Richard Pryor

Richard Franklin Lenox Thomas Pryor (born December 1, 1940 in Peoria, Illinois) is an American comedian and actor.

Early career

Early in his career, Pryor was a more middlebrow, nonthreatening comic in the Bill Cosby tradition. The first five tracks on the 2005 compilation CD ', recorded in 1966 and 1967, capture Pryor in this embryonic stage.

Related Topics:
Bill Cosby - 2005 - 1966 - 1967

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In September 1967, Pryor had what he called in his autobiography Pryor Convictions an "epiphany" when he walked onto the stage at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas (with Dean Martin in the audience), looked at the sold-out crowd, said over the microphone "What the fuck am I doing here?", and walked off the stage. Afterward, Pryor began working at least mild profanity and the "N" word into his act. His first comedy recording, the eponymous 1968 debut release on the Dove/Reprise label, captures this particular period, not long after that breakdown.

Related Topics:
September - 1967 - Pryor Convictions - Epiphany - Aladdin Hotel - Las Vegas - Dean Martin - Microphone - Fuck - Profanity - 1968 - Dove/Reprise

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