Crate Diggers: Anniversary of Richard Pryor's Death

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Anniversary of Richard Pryor's Death

“I went to Zimbabwe. I know how white people feel in America now; relaxed! Cause when I heard the police car I knew they weren't coming after me!” - Richard Pryor
Image result for richard pryor(Richard Pryor)
Richard Pryor was born on December 1st 1940 in Peoria, Illinois, USA. He grew up in his grandmother’s brothel. At age 7 Pryor was sexually abused.
Image result for richard pryor young(Pryor as a child)
At the age of 10 his mother left him. Pryor was often beaten by his grandmother. At age 14 Pryor was expelled from school. In 1958 Pryor went into the army. In 1963 he moved to New York City.
Image result for richard pryor 1963(Pryor in 1963)
On one of his 1st nights he opened for Nina Simone. In 1967 Pryor started to use profanity in his comedy. Also in 1967 his mother died.
Image result for richard pryor 1967(Pryor in 1967)
In 1968 his father died. In 1969 he moved to CA. In 1970 he signed with Laff Records. In 1971 he released the album “Craps”.
Image result for richard pryor 1971(Pryor in 1971)
In 1972 he performed at Wattstax. Also in 1972 he appeared in the movie Lady Sings the Blues.
Image result for richard pryor 1972(Pryor (Left) with Diana Ross (Right) in Lady Sings the Blues (1972))
In 1973 he signed with Stax records. Also in 1973 he appeared in the movie The Mack.
Image result for richard pryor 1973(Pryor in 1973)
In 1974 he released the album “That Nigger’s Crazy”. It was certified gold and won a grammy. Also in 1974 he was arrested for tax evasion. Pryor also appeared in the movie Uptown Saturday Night.
Image result for richard pryor uptown(Pryor (Left) with Bill Cosby (Center) and Sidney Poitier (Right) in Uptown Saturday Night (1974))
In 1975 he released “...Is it Something I Said?”. It was certified platinum and won a grammy. Pryor also was the 1st Black person to host “Saturday Night Live”.
Image result for richard pryor 1975(Pryor in 1975)
In 1976 he released “Bicentennial Nigger”. It was certified gold and won a grammy. Also in 1976 he starred in the movie Silver Streak. Pryor also starred in Car Wash and Bingo Long All Stars and Motor Kings the same year.
Image result for richard pryor car wash(Pryor in Car Wash (1976))
In 1977 he released his TV series “The Richard Pryor Show”. He also starred in the movies Which Way is Up? And Greased Lightning. Also in 1977 he suffered a heart attack.
Image result for richard pryor 1977(Pryor in 1977)
In 1978 he appeared in the movies The Wiz and Blue Collar. In 1979 he visited Africa. Also in 1979 he appeared in the movie The Muppet Movie.
Image result for richard pryor 1979(Pryor in 1979)
In 1980 he starred in the movie Stir Crazy. Also in 1980 while high from freebasing cocaine Pryor lit himself on fire and suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns covering over half his body.
Image result for richard pryor 1980(Pryor in 1980)
In 1981 he starred in the movie Bustin’ Loose. In 1982 he starred in the movie The Toy. In 1983 he appeared in the movie Superman 3.
Image result for richard pryor 1983(Pryor (Right) with Christopher Reeve (Left) in Superman 3 (1983))
In 1984 Pryor hosted the TV show “Pryor’s Place”. In 1985 he appeared in the movie Brewster’s Millions. In 1986 he starred in the movie Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling.
Image result for richard pryor jo jo dancer(Pryor in Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling (1986))
Also in 1986 Pryor was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In 1988 he appeared in the movie Moving. In 1989 he starred in the movies See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Harlem Nights.
Image result for richard pryor harlem nights(Pryor (Right) with Eddie Murphy (Center) and Redd Foxx (Left) in Harlem Nights (1989))
In 1990 he suffered a heart attack. In 1997 he appeared in the movie Lost Highway. In 1998 Pryor won the first Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Image result for richard pryor 1998(Pryor (Right) with Dick Gregory (Left))
In 2004 Pryor was voted No. 1 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.
Image result for richard pryor 2004(Pryor in 2004)
On December 10th 2005 Richard Pryor died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was 65 years old.
Image result for richard pryor statue(A statue of Pryor)
Today is the 11th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great comedian today.
Albums by Richard Pryor
  • “Richard Pryor” (1968)
  • “Craps” (1971)
  • “That Nigger's Crazy” (1974)
  • “...Is It Something I Said?” (1975)
  • “Holy Smoke!” (1976)
  • “Bicentennial Nigger” (1976)
  • “L.A. Jail” (1976)
  • “Are You Serious ???” (1977)
  • “Who Me? I'm Not Him” (1977)
  • “Black Ben The Blacksmith” (1978)
  • “The Wizard of Comedy” (1978)
  • “Wanted: Live in Concert” (1978)
  • “Outrageous” (1979)
  • “Insane” (1980)
  • “Rev. Du Rite” (1981)
  • “Richard Pryor Live!” (1982)
  • “Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip” (1982)
  • “Here and Now” (1983)
  • “Supernigger” (1983)
Movies starring Richard Pryor
  • The Busy Body (1967) as Lt. Whitaker
  • Wild in the Streets (1968) as Stanley X
  • Carter's Army (1970) as Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
  • The Phynx (1970) as himself
  • You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat (1971) as wino
  • Lady Sings the Blues (1972) as piano man
  • The Mack (1973) as Slim
  • Hit! (1973) as Mike Willmer
  • Some Call It Loving (1973) as Jeff
  • Uptown Saturday Night (1974) as Sharp Eye Washington
  • Adiós Amigo (1976) as ?
  • Car Wash (1976) as Daddy Rich
  • The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976) as Charlie Snow
  • Silver Streak (1976) as Grover T. Muldoon
  • Greased Lightning (1977) as Wendell Scott
  • Which Way Is Up? (1977) as Leroy/ Rufus/ Rev. Thomas
  • Blue Collar (1978) as Zeke Brown
  • The Wiz (1978) as The Wiz
  • California Suite (1978) as Dr. Chauncey Gump
  • The Muppet Movie (1979) as balloon vender
  • Wholly Moses (1980) as Pharaoh
  • In God We Tru$t (1980) as God
  • Stir Crazy (1980) as Harry Monroe
  • Bustin' Loose (1981) as Joe Braxton
  • Some Kind of Hero (1982) as Eddie Keller
  • The Toy (1982) as Jack Brown
  • Superman III (1983) as August Gorman
  • Brewster's Millions (1985) as Montgomery Brewster
  • Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986) as Jo Jo Dancer
  • Critical Condition (1987) as Kevin Lanahan
  • Moving (1988) as Arlo Pear
  • See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) as Wallace Karew
  • Harlem Nights (1989) as Sugar Ray
  • The Three Muscatels (1991) as Russell
  • Another You (1991) as Eddie Dash
  • Mad Dog Time (1996) as Jimmy the gravedigger
  • Lost Highway (1997) as Arnie
  • Bitter Jester (2003) as himself
  • I Ain't Dead Yet, #* %$@!! (2003) as himself
  • Richard Pryor: The Funniest Man Dead Or Alive (2005) as himself
Videos of Richard Pryor



(P.S. sorry for the late post)

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