Richard Pryor, RIP

Heard the sad news from LA late Friday night: legendary stand-up comic and actor Richard Pryor had passed away. Pryor was one of the biggest, most influential and original comedians to come onto the American stand-up scene in the 1970's. He became one of comedy's first big superstars and began appearing in a string of popular films. His style of humor -- filled with expletives -- was a source of inspiration for comedians as diverse as Chris Rock and Robyn Williams and David Letterman. He was also one of the first black comics to crossover to the mainstream and find a mass audience. The media is reporting that Pryor died of a heart attack. He had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) years earlier. In the early 1980's he was almost killed in his home in a home cocaine-making explosion, which left him with severe burns on 50 percent of his body. (Pryor had become a habitual drug-user at the time.) Richard Pryor, respect. Rest in peace.

Essential Links
Richard Pryor Official Website
Comedian Richard Pryor dead at 65 [BBC News]
Pioneering Comedian Richard Pryor Dies [ABC News / AP]

Posted by Supercore at December 11, 2005 04:49 AM