in which his physical deterioration was noted by many critics). His final film appearance was a small role in the David Lynch film Lost Highway in 1997; by then, Pryor was wheelchair bound.

Marriages

Richard Pryor was married seven times to five different women:

  1. Patricia Price (1960 - 1961) (divorced) 1 child [Elizabeth Pryor]
  2. Shelly Bonus (1967 - 1969) (divorced) 1 child [Rain Pryor]
  3. Deborah McGuire (22 September 1977 - 1979) (divorced)
  4. Jennifer Lee (August 1981 - October 1982) (divorced)
  5. Flynn Belaine (October 1986 - July 1987) (divorced) 2 children
  6. Flynn Belaine (1 April 1990 - July 1991) (divorced)
  7. Jennifer Lee (June 2001 - 10 December 2005) (his death)

Each of his marriages was characterised by accusations of domestic violence and spousal abuse except for his relationship with Flynn (no physical abuse with her); the other wives usually related the abuse to Pryor's drug use. Deborah McGuire accused him of shooting her car with a .357 Magnum, but later dropped the charges (even though this was mentioned during one of Pryor's standup routines, Live in Concert). Lee accused him of beating and attempting to strangle her during their first marriage, and did not share his home after they remarried. During his relationship with actress Pam Grier, Pryor proposed to actress Deborah McGuire (1977).

He had six children: Richard Jr, Elizabeth, Rain, Steven, Franklin and Kelsey.

Later life

In 1998, Pryor became the first performer to win the inaugural Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. According to Former Kennedy Center President Lawrence J. Wilker,

Richard Pryor was selected as the first recipient of the new Mark Twain Prize because as a stand-up comic, writer, and actor, he struck a chord, and a nerve, with America, forcing it to look at large social questions of race and the more tragicomic aspects of the human condition. Though uncompromising in his wit, Pryor, like Twain, projects a generosity of spirit that unites us. They were both trenchant social critics who spoke the truth, however outrageous.

In 2000, Rhino Records remastered all of Pryor's Reprise and Warner Bros. albums for inclusion in the box set ...And It's Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968-1992).

In 2001, he remarried Jennifer Lee who also had become his manager.

In 2002, Pryor and his wife/manager Jennifer Lee Pryor, won the legal rights to all of the Laff material - almost 40 hours of reel-to-reel analog tape. After going through the tapes and getting Richard's blessing, Jennifer Lee Pryor gave Rhino Records access to the Laff tapes in 2004. These tapes, including the entire Craps album, form the basis of the double-CD release Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years (1966-1974).

In 2003, a television documentary, Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!, came out. It consisted of archival footage of Pryor's performances and testimonials from fellow comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Wanda Sykes and Denis Leary of the influence Pryor had on comedy.

In 2004, Pryor was voted #1 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time. In a 2005 British poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, Pryor was voted the 10th greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.

In his later years, Richard Pryor became a wheelchair user due to multiple sclerosis (M.S., which he said stood for "More Shit"). In late 2004 his sister claimed that Pryor lost his voice. However, on January 9, 2005, Pryor himself rebutted this statement in a post on his official website[7], where he stated, "Sick of hearing this shit about me not talking... not true... good days, bad days... but I still am a talkin' motherfucker!"

Death

Richard Pryor's star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame covered with flowers, beer bottles, fan letters etc.

Pryor died of cardiac arrest at the age of 65 in Encino, California. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 7:58 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on December 10, 2005. He was brought to the hospital after his wife's attempts to resuscitate him failed. His wife was quoted as saying, "At the end, there was a smile on his face."

Remembrance and legacy

On December 19, 2005, BET aired a Pryor special. It included commentary from fellow comedians, as well as insight into Pryor's upbringing. A feature film about Pryor is currently in development. It was written by Pryor and his wife, with Mike Epps hand-picked by Pryor to portray him.[8]

An image of Pryor was shown during both the "In Memoriam" montage at the 2006 'Oscars', and the same of the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

Singer Joe Henry's album Scar features a song called "Richard Pryor Addresses A Tearful Nation", which was inspired by Pryor.

The Season 31 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Alec Baldwin with musical guest Shakira (which aired the day Pryor died) showed a clip from a famous sketch in SNL's first season where Pryor plays a prospective employee playing a word association game with his prospective boss (played by Chevy Chase) and the two get into a verbal fight when Chase's character begins to use racial slurs.

Discography

Compilations and repackagings

Filmography

Wikiquote has quotations related to Richard Pryor.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richard Pryor.

Obituaries

  • "Comedian Richard Pryor dead at 65." BBC News. 10 Dec 2005. BBC. [6].
  • "Comedian Richard Pryor dies at 65." cnn.com. 11 Dec 2005. CNN. [7].
  • Feeney, Mark. "Richard Pryor, whose profane, incisive humor revolutionized American comedy, dies at 65." Boston.com News. 11 Dec 2005. Boston Globe. [8].
  • Schudel, Matt. "With Humor and Anger On Race Issues, Comic Inspired a Generation." washingtonpost.com. 11 Dec 2005. The Washington Post. [9].
  • Watkins, Mel. "Richard Pryor, Iconoclastic Comedian, Dies at 65." NYTimes.com. 11 Dec 2005. New York Times. [10].

References

  1. ^ "Comedian Richard Pryor dead at 65." BBC News. 10 Dec 2005. BBC. 06 Feb. 2006<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4517714.stm>.
  2. ^ "Comedian Richard Pryor dies at 65." cnn.com. 11 Dec 2005. CNN. 06 Feb. 2006 <http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/12/11/pryor.obit/>.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ Hilton Als, "A Pryor Love," The New Yorker, September 13, 1999.
  6. ^ [3]
  7. ^ [4]
  8. ^ [5]
Interview with Rain Pryor, November 6th, 2006 edition of People Magazine, page 76.
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