Richard Pryor Net Worth ·

02 Jun 2024, 00:00

Richard Pryor net worth is
$40 Million

Richard Pryor Wiki Biography

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was born on 1st December 1940, in Peoria, Illinois USA and died on 10th December, 2005 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, comedian, satirist, writer as well as a film director. Richard Pryor was the winner of five Grammy Awards, two American Academy of Humour Awards, Emmy Award, Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humour and the Writers Guild of America Award. More, he topped the list of Comedy Central as the all-time greatest stand-up comedian. Undoubtedly, all those awards increased Richard Pryor’s net worth. He was active in the entertainment industry from 1963 to 1997.

So how rich was Pryor? The main sources of Richard Pryor’s net worth were acting and writing. According to estimations, his net worth was equal to $40 million.

Richard Pryor Net Worth $40 Million

The childhood of this charismatic actor was far from usual or happy: Richard was raised in a brothel owned by his grandma. Worse, his mother worked as a prostitute there. Later, she left the boy with grandma, who used to abuse the child physically and mentally. From 1958 to 1960, he served in the Army of USA, although almost all the time was spent in prison because of a racial discrimination incident in Germany.

Concerning his career, Pryor was influenced by such personalities as Lewis Black, Bill Hicks, Dave Chappelle, Eddie Izzard, George Lopez, George Carlin and other famous artists. As an actor he created outstanding roles in a number of films including the blaxploitation film “The Mack” (1973) directed by Michael Campus, the sports comedy “The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars & Motor Kings” (1976) directed by John Badham, comedy films “Which Way is Up?” (1977) directed by Michael Schultz, “The Toy” (1982) directed by Richard Donner, “Brewster’s Millions” (1985) directed by Walter Hill, “See No Evil, Hear No Evil” (1989) directed by Arthur Hiller and other films which all added considerable sums to the net worth of Richard Pryor.

As a comedian he released about 20 albums and eight compilations. He debuted with the album “Richard Pryor” (1968) which was recorded live. Other popular albums were “That Nigger’s Crazy” (1974), “Bicentennial Nigger” (1976), “Wanted: Live in Concert” (1978), “Here and Now” (1983) and others. The albums received certifications for sales which meant that the net worth of the Richard Pryor rose significantly.

Pryor was particularly recognised for his constant racial epithets, insulting vocabulary, profanity and vulgarities, usually when discussing contemporary issues and racism cases. This was Richard Pryor’s own way of attract audiences, which consequently increased his net worth considerably as he was consistently adored by millions. He is considered to be one of the most influential and important comedians of all time.

As a result of the multiple sclerosis that Richard Pryor suffered from, he had to use power operated vehicles to move, but still he appeared in the film “Lost Highway” (1997) directed by David Lynch. In 2005, he died following a heart attack, and was cremated.

The private life of Pryor was not usual, either. He managed to marry five women seven times, and fathered six children. Richard Pryor’s wives were Patricia Price (1960–1961), Shelley Bonis (1967–1969), Deborah McGuire (1977–1978), Jennifer Lee (1981–1982, 2001– until his death) and Flynn Belaine (1986–1987, 1990–1991).

Full Name	Richard Pryor
Net Worth	$40 Million
Date Of Birth	December 1,1940, in Peoria, Illinois USA
Died	December 10, 2005 in Los Angeles, California, USA,
Place Of Birth	Peoria
Height	1.78 m
Profession	Comedian, Actor, Screenwriter, Film Producer, Master of Ceremonies, Writer, Television producer
Nationality	United States of America
Spouse	Jennifer Lee, Flynn Belaine, Deborah McGuire, Shelley R. Bonus, Patricia Price
Children	Rain Pryor, Kelsey Pryor, Richard Pryor Jr., Stephen Michael Pryor, Elizabeth Pryor, Franklin Pryor, Renee Pryor
Parents	Gertrude L. Thomas, LeRoy Pryor
Nicknames	Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III , Rich , Dickie , Richie , Dick , Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor
IMDB	http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001640
Awards	five Grammy Awards, two American Academy of Humour Awards, Emmy Award, Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humour, Writers Guild of America Award,
Nominations	Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance - Variety Or Music Program, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievem...
Movies	See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Stir Crazy, Richard Pryor: Live in Concert, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, Silver Streak, Brewster's Millions, Blazing Saddles, Superman III, Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip, The Toy, Which Way Is Up?, Harlem Nights, Another You, Bustin' Loose, The Wiz, Grease...
TV Shows	Pryor's Place, The Richard Pryor Show, The Young Lawyers

#	Trademark
1	Frequently worked with Gene Wilder
2	Foul language that has been compared to raw sewage mixed with social insight that has been compared to Mark Twain.

#	Quote
1	[observation, 1967] I never thought about not making it. But the 'it' had nothing to do with show business. The 'it' I'm trying to make is me.
2	[During his tour of Kenya in 1979, Pryor sat in a in a hotel lobby] The only people you saw were black. At the hotel, on television, in stores, on the street, in the newspapers, at restaurants, running the government, on advertisements. Everywhere...You know what? There are no niggers here. ... The people here, they still have their self-respect, their pride. [Describing legacy of trip that made him regret "ever having uttered the word 'nigger' on a stage or off it."]
3	Black people got to look at themselves honestly, the same as white people did. And the stuff I talked about helped them do that. They loved it. Probably some sort of relief to both races that they could finally be honest about their shit.
4	The great comics all have a hole in their chest where their heart should be. Somebody yanked their heart out when they were just kids, and they've been spending their whole lives trying to fill that hole. Or kill the pain. I know that I did.
5	[on experiencing racism] I was just on the Today (1952) show and they were telling me how wonderful I was and I walk out into the reality of America and I can't get a cab.
6	[At the 1977 Academy Awards] I'm here to explain why black people will never be nominated for anything. This show is going out to seventy-five million people - none of them black. We don't even know how to vote. There's 3,349 people in the voting thing and only two black people - Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. We're quitting. You'll have to listen to Lawrence Welk.
7	I met the President. We in trouble.
8	[on the free-basing incident which set him on fire] When you are running down the street.... and you are on fire, people will get out of your way.
9	Everyone carries around his own monsters.
10	It's been a struggle for me because I had a chance to be white and refused.
11	I had some great things and I had some bad things. The best and the worst. In other words, I had a life.
12	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.
13	Comedy rules! Don't let anybody tell you otherwise, and there are no rules in stand-up comedy, which I really like. You can do anything you want and you can say anything that comes to mind, just so long as it's funny. If you ain't funny then get the fuck off the stage, it's that simple.
14	[on his job as a boxing gym sparring partner]: I always had to fight the guys who looked like they just killed their parents.
15	You can have a film and have 200 white people working on it, and nobody finds anything wrong with that. But if you insist on having a black crew, all of a sudden there's something wrong.

#	Fact
1	He is a second cousin, once removed, of rapper and actor Ludacris. Richard's maternal great-grandparents, William A. Craig and Nancy, were also Ludacris's maternal great-great-grandparents.
2	He was invited to a private screening of Animal House (1978) by director 'John Landis (I)', who wanted Pryor's opinion about the scene at the black roadhouse. Landis and the film's backers were concerned that it would be offensive to black audiences. Pryor laughed out loud, and told them that it should definitely be kept in the movie.
3	He was expelled from a Catholic grammar school in Peoria, Illinois, when the nuns found out his grandmother owned a string of brothels.
4	At 16, he was expelled from Central High School for punching his science teacher.
5	Suffered a mild heart attack in November 1977.
6	He passed away only 9 days after his 65th birthday.
7	Admitted that he did Superman III (1983) and The Toy (1982) purely for the money.
8	Was originally to co-star with Gene Wilder in Hanky Panky (1982) but backed out. His part went to Gilda Radner.
9	Appeared in Superman III (1983), the only film in the series in which Lex Luthor does not appear. However, he did eventually get to work with an on-screen Lex Luthor, by appearing in See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) with Kevin Spacey.
10	One of his limo drivers was Freddy Soto, who later went became a stand-up comedian. He also died in 2005.
11	In 1990, he suffered a massive heart attack and underwent triple bypass surgery.
12	Eddie Murphy pointed to Pryor as his role model and inspiration to become a comedian himself.
13	Though he made four films with Gene Wilder, the two comic actors were never as close as many thought, according to the Gene Wilder's autobiography.
14	Remarried two of his ex-wives.
15	Former father-in-law Herbert Bonis managed Danny Kaye for 35 years.
16	Suffered from multiple sclerosis from 1986 until his death in 2005.
17	Chosen as #1 in Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time. (April 2004).
18	Was originally considered for the role of Billy Ray Valentine on Trading Places (1983), before Eddie Murphy ultimately won the part.
19	Pryor was originally slated to play Bart in Blazing Saddles (1974). Due to Pryor's background and controversial stand-up routines, Mel Brooks couldn't secure financing for the project. Brooks made Pryor a co-writer, and Cleavon Little played Bart.
20	In 2002, Sheridan Road, on the south side of Peoria, was renamed Richard Pryor Place.
21	Father of Rain Pryor.
22	Claimed to have seen the film The Man in the Glass Booth (1975) 40 times. His future wife Jennifer Lee had a role in the film.
23	Father, Buck Carter (aka LeRoy Pryor), was a bartender, boxer and WWII veteran, who died in 1968 when Richard was 28.
24	Children: Renee, Richard Jr, Elizabeth, Rain, Stephen, Kelsey and Franklin (Mason Pryor).
25	Mother, Gertude, died when Pryor was 27 years old.
26	Reunited with fourth wife, Jennifer Lee. [2001]
27	Served with U.S. army, 1958-1960.
28	Awarded The First Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize. [1999]
29	Has admitted the fire that nearly killed him while free-basing cocaine in the early 1980s was in fact a suicide attempt. His management created the "accident" lie for the press in hopes of protecting him.

All pictures

Actor

Title	Year	Status	Character
Norm	1999	TV Series	Mr. Johnson
Lost Highway	1997		Arnie
Malcolm & Eddie	1996	TV Series	Uncle Buck
Mad Dog Time	1996		Jimmy the Grave Digger
Chicago Hope	1995	TV Series	Joe Springer
Martin	1993	TV Series	Richard Pryor
The Three Muscatels	1991		Narrator / Wino / Bartender
Another You	1991		Eddie Dash
Harlem Nights	1989		Sugar Ray
See No Evil, Hear No Evil	1989		Wallace 'Wally' Karue
Moving	1988		Arlo Pear
Critical Condition	1987		Kevin Lenahan / Dr. Eddie Slattery
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling	1986		Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
Brewster's Millions	1985		Montgomery Brewster
Superman III	1983		Gus Gorman
The Toy	1982		Jack Brown
Some Kind of Hero	1982		Eddie Keller
Bustin' Loose	1981		Joe Braxton
Stir Crazy	1980		Harry Monroe
In God We Tru$t	1980		G.O.D.
Wholly Moses!	1980		Pharaoh
The Muppet Movie	1979		Balloon Vendor
California Suite	1978		Dr. Chauncey Gump
The Wiz	1978		The Wiz (Herman Smith)
Blue Collar	1978		Zeke
Which Way Is Up?	1977		Leroy Jones Rufus Jones Reverend Lenox Thomas
Greased Lightning	1977		Wendell Scott
Silver Streak	1976		Grover
Car Wash	1976		Daddy Rich
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings	1976		Charlie Snow, All-Star (RF)
Adiós Amigo	1976		Sam Spade
Uptown Saturday Night	1974		Sharp Eye Washington
Hit!	1973		Mike Willmer
Some Call It Loving	1973		Jeff
The Mack	1973		Slim
Lady Sings the Blues	1972		Piano Man
Mod Squad	1972	TV Series	Cat Griffin
You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat	1971		Wino
The Partridge Family	1971	TV Series	A.E. Simon
The Phynx	1970		Richard Pryor
Carter's Army	1970	TV Movie	Pvt. Jonathan Crunk
The Young Lawyers	1969	TV Series	Otis Tucker
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales	1969
Wild in the Streets	1968		Stanley X
ABC Stage 67	1967	TV Series	Undertaker
The Busy Body	1967		Whittaker
The Wild Wild West	1966	TV Series	Villar

Writer

Title	Year	Status
Pryor Offenses	2004	TV Movie story
The Mark Twain Prize: Richard Pryor	1999	TV Movie uncredited
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling	1986	written by
Richard Pryor... Here and Now	1983	Documentary writer
On Location: The Comedy Store's 11th Anniversary Show	1983	TV Special documentary
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip	1982	Documentary
Bustin' Loose	1981	story
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert	1979	Documentary writer
The Richard Pryor Show	1977	TV Series special material by - 4 episodes
The Richard Pryor Special?	1977	TV Special
Blazing Saddles	1974	screenplay
Lily	1973	TV Special
The Lily Tomlin Show	1973	TV Special writer
Sanford and Son	1972	TV Series written by - 2 episodes
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'	1971	Documentary
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales	1969	written by

Producer

Title	Year	Status
Pryor Offenses	2004	TV Movie executive producer
Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America	1993	TV Special documentary co-executive producer
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling	1986	producer
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip	1982	Documentary producer
Bustin' Loose	1981	producer

Soundtrack

Title	Year	Status
The 55th Annual Academy Awards	1983	TV Special performer: "It All Comes Down to This"
Some Kind of Hero	1982	performer: "Back in the Saddle Again", "Some Kind of Hero"
The Wiz	1978	performer: "So You Wanted To See The Wizard"
The Richard Pryor Special?	1977	TV Special performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business"
Car Wash	1976	"Richard Pryor Dialogue"

Director

Title	Year	Status	Character
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling	1986
Richard Pryor... Here and Now	1983	Documentary

Miscellaneous

Title	Year	Status	Character
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert	1979	Documentary executive album producer

Thanks

Title	Year	Status
Laff Mobb Presents	2012	TV Series special thanks - 2 episodes
Nick DiPaolo: Raw Nerve	2011	TV Special documentary special thanks: comedy idol
Vixen Highway 2006: It Came from Uranus!	2010	special thanks
Louis C.K.: Chewed Up	2008	TV Special documentary thanks
George Lopez: America's Mexican	2007	TV Special documentary dedicated to the memory of
Louis C.K.: Shameless	2007	TV Special documentary personal thanks: from Louis C. K.
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman	2006	Video documentary dedicated to the memory of
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!	2003	TV Special documentary very special thanks
Hard Eight	1996	special thanks
Pacific Inferno	1979	special thanks
Wattstax	1973	Documentary special thanks

Self

Title	Year	Status	Character
Entertainment Tonight	2014	TV Series	Himself
Bitter Jester	2003	Documentary	Himself
The 15th Annual American Comedy Awards	2001		Himself
E! True Hollywood Story	2001	TV Series documentary	Himself
The Mark Twain Prize: Richard Pryor	1999	TV Movie	Himself / Honoree
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?	1998	TV Movie documentary	Himself
27th NAACP Image Awards	1996	TV Special	Himself
Biography	1996	TV Series documentary	Himself
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards	1996	TV Special	Himself
The Blackberry Inn	1996	TV Series	Himself
Showbiz Today	1995	TV Series	Himself
Who Makes You Laugh?	1995	TV Special	Himself
A Century of Cinema	1994	Documentary	Himself
BET's Comicview Awards	1994	TV Special	Himself
The Second Annual Comedy Hall of Fame	1994	TV Special	Himself - Honoree
Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame	1994	TV Movie documentary	Himself
Soul Train Comedy Awards	1993	TV Special	Himself
Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame	1993	TV Special documentary	Himself - Honoree
The Comedy Store's 20th Birthday	1992	TV Movie	Himself
The Arsenio Hall Show	1992	TV Series	Himself - Guest
The 9th Annual American Cinema Awards	1992	TV Special	Himself
A Party for Richard Pryor	1991	TV Special documentary	Himself
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration	1990	TV Special	Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson	1967-1989	TV Series	Himself - Guest / Himself / Himself - Actor / ...
Good Morning America	1979-1989	TV Series	Himself - Guest
Late Night with David Letterman	1987	TV Series	Himself
One Voice	1986	TV Special documentary	Himself - Audience Member (uncredited)
The Barbara Walters Summer Special	1979-1986	TV Series	Himself
Ebony/Jet Showcase	1983-1986	TV Series	Himself
The Making of 'Superman III'	1985	TV Movie documentary	Himself / Gus Gorman (uncredited)
Pryor's Place	1984	TV Series	Himself
Superstars of Comedy Salute the Improv	1984	TV Movie	Himself
Richard Pryor... Here and Now	1983	Documentary	Himself
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever	1983	TV Movie documentary	Himself / Host
The 55th Annual Academy Awards	1983	TV Special	Himself - Co-Host
The 9th Annual People's Choice Awards	1983	TV Special	Himself - Presenter: Favourite All Around Male Entertainer
On Location: The Comedy Store's 11th Anniversary Show	1983	TV Special documentary	Himself
Sesame Street	1978-1982	TV Series	Himself
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter	1982	TV Movie documentary	Hinself - Co-Host
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip	1982	Documentary	Himself
The 53rd Annual Academy Awards	1981	TV Special	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Film Editing
Hot Hero Sandwich	1979	TV Series	Himself
The 21st Annual Grammy Awards	1979	TV Special	Himself
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert	1979	Documentary	Himself
The Richard Pryor Show	1977	TV Series	Himself / Various / U.S. President
The Richard Pryor Special?	1977	TV Special	Himself / The Reverend James L. White / Idi Amin Dada / ...
The David Steinberg Show	1977	TV Series	Himself - Guest
The 49th Annual Academy Awards	1977	TV Special	Himself - Co-Host
The 19th Annual Grammy Awards	1977	TV Special	Himself
Soul Train	1973-1977	TV Series documentary	Himself - Guest / Himself - Guest Emcee / Himself
Donahue	1977	TV Series	Himself
A Concert: Behind Prison Walls	1977	TV Movie documentary	Himself
Dinah!	1975-1976	TV Series	Himself - Guest
The Lion Roars Again	1975	Documentary short	Himself
Sammy and Company	1975	TV Series	Himself
Saturday Night Live	1975	TV Series	Himself - Host / Junior Griffin / Mr. Wilson / ...
The Mike Douglas Show	1965-1975	TV Series	Himself - Co-Host / Himself / Himself - Comedian
Flip Wilson... Of Course	1974	TV Movie	Himself
The Midnight Special	1972-1974	TV Series	Himself / Himself - Host
Flip	1973-1974	TV Series	Himself
Lily	1973	TV Special	Juke
The Lily Tomlin Show	1973	TV Special
Wattstax	1973	Documentary	Himself
Black Omnibus	1973	TV Series	Himself
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'	1971	Documentary	Himself
Dynamite Chicken	1971		Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show	1965-1970	TV Series	Himself - Comedian
The Smothers Brothers Summer Show	1970	TV Series	Himself
The David Frost Show	1970	TV Series	Himself - Guest
This Is Tom Jones	1969	TV Series documentary	Himself - Guest
Operation: Entertainment	1968	TV Series	Himself
Mod Squad	1968	TV Series	Himself
The Kraft Music Hall	1968	TV Series	Himself
The Joey Bishop Show	1967-1968	TV Series	Himself
The Steve Allen Show	1968	TV Series	Himself
The Pat Boone Show	1968	TV Series	Himself
Away We Go	1967	TV Series	Himself
The Roger Miller Show	1966	TV Series	Himself
The Merv Griffin Show	1965-1966	TV Series	Himself
The Kraft Summer Music Hall	1966	TV Series	Himself - Performer / Himself - Guest
On Broadway Tonight	1964-1965	TV Series	Himself / Herself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

Year	Award	Ceremony	Nomination	Movie
1997	Lifetime Achievement Award	New York Comedy Festival
1996	Lifetime Achievement Award	Image Awards
1994	CableACE	CableACE Awards	Entertainment/Cultural Documentary or Informational Special	Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America (1993)
1993	Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy	American Comedy Awards, USA
1993	Star on the Walk of Fame	Walk of Fame	Motion Picture	On 20 May 1993. At 6438 Hollywood Blvd.
1983	Grammy	Grammy Awards	Best Comedy Recording	Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
1982	Grammy	Grammy Awards	Best Comedy Recording	For the Album "Rev. Du Rite"
1981	Image Award	Image Awards	Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture	Bustin' Loose (1981)
1977	Grammy	Grammy Awards	Best Comedy Recording	For the Album "Bicentennial Nigger"
1976	Grammy	Grammy Awards	Best Comedy Recording	For the album "Is It Something I Said?".
1975	Grammy	Grammy Awards	Best Comedy Recording	For the Album "That Nigger's Crazy"
1975	WGA Award (Screen)	Writers Guild of America, USA	Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen	Blazing Saddles (1974)
1974	Primetime Emmy	Primetime Emmy Awards	Best Writing in Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music	Lily (1973)

Nominated Awards

Year	Award	Ceremony	Nomination	Movie
1996	Primetime Emmy	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series	Chicago Hope (1994)
1996	Image Award	Image Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Chicago Hope (1994)
1985	Daytime Emmy	Daytime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Performer in a Children's Program	Pryor's Place (1984)
1984	Razzie Award	Razzie Awards	Worst Supporting Actor	Superman III (1983)
1983	Primetime Emmy	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program	Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (1983)
1980	NSFC Award	National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA	Best Actor	Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)
1975	BAFTA Film Award	BAFTA Awards	Best Screenplay	Blazing Saddles (1974)
1974	WGA Award (TV)	Writers Guild of America, USA	Best Written Variety Script	Lily (1973)
1973	Primetime Emmy	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music	The Lily Tomlin Show (1973)

3rd Place Awards

Year	Award	Ceremony	Nomination	Movie
1977	NYFCC Award	New York Film Critics Circle Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Silver Streak (1976)

Known for movies

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Richard Pryor Net Worth

Richard Pryor net worth is $40 Million