Richard Pryor lived a life tailor made for his standup routine. Pryor passed away from a heart attack in 2005, and in the near decade since his death a film adaption has yet to hit the silver screen.
Earlier today (July 2), Nick Cannon announced that he’s preparing to play Prior in a new film to be directed by Lee Daniels. The actor/host doesn’t have the part yet but has been “doing the work” to pull off the Pryor role. Before Cannon, Mike Epps was said to be in the running to portray the comic legend.
Whoever lands the job will have big shoes to fill because a comedy great like Pryor only comes around once in a lifetime. Whether he was talking about his relationship troubles (he got married seven time to five different women) or his drug addiction, there was never a dull moment when Pryor touched the stage.
As Quincy Jones said after Pryor’s death, “He was the Charlie Parker of comedy, a master of telling the truth that influenced every comedian that came after him.”
There’s no denying his impact.
Hit the gallery for 10 facts about the comedian, and check out a clip from Richard Pryor: Live On The Sunset Strip below.
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Photo: YouTube
Family Business
Pryor’s mom worked at a brothel, owned by his grandmother.
Higher Learning
Pryor was expelled from school at the age of 14. Good thing he landed on his feet.
Army Of One
Pryor joined the army from 1958 to 1960. He spent much of his service time in prison for attacking another soldier.
The Debut
He made his television debut on the show On Broadway Tonight in 1963. The show ran for two years on CBS.
Chart Topper
Pryor’s third comedy LP, This N*gger’s Crazy went No. on the Billboard R&B/Album music charts.
$100 Million Man
Pryor was on of the early comedians raking in box office duckets. The 1980 film Stir Crazy starring Pryor and Gene Wilder (directed by Sidney Portier) brought in over $100 million.
Black History
Pryor is among the highest paid Black actors of his time period. In 1984 he earned $4 million to play a bad guy in Superman III.
Raspberry Beret
Superman III, the same film that aloted him a multi-million paycheck, earned Pryor a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Supporting Actor.
Just Blaze
Pryor famously set himself on fire while he was freebasing cocaine. He later admitted in his autobiography that he was attempting suicide.
First In Line
In 1998 Pryor became the first person to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center.
