December 10, 2005
Richard Pryor passes away
Richard Pryor died earlier today of a heart attack. He was 65 years old and had been fighting multiple sclerosis for several years. He was one of the greats. If you like Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle or damn near any comedian today, you can thank Richard for being one of their biggest influences.
Pryor once marveled "that I live in racist America and I'm uneducated, yet a lot of people love me and like what I do, and I can make a living from it. You can't do much better than that."
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Comments
1. Posted by rivercmb on December 10, 2005 10:08 PM
That's really sad. He seems to have been overlooked over the last few years, since his sickness got worse. He hard life but he sure as hell made something of it.
"Richard Pryor: How much money have we raised so far? None! OK, this is a message for all you white people out there. Part of the money we raise tonight will go to the Back to Africa movement and...
[every phone rings]"
2. Posted by dodgecity on December 10, 2005 10:26 PM
Alot of comics try to be as brash as Richard, it's not hard. But Pryor could be VERY BRASH and still have alot of heart in both his material and movies. He also did alot of great work behind the scenes - writing. He will be missed.
R.I.P.
3. Posted by MrPloppy on December 10, 2005 10:43 PM
Pryors stuff is as sharp and funny now as it was 30 years ago. Decades from now people will still be laughing there arses off to his jokes. One of the best comedians of the 20th century.
4. Posted by MadelBlue on December 10, 2005 11:06 PM
My God what a loss. Rest in peace man.
5. Posted by Captain Awesome on December 10, 2005 11:56 PM
Another great loss in the comedy industry. This guy broke ground on so many levels.
Pryor fucking rules, RIP friend.
6. Posted by hafaball on December 11, 2005 12:24 AM
He was in one of my favortie movies, Hear no evil, see no evil...he will be missed. :(
7. Posted by pixel killya on December 11, 2005 12:49 AM
Paved the way, and over 30 years later the rest of the world still hasn't caught up. And never will. Thank you Richard Pryor, you gave me the biggest and best laughs I will ever experience in my life.
8. Posted by Nola on December 11, 2005 12:58 AM
I hadn't listened to the news today, so I was shocked to do my daily check-in here and see that Richard Pryor has passed away. I've tried four times now to put into words what I'm feeling, but it's just impossible. The loss is huge and my heart goes out to his family.
*sighs*
9. Posted by sadietolstoy on December 11, 2005 7:46 AM
R.I.P., Richard. You were one of my favorite comedians.
10. Posted by mad_maddox on December 11, 2005 10:07 AM
just as those guys above I can say that he was one of the greatest personalities of all time...rip dude
11. Posted by bafongu on December 11, 2005 4:16 PM
Not "one of the best", the BEST. Redd Fox was just foul crude; Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx and others all "imitated". Richard Pryor "innovated".
My favorite Pryor gag:
"I came home the other night and my girlfriend was pissed off. She found a damn note from my side bitch. She asked me what the fuck I was doing messin round?
I said look baby, we been together 5 years now and I just needed to find me some new pussy.
She looked at me and said "asshole, if you had 2 more inches of dick you'd find new pussy right here!"
RIP.....
12. Posted by Nikk The Templar on December 11, 2005 6:21 PM
I've been crying nonstop since I heard this.
This is just unadultered BS that he passes away and fuckin' Larry The Cable Guy hasn't choked on his Redman and died already.
I love you, Richard Pryor. You will be missed for a looooong time.
13. Posted by BadGoat on December 11, 2005 11:05 PM
I was sad when I heard the news. Richard Pryor will be remembered fondly. He was an institution and put in a lot of living in his short 65-years.
14. Posted by mememe on December 12, 2005 4:16 PM
The thing that I liked and what he was so good at, was that he could talk about race relations stuff and be extremely funny, but not sound racist. I love his white guy voice! "Will we be having intercourse tonight? No? OK."
Richard Pryor was also an animal rights activist, and was against using animal testing for drugs to treat his illness.
15. Posted by Captain Awesome on December 12, 2005 7:50 PM
Update: Still sad :(
16. Posted by Bill Clinton on December 13, 2005 1:01 AM
:tears:
Seriously I'm not faking it this time.
No really.
17. Posted by unknownassassin on December 13, 2005 6:58 AM
he wasn't self-satisfied, self-righteous, or self-consciously "hip" (see margaret cho); he wasn't a product of calculated controversy (see sarah silverman); he wasn't a mere teller of jokes or employer of gimmicks (see almost any other lame comedian you can throw a stick at). he simply walked up on stage and talked about shit that happened... he talked about the truth. and in the course of unpacking that truth, there was humor--humor that forged a real connection with audiences and resonates to this day. they don't make 'em like that anymore, and they never will again... one of a kind.
a sad day...