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Richard Pryor dead at 65

:(
Just saw this on Yahoo:

From http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051210/..._mo/obit_pryor :

Quote:

Pathbreaking Comedian Richard Pryor Dies

By JEREMIAH MARQUEZ, Associated Press Writer 6 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES -
Richard Pryor, the caustic yet perceptive actor-comedian who lived dangerously close to the edge both on stage and off, has died, his ex-wife said Saturday. He was 65.

Pryor died of a heart attack at his home in the San Fernando Valley sometime late Friday or early Saturday, Flyn Pryor said. He had been ill for years with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nervous system.

The comedian was regarded early in his career as one of the most foul-mouthed comics in the business, but he gained a wide following for his expletive-filled but universal and frequently personal insights into modern life and race relations.

His audacious style influenced an array of stand-up artists, including
Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, and Damon Wayans, as well as Robin Williams, David Letterman and others.

A series of hit comedies in the '70s and '80s, as well as filmed versions of his concert performances, helped make him Pryor one of the highest paid stars in Hollywood. He was one of the first black performers to have enough leverage to cut his own Hollywood deals. In 1983, he signed a $40 million, five-year contract with Columbia Pictures.

His films included "Stir Crazy," "Silver Streak," "Which Way Is Up?" and "Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip."

I picked this up a few years ago and am about to go give it a listen again:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
And It's Deep Too: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings of Richard Pryor
"This nine-CD set includes the comic's seven Warner Bros. LPs, plus a disc of previously unissued material and a rare 25-minute interview from 1983."

It's only $53.86 right now at Overstock.com (as compared to $71.99 from Amazon and a list price of $79.98). A good Christmas gift for the right person.

Richard Pryor-65 years old

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/13378416.htm
LOS ANGELES - Richard Pryor, the caustic yet perceptive actor-comedian who lived dangerously close to the edge both on stage and off, has died. He was 65.

Pryor died shortly before 8 a.m. of a heart attack at a hospital in the San Fernando Valley, according to his business manager of 14 years Karen Finch.

One of the most brilliant comedic minds of our time....
Rest is peace, Mr. Pryor. I bow to you.

Richard Pryor dead at 65

RIP

Comedian Richard Pryor dead at 65

Nothing was off limits for Richard Pryor
Groundbreaking black US comedian Richard Pryor has died after almost 20 years with multiple sclerosis.
He died at the age of 65 of a heart attack at Encino hospital near Los Angeles, his wife Jennifer Pryor said.

A series of hit comedies in the 1970s and 1980s - including Stir Crazy and Silver Streak - helped make him one of Hollywood's highest-paid stars.

He was one of the first black performers to have enough clout to negotiate his own Hollywood deals.

In 1983, he signed a $40m (£23m;34m euros), five-year contract with Columbia Pictures.

Foul-mouthed

But he first came to prominence as a pioneering stand-up comic.

His uncompromising, foul-mouthed brand of humour focused on his personal insights into modern life and race relations.

HAVE YOUR SAY
He could make you laugh so hard that it hurt

James, Warrenton

Send us your tributes

Among those most said to have been influenced by his comedy were black artists such as Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and Damon Wayans, as well as Robin Williams, David Letterman and others.

In 1995, he played an embittered multiple sclerosis patient in an episode of TV series Chicago Hope. The role earned him an Emmy nomination as best guest actor in a drama series.

Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease of the nervous system.

Richard Pryor dead at age 65

Link

Quote:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Actor-comedian Richard Pryor, who helped transform comedy with biting commentary on race and his own shortcomings, died on Saturday at age 65 after a long illness, his wife told CNN."He was my treasure," Jennifer Pryor said in a telephone interview. "His comedy is unparalleled. They say that you are not a comic unless you imitate Richard Pryor. ... He was able to turn his pain into comedy."

Pryor's wife said he died of cardiac arrest at 7:58 a.m. PST after her efforts to resuscitate him failed and after he was taken to a hospital in the Los Angeles suburb of Encino. Pryor had been suffering from multiple sclerosis, a degenerative nervous system disease, for almost 20 years.

While he appeared in many successful movies, it was Pryor's stand-up comedy act, in which nothing was off-limits, that made him a controversial star. Racism was a major component of his routine and he even joked about a 1980 incident in which he nearly died after setting himself on fire while free-basing cocaine.

Pryor marked his 65th birthday on December 1.

"He's been so strong for so many years," Jennifer Pryor told CNN. "He's had this disease (multiple sclerosis) since 1986 ... He's had beyond nine lives. We used to joke he's going to outlive everybody.

"He was an extraordinary man, as you know. He enjoyed life right up until the end. He did not suffer, he went quickly, at the end there was a smile on his face ... he's a very, very, very amazing man and he opened doors to so many people."

Pryor was married seven times, including twice to Jennifer and twice to Flynn Belaine, and had seven children.

Pryor grew up in the Peoria, Illinois, brothel run by his grandmother. After a stint in the Army, he pursued a comedy career that landed him spots on the Ed Sullivan and Merv Griffin shows in the 1960s.

He eventually grew unhappy with the "white bread" humor those shows sought and revamped his act with inspiration from the hustlers, pimps and other characters he had encountered at his grandmother's whorehouse. The result was a routine that was both profound and profane.

"He had a courage and a heart and a spirit that was unmatchable and, of course, he was controversial," Jennifer Pryor said. "That was wonderful Richard. He told the truth, didn't he? ... he told the truth and he was very proud.

"Bigoted rednecks came up to Richard and told him, 'Thank you for opening my eyes,' because he was so in touch with the truth and only spoke the truth ... people respond to that." Pryor won Grammy Awards for his comedy albums and portrayed Billie Holiday's piano player in the 1972 Oscar-nominated film "Lady Sings the Blues."

His other movies included "Uptown Saturday Night," "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings," "Blue Collar," "Stir Crazy," "Superman III" and "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling," which was based loosely on his life.

"He was an innovator, a trailblazer," director Spike Lee told CNN. "It's a great loss."

Spike Lee said it best Pryor was one of the best, a real innovator the comedy world has lost a great man today.

That hurts.

His standup always amazed me. The storytelling and feeling behind everything had substance compared to the trite one-liners of peers. I always regretted not making one of his appearances.

No mention of Silver Streak in that obit. I wouldn't call all his comedy movies great but he & Wilder really seemed to enjoy working together.

R.I.P., Richard. You're already missed.

Damn! He was one of my favorite comics! My parents didn't let me listen to him, so I'd wake up at 3am and watch him on HBO or some crap.. I bet I've seen brewster's millions more than star wars.. maybe... A comic genius like him doesn't come around every day.

I always enjoyed his work. Very original, too.

(threads have been combined)

New York Times has a good obit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/ar...ed=1&th&emc=th

Three pages so I won't copy it here.

Loved his work. Great spirit.

I must say that at least he didn't die a nigger.

He learned and recanted that in a very very moving performance after a heartfelt trip to Africa.

I did really enjoy his performances whenever I got to see them.

He was an inspiration turning his life problems into comedy so others may learn from his mistakes. I wish I had the gift of talent, so I could turn my life tragety into a positive for others.

A true King of Comedy will truly be missed!

He was one of the funniest people ever. Way funnier that Eddie Murphy.

My favorite entertainers have always been comedians. And Richard Pryor has always been one of my favorite comedians.

Yeah I saw this on the news today, and what like WTF!! This is definitely a shitty day for the comedy community. He was one of the greats. RIP Richard Pryor

Hey, that's not funny...:(

RIP sir.

RIP Richard. Man that dude gave me alot of laughs....

He is my favorite comedian. It must have been hard for him these last few years. He couldn't really talk very well and he couldn't walk, but his mind was sharp the whole time. In some ways it is probably a release for him. Anyhow, lets just hope he can rest easy.

R.I.P. Daddy Rich

The funniest man to ever live died this weekend. Rest in Peace Richard Pryor.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why did I have to find out like this!?

He shall live forever through his works...

That sucks! The world has lost a comedy legend. His writing, acting, and stand-up will never be forgotten. I hang my head.

RIP

I use to trade his albums around with my friends, some of the funniest comedy that will ever be recorded.

RIP you funny bastard