Richard Pryor, one the greatest comic artists of the modern era, has died after a long illness. I had the honor of working with Richard for about eighteen months off and on as a screewriter on the movie Bustin’ Loose. Besides having been, as most know, an extraordinary talent, he was also an incredibly compassionate man with a remarkable capacity for empathy. Working with Richard was among the most memorable experiences of my life.
UPDATE: I will post some memories of Richard tomorrow.
PJ Media appreciates your comments that abide by the following guidelines:
1. Avoid profanities or foul language unless it is contained in a necessary quote or is relevant to the comment.
2. Stay on topic.
3. Disagree, but avoid ad hominem attacks.
4. Threats are treated seriously and reported to law enforcement.
5. Spam and advertising are not permitted in the comments area.
These guidelines are very general and cannot cover every possible situation. Please don't assume that PJ Media management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment. We reserve the right to filter or delete comments or to deny posting privileges entirely at our discretion. Please note that comments are reviewed by the editorial staff and may not be posted immediately. If you feel your comment was filtered inappropriately, please email us at story@pjmedia.com.
I was a teenager when Pryor was at his best, and I laughed my ass off listening to his albums. His acting was a surprise, and I enjoyed him in damn near everything he starred in, although less so when paired with Gene Wilder.
His last years were terrible, and it was shocking to see what illness had done to such a vibrant talent. It’s hard to think of a more terrible curse for such a gifted monologuist than to be rendered speechless.
He’ll be missed, but I prefer to think that he’s finally regained his voice.
Rest in peace.
Richard Pryor once humorously commented on the victim mentality of many Afro-American males. He suggested that if a black man gets pulled over by a cop for an traffic violation, the guy should immediate complain of racism—whether its true or not! If he yells and screams long enough, it just might work.
May God bless. He has left us too soon.
I may be projecting, but I suspect he was “dying” to move on.
heartbreaking. Jackie Mason was interviewed on the phone this afternoon–Fox–and said the most beautiful things about the guy’s respect for other people, humility, and sweet soul, that I believe I’ve ever heard anyone say about anybody, ever.
He captured me forever with the “old street drunk” stand-up bit. the way he took that imaginary pint bottle out of his back pocket and carefully unscrewed the cap, all the while talking defiantly about how his life was SO much not what it might appear to be, and took that long alky pull which shivered throughout his face and body, then continued the rap–which was exactly counter to what we were seeing–while screwing the cap back on and putting the bottle back in his pocket, was a minor-key masterpiece of comic pathos.
You had to laugh and cry at the same time. If there’s a heaven–he’ll have made it ahead of most anybody I can think of.
I hope there’s somebody to say those kinds of things for Jackie Mason, whose big inclusive heart has finally overshadowed the rat-a-tat delivery, and has made him a bona-fide national treasure.
What first comes to mind when I think on Richard Pryor’s work:
That Nigger’s Crazy on the turntable
With Lily Tomlin and Johnny Carson (The Tonight Show) on the small screen
In Lady Sings the Blues and, then, opposite Gene Wilder, after not being opposite him, or even better, in my view, opposite Johnny Carson earlier, on the big screen
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2004_04_05.html#008375
Nice legacy. RIP.