2 blaazed Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051210/ap_on_...zkxBHNlYwN0bQ-- LOS ANGELES - Richard Pryor, the caustic yet perceptive actor-comedian who lived dangerously close to the edge both on stage and off, died Saturday. He was 65. ADVERTISEMENT Pryor died shortly before 8 a.m. of a heart attack after being taken to a hospital from his home in the San Fernando Valley, said his business manager, Karen Finch. He had been ill for years with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nervous system. "We loved him and will miss you," his ex-wife, Flynn Pryor, said from her Florida home. Pryor 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." Throughout his career, Pryor focused on racial inequality, once joking as the host of the 1977 Academy Awards that Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier were the only black members of the Academy. Pryor once marveled "that I live in racist America and I'm uneducated, yet a lot of people love me and like what I do, and I can make a living from it. You can't do much better than that." In 1980, he nearly lost his life when he suffered severe burns over 50 percent of his body while freebasing cocaine at his home. An admitted "junkie" at the time, Pryor spent six weeks recovering from the burns and much longer from drug and alcohol dependence. He battled multiple sclerosis throughout the '90s. In his last movie, the 1991 bomb "Another You," Pryor's poor health was clearly evident. Pryor made a comeback attempt the following year, returning to standup comedy in clubs and on television while looking thin and frail, and with noticeable speech and movement difficulties. In 1995, he played an embittered multiple sclerosis patient in an episode of the television series "Chicago Hope." The role earned him an Emmy nomination as best guest actor in a drama series. "To be diagnosed was the hardest thing because I didn't know what they were talking about," he said. "And the doctor said `Don't worry, in three months you'll know.' "So I went about my business and then, one day, it jumped me. I couldn't get up. ... Your muscles trick you; they did me." While Pryor's material sounds modest when compared with some of today's raunchier comedians, it was startling material when first introduced. He never apologized for it. In his 1977 NBC television series "The Richard Pryor Show," he threatened to cancel his contract with the network after NBC's censors objected to a skit in which Pryor appeared naked save for a flesh-colored loincloth to suggest he was emasculated. In his later years Pryor mellowed considerably, and his film roles looked more like easy paychecks than artistic endeavors. His robust work gave way to torpid efforts like "Harlem Nights," "Brewster's Millions" and "Hear No Evil, See No Evil." Pryor was married six times. He and Flynn Pryor had a son, Steven. Previous children included another son, Richard, and daughters Elizabeth, Rain and Renee. Daughter Rain became an actress. In an interview in 2005, she told the Philadelphia Inquirer that her father always "put his life right out there for you to look at. I took that approach because I saw how well audiences respond to it. I try to make you laugh at life." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GamblersGrin Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 massive massive massive rip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MR BOJANGLES Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Aw man, thats poopy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Wallbanger Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 That niggers crazy. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SF1 Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 One of the greatest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RumPuncher Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 huge RIP. the man broke new ground and barely made it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poop Man Bob Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guerillaeye Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 rest in peace ... mission accomplished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BURLAP Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 RIP. i had this as my work desktop for ages. always gave me a chuckle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shameless self promotion Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Just saw this on television. What a shame.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainter Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 hes in a better place now regardes to his family during this time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Birch Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Birch Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HATEBREEDER Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 had a really rough day, then i see this. now i got a tear in my eye. i heard some of his uncut tapes when i was 6 years old and have loved the guy ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoB Hope ONER Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 I AM REACHING INTO MY POCKET FOR MY LICENSE. the fucking man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubbeRBand Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 has anyone see that movie where he has to drive a bus across the country? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WARSAW Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 REST IN PEACE!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CALIgula Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 R.I.P. ....you WILL be missed.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SF1 Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Originally posted by RubbeRBand@Dec 10 2005, 11:08 PM has anyone see that movie where he has to drive a bus across the country? Quoted post When I was a kid. Wasn't he driving some bad kids from Philly or something? I remember he got to smash the teacher though. :king: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpyD Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Fuckin wack. RIP Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Birch Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Originally posted by SF1+Dec 10 2005, 11:23 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SF1 - Dec 10 2005, 11:23 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-RubbeRBand@Dec 10 2005, 11:08 PM has anyone see that movie where he has to drive a bus across the country? Quoted post When I was a kid. Wasn't he driving some bad kids from Philly or something? I remember he got to smash the teacher though. :king: Quoted post [/b] Busting Loose My fav is The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars and Motor Kings where he posed as a Cuban to try to get into the MLB "My name is Carlos Nevada..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YourSistersAssCookie Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Originally posted by harvey wallbanger@Dec 10 2005, 06:04 PM That niggers crazy. RIP Quoted post RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.C.Shadow Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Damn, that sucks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRON KING Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 R.I.P. :king: A FUNNY FUNNY :king: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackstand Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Damnit!! So sad. Just the other night I was watching Bustin' Loose on cable and I was thinking "he's gotta be pretty old now, probably slated to die soon" and I figured I'd find out about his death on 12oz. Two days later, I guess I was right. So weird. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerFuct Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Rest is peace funny man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DREDZ Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Originally posted by John Birch@Dec 10 2005, 04:52 PM NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quoted post RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 This is punishment for Dane Cook outselling every comedy CD, ever. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theGOON Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 i was gonna come start this thread. word. amazing comedian. not enough can be said. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOOGLE? Posted December 11, 2005 Share Posted December 11, 2005 r.i.p...... damn now i gotta go call my mom....and break the news i really wanna know why he went and did that superman movie.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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