How Did Richard Pryor Die?
Richard Pryor died of Heart attack (multiple sclerosis complications) on December 10, 2005, at age 65.
What was Richard Pryor's cause of death?
Richard Pryor died on December 10, 2005, at his home in Encino, California, at the age of 65. He suffered a heart attack. He had been living with multiple sclerosis since his diagnosis in 1986, which had progressively confined him to a wheelchair. His MS had severely weakened his body in his final years. His wife Jennifer Lee was by his side when he passed.
How old was Richard Pryor when they died?
Richard Pryor was 65 years old at the time of death.
When did Richard Pryor die?
Richard Pryor died on December 10, 2005.
Richard Pryor Biography
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was born on December 1, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois. He grew up in a brothel run by his grandmother and endured a turbulent childhood. He began performing stand-up comedy in the early 1960s. His breakthrough came when he abandoned his safe Bill Cosby-style act and turned to raw, autobiographical comedy about race, poverty, and his own troubled life. Albums like That Nigger's Crazy and Live in Concert are considered the greatest stand-up recordings ever made. He influenced every comedian who followed, from Eddie Murphy to Dave Chappelle to Chris Rock.
Personal Life
Who are Richard Pryor's parents?
LeRoy Pryor, Gertrude Thomas
Was Richard Pryor married?
| Name | Married | Divorced |
|---|---|---|
| Patricia Price | 1960 | 1961 |
| Maxine Hilton | 1967 | 1969 |
| Deboragh McGuire | 1977 | 1978 |
| Jennifer Lee | None | None |
| Flynn BeLaine | None | None |
| Geraldine Mason | 1986 | None |
Did Richard Pryor have children?
Richard Pryor had 6 children: Richard Pryor Jr., Renee Pryor, Elizabeth Ann Pryor, Rain Pryor, Kelsey Pryor, Franklin Pryor.
What religion was Richard Pryor?
Richard Pryor was None stated.
What was Richard Pryor's ethnicity?
Richard Pryor was of African American heritage.
Career Highlights
Movies
- Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
- Silver Streak (1976)
- Which Way Is Up? (1977)
- Blue Collar (1978)
- Stir Crazy (1980)
- Some Kind of Hero (1982)
- Superman III (1983)
- Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)
Albums
- That Nigger's Crazy (1974)
- Is It Something I Said? (1975)
- Bicentennial Nigger (1976)
- Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)
- Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
TV Shows
- The Richard Pryor Show (1977)
Awards
- Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album — That Nigger's Crazy (1975)
- Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album — Is It Something I Said? (1976)
- Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album — Bicentennial Nigger (1977)
- Emmy Award for Writing — Lily Tomlin special (1974)
- Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (1998)
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2020, posthumous)
- Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Facts About Richard Pryor
- He is widely considered the greatest stand-up comedian of all time
- He set himself on fire in 1980 while freebasing cocaine, suffering severe burns over 50% of his body
- He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986 which gradually confined him to a wheelchair
- His comedy broke racial and social barriers and influenced virtually every comedian who followed him
- He received the first-ever Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998
Richard Pryor Quotes
"I had some great things and I had some bad things. The best and the worst. In other words, I had a life."
"Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious."
Legacy
Richard Pryor is universally regarded as the greatest stand-up comedian in history. He received the first Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998. His influence on comedy, race relations, and American culture is immeasurable. Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, and virtually every major comedian of the past 40 years has cited Pryor as their primary influence.
Sources
Last verified: 2026-06-05