Richard Pryor was the most influential and groundbreaking
comedian of all time, a performer and writer who shattered stereotypes and
boundaries. Pryor survived a youth of violence and abuse and cultural racism. Pryor
used all of that history to create his stage performances and writing. Live on
stage his comedy was profane and socially astute, provoking thought as well as
laughter. As a writer, he earned an Emmy, in addition to five Grammy Awards for
his comedy albums. A veteran of more than 40 feature films Pryor survived a
debilitating drug addiction, in fact, he nearly died after lighting himself on
fire while he "freebased" cocaine in 1980. To the astonishment of
many, recovered and went on to become one of the biggest movie stars of the day
in films like "Stir Crazy" (1980) and "Richard Pryor: Live on
the Sunset Strip" (1982). Unfortunately, the effects of multiple sclerosis
began to erode his once formidable ability, beginning in 1986 and ultimately
debilitating the comedian by the end of the decade. Cited as a major influence
by the likes of Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock, Pryor not only expanded the
definition of comedy, but also the social and racial boundaries that had
previously defined its audience.
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