December 10, 200520 yr Link Pathbreaking Comedian Richard Pryor Dies By JEREMIAH MARQUEZ, Associated Press Writer 5 minutes ago LOS ANGELES - Richard Pryor, the caustic yet perceptive actor-comedian who lived dangerously close to the edge both on stage and off, has died, his ex-wife said Saturday. He was 65. Pryor died of a heart attack at his home in the San Fernando Valley sometime late Friday or early Saturday, Flyn Pryor said. He had been ill for years with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nervous system. The comedian was regarded early in his career as one of the most foul-mouthed comics in the business, but he gained a wide following for his expletive-filled but universal and frequently personal insights into modern life and race relations. His audacious style influenced an array of stand-up artists, including Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and Damon Wayans, as well as Robin Williams, David Letterman and others. A series of hit comedies in the '70s and '80s, as well as filmed versions of his concert performances, helped make him Pryor one of the highest paid stars in Hollywood. He was one of the first black performers to have enough leverage to cut his own Hollywood deals. In 1983, he signed a $40 million, five-year contract with Columbia Pictures. His films included "Stir Crazy," "Silver Streak," "Which Way Is Up?" and "Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip."
December 10, 200520 yr Richard Pryor changed the whole landscape as far as standup goes. R.I.P. Richard.
December 10, 200520 yr QUOTE(Soxy @ Dec 10, 2005 -> 02:39 PM) Pathbreaking Comedian Richard Pryor Dies Pryor died of a heart attack at his home in the San Fernando Valley sometime late Friday or early Saturday Bummer, he lived not far from me.........
December 10, 200520 yr RIP to an IL native and one of the greatest standups to grace the stage: As he said: There's nothing worse than being an aging young person.
December 11, 200520 yr He was really good in Harlem Nights. Thats one of my all time favorite movies.
December 11, 200520 yr ...and let's not forget that performance in Superman III..what a flick!!!!! Edited December 11, 200520 yr by juddling
December 11, 200520 yr QUOTE(juddling @ Dec 11, 2005 -> 12:24 AM) ...and let's not forget that performance in Superman III..what a flick!!!!! classy
December 11, 200520 yr Link Pathbreaking Comedian Richard Pryor Dies By JEREMIAH MARQUEZ, Associated Press Writer 5 minutes ago LOS ANGELES - Richard Pryor, the caustic yet perceptive actor-comedian who lived dangerously close to the edge both on stage and off, has died, his ex-wife said Saturday. He was 65. Pryor died of a heart attack at his home in the San Fernando Valley sometime late Friday or early Saturday, Flyn Pryor said. He had been ill for years with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nervous system. The comedian was regarded early in his career as one of the most foul-mouthed comics in the business, but he gained a wide following for his expletive-filled but universal and frequently personal insights into modern life and race relations. His audacious style influenced an array of stand-up artists, including Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and Damon Wayans, as well as Robin Williams, David Letterman and others. A series of hit comedies in the '70s and '80s, as well as filmed versions of his concert performances, helped make him Pryor one of the highest paid stars in Hollywood. He was one of the first black performers to have enough leverage to cut his own Hollywood deals. In 1983, he signed a $40 million, five-year contract with Columbia Pictures. His films included "Stir Crazy," "Silver Streak," "Which Way Is Up?" and "Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip." <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 1. If any of you have not seen the Richard Pryor Live DVDs, you need to do so, they are awesome. 2. I don't know why Arsenio was mentioned in the article; the next funny thing he says will be the first funny thing he's said. RIP Richard Prior...G-d Bless!
December 11, 200520 yr QUOTE(Texsox @ Dec 11, 2005 -> 09:29 AM) His contributions to comedy and fire safety were immense. RIP I wasn't gonna say it but you did. When I read about that incident I laughed my ass off.
December 11, 200520 yr The joke was what am I? Richard Pryor jogging I'm going to hell, but at least I'll finally get to meet some of y'all
December 12, 200520 yr QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Dec 11, 2005 -> 11:27 AM) I wasn't gonna say it but you did. When I read about that incident I laughed my ass off. I don't understand why this is funny: a man has a nervous breakdown and tries to burn himself to death
December 12, 200520 yr QUOTE(WSFAN35 @ Dec 11, 2005 -> 08:42 PM) I don't understand why this is funny: a man has a nervous breakdown and tries to burn himself to death He was free basing cocaine.
December 12, 200520 yr QUOTE(Texsox @ Dec 11, 2005 -> 12:43 PM) The joke was what am I? Richard Pryor jogging I'm going to hell, but at least I'll finally get to meet some of y'all Remember when he told that one on himself in Sunset Strip? Everyone in the theater I was in gasped. I was using that recycled joke all day yesterday behind the bar. I followed it up with: "I wonder if he'll be cremated?" RP would have appreiciated the sentiment, I think. It took me about 15 years to realize that he had a screenwriting credit for Blazing Saddles. That's how Mel Brooks had the guts to write all those jokes -- he let RP do it. Edited December 12, 200520 yr by Mplssoxfan
December 12, 200520 yr Now we got country and western on the bus R and B, we got disco in eight tracks and cassettes in stereo We've got rural scenes & magazines We've got truckers on the CB We've got Richard Pryor on the video We got time to think of the ones we love While the miles roll away But the only time that seems too short Is the time that we get to play
December 12, 200520 yr I was watching TV late Saturday night and I saw the news. They interviewed Jimmy Walker. Jimmy and RP were friends for years. Jimmy made sure people knew that Pryor was a jerk to people and could be a pretty mean guy. I think that spoke more about their friendship, and Pryor, that almost any "tribute" you will see. You just know that Pryor would want people to talk truthfully about him and to not sugarcoat who and what he was. I loved Pryor, even as a kid. Is there anybody who grew up seeing that man before he took ill that doesn't like Pryor. Everything about him was great, aside from the drugs. RIP Rich.
December 12, 200520 yr I've has the opportunity to hang around professional and serious amateur comedians and as a group they are the most pathetic people to hang with. Mean, paranoid, back stabbing, gossiping, unfunny unless on stage are just a few of the attributes that come to mind.
December 12, 200520 yr I'm surprised nobody used his old slogan of "I'm not dead yet, motherf***er!" in some sort of joke.
December 12, 200520 yr QUOTE(Texsox @ Dec 12, 2005 -> 07:38 AM) He was free basing cocaine. that was a rumor, you're terribly mistaken
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