Richard Pryor

Biography

Richard Pryor was an American stand-up comic and actor who moved to New York City in 1963 and built a following in its clubs, becoming regarded as one of the most influential comedians of his time. He won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums and a Primetime Emmy Award, and in 1998 he received the first Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. His concert films, including Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979), captured his storytelling style, and he co-wrote Blazing Saddles (1974). On screen he worked mainly in comedy, notably alongside Gene Wilder in Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) and Another You (1991). His other films included Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Blue Collar (1978), The Wiz (1978), Superman III (1983), Harlem Nights (1989) and Lost Highway (1997). He hosted The Richard Pryor Show (1977) and Pryor's Place (1984).

65years old at death

Born December 1, 1940Peoria
Died December 10, 2005Encino
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 38
Career span: 56 years1967 to 2023

Genres

Comedy71%, 27 films
Drama34%, 13 films
Crime32%, 12 films
Documentary16%, 6 films
Action13%, 5 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Big break
In September 1967, while performing at Las Vegas's Aladdin Hotel, Pryor looked out at the sold-out crowd and exclaimed into the microphone, "What the f*** am I doing here!?" before walking off the stage. He then started working profanity into his act.
A role that slipped away
Before Eddie Murphy landed the part of Billy Ray Valentine in Trading Places (1983), Pryor had been considered for that same role.

Richard Pryor movies on Netflix

Remembering Gene Wilder2023IMDb rating 7.8as Himself
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic2013IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?1999IMDb rating 6.9as Himself
Lost Highway1997IMDb rating 7.6as Arnie
Mad Dog Time1996IMDb rating 5.4as Jimmy the Gravedigger
Another You1991IMDb rating 5.3as Eddie Dash
Harlem Nights1989IMDb rating 6.1as Sugar Ray
See No Evil, Hear No Evil1989IMDb rating 6.9as Wallace 'Wally' Karue
Moving1988IMDb rating 6.1as Arlo Pear
Critical Condition1987IMDb rating 5.4as Eddie Lenahan / Dr. Kevin Slattery
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling1986IMDb rating 6.4as Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
Brewster's Millions1985IMDb rating 6.5as Montgomery Brewster
Richard Pryor... Here and Now1983IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Superman III1983IMDb rating 5.0as Gus Gorman
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip1982IMDb rating 7.6as Himself
Some Kind of Hero1982IMDb rating 5.8as Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
The Toy1982IMDb rating 5.8as Jack Brown
Bustin' Loose1981IMDb rating 6.1as Joe Braxton
In God We Tru$t1980IMDb rating 5.5as G.O.D.
Stir Crazy1980IMDb rating 6.7as Harry Monroe
Wholly Moses!1980IMDb rating 4.8as Pharaoh
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert1979IMDb rating 8.0as Himself
The Muppet Movie1979IMDb rating 7.6as Balloon Vendor
Blue Collar1978IMDb rating 7.5as Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
California Suite1978IMDb rating 6.2as Dr. Chauncey Gump
The Wiz1978IMDb rating 5.7as The Wiz (Herman Smith)
Greased Lightning1977IMDb rating 6.4as Wendell Scott
Which Way Is Up?1977IMDb rating 6.2as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Reverend Lenox Thomas
Car Wash1976IMDb rating 6.3as Daddy Rich
Silver Streak1976IMDb rating 6.9as Grover
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings1976IMDb rating 6.8as Charlie Snow, All-Star (RF)
Uptown Saturday Night1974IMDb rating 6.6as Sharp Eye Washington
Hit!1973IMDb rating 6.1as Mike Willmer
The Mack1973IMDb rating 6.6as Slim
Wattstax1973IMDb rating 7.7as Himself
Lady Sings the Blues1972IMDb rating 7.0as Piano Man
Wild in the Streets1968IMDb rating 5.9as Stanley X
The Busy Body1967IMDb rating 5.5as Whittaker

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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See No Evil, Hear No Evil1989 Comedy, Crimeas Wallace 'Wally' Karue
IMDb rating 6.963K votes
Superman III1983 Action, Comedy, Sci-Fias Gus Gorman
IMDb rating 5.081K votes
Brewster's Millions1985as Montgomery Brewster
IMDb rating 6.548K votes
Stir Crazy1980as Harry Monroe
IMDb rating 6.733K votes
Lost Highway1997as Arnie
IMDb rating 7.6173K votes
Harlem Nights1989as Sugar Ray
IMDb rating 6.128K votes
The Toy1982as Jack Brown
IMDb rating 5.814K votes
Silver Streak1976as Grover
IMDb rating 6.924K votes

Most often with

Michael Schultz directed four of these films, Arthur Hiller two and Sidney Poitier two. Gene Wilder appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Gene Wilder

Dom DeLuise

Billy Dee Williams

Mel Brooks

Virginia Capers

Otis DayMichael SchultzDirector, 4 films

Arthur HillerDirector, 2 films

Sidney PoitierDirector, 2 films

Films together

Gene Wilder5 films together, 1976 to 2023
Gene Wilder's page
- Remembering Gene Wilder2023IMDb rating 7.8Pryor as HimselfWilder as Himself
- Another You1991IMDb rating 5.3Pryor as Eddie DashWilder as George / Abe Fielding
- See No Evil, Hear No Evil1989IMDb rating 6.9Pryor as Wallace 'Wally' KarueWilder as Dave Lyons
- Stir Crazy1980IMDb rating 6.7Pryor as Harry MonroeWilder as Skip Donahue
- Silver Streak1976IMDb rating 6.9Pryor as GroverWilder as George
Dom DeLuise3 films together, 1967 to 1980
Dom DeLuise's page
- Wholly Moses!1980IMDb rating 4.8Pryor as PharaohDeLuise as Shadrach
- The Muppet Movie1979IMDb rating 7.6Pryor as Balloon VendorDeLuise as Bernie the Agent
- The Busy Body1967IMDb rating 5.5Pryor as WhittakerDeLuise as Kurt Brock
Billy Dee Williams3 films together, 1972 to 1976
Billy Dee Williams's page
- The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings1976IMDb rating 6.8Pryor as Charlie Snow, All-Star (RF)Williams as Bingo Long (P)
- Hit!1973IMDb rating 6.1Pryor as Mike WillmerWilliams as Nick Allen
- Lady Sings the Blues1972IMDb rating 7.0Pryor as Piano ManWilliams as Louis McKay
Mel Brooks3 films together, 1979 to 2023
Mel Brooks's page
- Remembering Gene Wilder2023IMDb rating 7.8Pryor as HimselfBrooks as Himself
- Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic2013IMDb rating 7.3Pryor as HimselfBrooks as Himself
- The Muppet Movie1979IMDb rating 7.6Pryor as Balloon VendorBrooks as Professor Max Krassman
Virginia Capers3 films together, 1972 to 1986
Virginia Capers's page
- Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling1986IMDb rating 6.4Pryor as Jo Jo Dancer / Alter EgoCapers as Emma Ray
- The Toy1982IMDb rating 5.8Pryor as Jack BrownCapers as Ruby Simpson
- Lady Sings the Blues1972IMDb rating 7.0Pryor as Piano ManCapers as Mama Holiday
Otis Day3 films together, 1976 to 1977
Otis Day's page
- Which Way Is Up?1977IMDb rating 6.2Pryor as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Reverend Lenox ThomasDay as Sugar
- Car Wash1976IMDb rating 6.3Pryor as Daddy RichDay as Lloyd
- The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings1976IMDb rating 6.8Pryor as Charlie Snow, All-Star (RF)Day as Rainbow, All-Star (bat boy)
Michael SchultzDirector, 4 films, 1976 to 1981
All films by Michael Schultz
- Bustin' Loose1981IMDb rating 6.1Pryor as Joe Braxton
- Greased Lightning1977IMDb rating 6.4Pryor as Wendell Scott
- Which Way Is Up?1977IMDb rating 6.2Pryor as Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Reverend Lenox Thomas
- Car Wash1976IMDb rating 6.3Pryor as Daddy Rich
Arthur HillerDirector, 2 films, 1976 to 1989
All films by Arthur Hiller
- See No Evil, Hear No Evil1989IMDb rating 6.9Pryor as Wallace 'Wally' Karue
- Silver Streak1976IMDb rating 6.9Pryor as Grover
Sidney PoitierDirector, 2 films, 1974 to 1980
All films by Sidney Poitier
- Stir Crazy1980IMDb rating 6.7Pryor as Harry Monroe
- Uptown Saturday Night1974IMDb rating 6.6Pryor as Sharp Eye Washington
Also three films together1 more actor
- Jesse JacksonRichard Pryor: Omit the Logic (2013), Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982) and Wattstax (1973)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Richard Pryor's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$733 million

23 of the 38 films have a worldwide figure.

23Worldwide figure
6US gross only
1Never in cinemas
8Figure not found

Top grosser

Stir Crazy1980Harry Monroe$101 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 70% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Stir Crazy1980as Harry Monroe
$101M13.8% of the total
2
Superman III1983as Gus Gorman
$80M10.9% of the total
3
The Muppet Movie1979as Balloon Vendor
$76M10.4% of the total
4
Harlem Nights1989as Sugar Ray
$61M8.3% of the total
5
Silver Streak1976as Grover
$51M7.0% of the total
6
The Toy1982as Jack Brown
$47M6.4% of the total
7
See No Evil, Hear No Evil1989as Wallace 'Wally' Karue
$47M6.4% of the total
8
Brewster's Millions1985as Montgomery Brewster
$46M6.3% of the total

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976), $33.0 million

Lady Sings the Blues (1972), $19.7 million

Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986), $18.0 million

Uptown Saturday Night (1974), $6.7 million

Remembering Gene Wilder (2023), $166,179

$223 millionfrom the other 15 films with a worldwide figure, 30% of the total

Awards

Eight awards and honors from 1974 to 2006, five of them major.

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Richard Pryor's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Emmy Awards
	Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special		Won
Grammy Awards
2006	Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumous)		Won
1982	Best Comedy Album	Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip	Won
1976	Best Comedy Album	Bicentennial Nigger	Won
1974	Best Comedy Album	That Nigger's Crazy	Won
Other honors
1998	Mark Twain Prize for American Humor		Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored
	Writers Guild of America Award		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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