Cast & creator
Richard Pryor
Best known for The Mike Douglas Show, Saturday Night Live, The Merv Griffin Show
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, film director, social critic, satirist, 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 reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time: receiving praise from notable comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Newhart, and Bill Cosby. His body of work includes the concert movies and recordings starting in the 70s and spanning three decades. He also starred in numerous films as an actor, in both comedic and dramatic roles. He collaborated on many projects with actor Gene Wilder and actor/comedian/writer Paul Mooney. Pryor won an Emmy Award (1973), and five Grammy Awards (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1982). In 1974, he also won two American Academy of Humor awards and the Writers Guild of America Award. The first ever Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was presented to him in 1998. Pryor is listed at Number 1 on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians.
Also known as: Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor, Ρίτσαρντ Πραιορ, Річард Прайор, ریچارد پرایور, ریچارد پرایر
102
film credits
24
television credits
108
1948–2026 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (126)
Showing 126 of 126 credits
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Chicago Hope
Joe Springer
1994
Dinah!
Self
1974
Martin
Richard Pryor
1992
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
The Partridge Family
A.E. Simon
1970
Kraft Music Hall
Self
1958
The Flip Wilson Show
Self
1970
The Midnight Special
Self
1972
The Norm Show
1999
Legends
G.O.D. (archive footage) (uncredited)
2006
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy
Self (archive footage)
2024
Lost Highway
Arnie
1997
Hollywood Black
Self (archive footage)
2024
The Muppet Movie
Balloon Vendor
1979
Dark Side of Comedy
Self (Archive Footage)
2022
John Candy: I Like Me
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2025
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Original Film Writer
2022
Blazing Saddles
Screenplay
1974
Superman III
August 'Gus' Gorman
1983
Brewster's Millions
Montgomery Brewster
1985
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Wallace 'Wally' Karue
1989
Harlem Nights
Sugar Ray
1989
The Richard Pryor Show
Host
1977The Richard Pryor Show
Creator
1977
The Comedy Store
Self (archive footage)
2020
The Young Lawyers
1970
Superstar
Self (archive footage)
2021
Jerry West: The Logo
Self (Archive footage & voice)
2026
Silver Streak
Grover Muldoon
1976I Am
Self
2012
The Wiz
The Wiz
1978
Stir Crazy
Harry Monroe
1980
California Suite
Dr. Chauncey Gump
1978
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
Self (archive footage)
2025
Another You
Eddie Dash
1991
Car Wash
Daddy Rich
1976
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
(archive footage)
1999
Breakdown: 1975
Self (archive footage)
2025Breakdown: 1975
Self (archive photo/footage)
2025
Critical Condition
Eddie Lenahan/Dr. Kevin Slattery
1987
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
Charlie Snow
1976
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2024
The Toy
Jack Brown
1982
Some Kind of Hero
Cpl. Eddie Keller / Ted Segal
1982
In God We Tru$t
G.O.D.
1980
Greased Lightning
Wendell Scott
1977
Remembering Gene Wilder
Self (archive footage)
2024
Wild in the Streets
Stanley X
1968
Mad Dog Time
Jimmy the Gravedigger
1996
Which Way Is Up?
Leroy Jones / Rufus Jones / Rev. Lenox Thomas
1977
Blue Collar
Ezekiel 'Zeke' Brown
1978
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
2003
A Huey P. Newton Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2001
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
1986Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Screenplay
1986Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Director
1986Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Producer
1986
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Self
1983
Carter's Army
Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
1975The Lion Roars Again
Self
1975
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self (archive footage)
2013
Group Therapy
Self (archive footage)
2024
Lily
1973Lily
Writer
1973
The Young Lawyers
Otis Tucker
1969
I Am Richard Pryor
Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
2019Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
Self (archive footage)
2007
A Century of Cinema
Self
1994
Adiós Amigo
Sam Spade
1975
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
Self (archive footage)
2013
Bustin' Loose
Joe Braxton
1981Bustin' Loose
Story
1981Bustin' Loose
Producer
1981
The Phynx
Richard Pryor
1970
Lady Sings the Blues
Piano Man
1972
The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up
Self (archive footage)
2022
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
Self (archive footage)
2003
Richard Pryor: Icon
Self (archive footage)
2014
Moving
Arlo Pear
1988
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Self
1979Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Writer
1979
The Mack
Slim
1973
Uptown Saturday Night
Sharp Eye Washington
1974
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Self
1983Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Writer
1983Richard Pryor: Here and Now
Director
1983
The Making of 'Superman III'
Self
1985A Party For Richard Pryor
Self
1991
The Richard Pryor Special?
Self / Various
1977The Richard Pryor Special?
Writer
1977
Wholly Moses
Pharaoh
1980
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Self
1986
Pryor's Place
Richard Pryor
1984Pryor's Place
Creator
1984
The Busy Body
Whittaker
1967
Hit!
Mike Willmer
1973
Some Call It Loving
Jeff
1973
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
Self
1999
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Self
1982Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Writer
1982Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Producer
1982
Zeitgeist: Requiem
Self (archive footage)
2024
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
1990
Dynamite Chicken
Self
1971
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
1969Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales
Writer
1969
You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat
Wino
1971
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1979
Flip Wilson... Of Course
Self
1974
The N Word
Self (archive footage)
2006Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary
Self (archive footage)
Blacks and Jews
Self
1997
Wattstax
Self
1973
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
2023
Juke and Opal
Juke
1973But... Seriously
Self (archive footage)
1994
The Last Days of Richard Pryor
Himself
2020
Afro Promo
Self (archive footage)
1997
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
Self
1971Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'
Writer
1971Black and White Trypps Number Four
2008
The Three Muscatels
Narrator / Wino / Bartender
1991
The Richard Pryor show Volume 2
Self
1977