Richard Pryor

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor, born in 1940, was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, 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 is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time. Jerry Seinfeld called Pryor "The Picasso of our profession"; Bob Newhart has called Pryor "the seminal comedian of the last 50 years." This legacy can be attributed, in part, to the unusual degree of intimacy Pryor brought to bear on his comedy. As Bill Cosby reportedly once said, "Richard Pryor drew the line between comedy and tragedy as thin as one could possibly paint it." He passed away in 2005.

Richard Pryor is featured in Edition: Guest Editor, Price Latimer Agah