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Richard Pryor Net Worth

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 NameRichard Pryor
Net Worth$40 Million
Date Of BirthDecember 1,1940, in Peoria, Illinois USA
DiedDecember 10, 2005 in Los Angeles, California, USA,
Place Of BirthPeoria
Height1.78 m
ProfessionComedian, Actor, Screenwriter, Film Producer, Master of Ceremonies, Writer, Television producer
NationalityUnited States of America
SpouseJennifer Lee, Flynn Belaine, Deborah McGuire, Shelley R. Bonus, Patricia Price
ChildrenRain Pryor, Kelsey Pryor, Richard Pryor Jr., Stephen Michael Pryor, Elizabeth Pryor, Franklin Pryor, Renee Pryor
ParentsGertrude L. Thomas, LeRoy Pryor
NicknamesRichard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III , Rich , Dickie , Richie , Dick , Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001640
Awardsfive Grammy Awards, two American Academy of Humour Awards, Emmy Award, Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humour, Writers Guild of America Award,
NominationsPrimetime 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...
MoviesSee 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 ShowsPryor's Place, The Richard Pryor Show, The Young Lawyers
#Trademark
1Frequently worked with Gene Wilder
2Foul 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."]
3Black 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.
4The 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.
7I 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.
9Everyone carries around his own monsters.
10It's been a struggle for me because I had a chance to be white and refused.
11I had some great things and I had some bad things. The best and the worst. In other words, I had a life.
12I 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.
13Comedy 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.
15You 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
1He 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.
2He 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.
3He was expelled from a Catholic grammar school in Peoria, Illinois, when the nuns found out his grandmother owned a string of brothels.
4At 16, he was expelled from Central High School for punching his science teacher.
5Suffered a mild heart attack in November 1977.
6He passed away only 9 days after his 65th birthday.
7Admitted that he did Superman III (1983) and The Toy (1982) purely for the money.
8Was originally to co-star with Gene Wilder in Hanky Panky (1982) but backed out. His part went to Gilda Radner.
9Appeared 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.
10One of his limo drivers was Freddy Soto, who later went became a stand-up comedian. He also died in 2005.
11In 1990, he suffered a massive heart attack and underwent triple bypass surgery.
12Eddie Murphy pointed to Pryor as his role model and inspiration to become a comedian himself.
13Though 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.
14Remarried two of his ex-wives.
15Former father-in-law Herbert Bonis managed Danny Kaye for 35 years.
16Suffered from multiple sclerosis from 1986 until his death in 2005.
17Chosen as #1 in Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time. (April 2004).
18Was originally considered for the role of Billy Ray Valentine on Trading Places (1983), before Eddie Murphy ultimately won the part.
19Pryor 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.
20In 2002, Sheridan Road, on the south side of Peoria, was renamed Richard Pryor Place.
21Father of Rain Pryor.
22Claimed 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.
23Father, Buck Carter (aka LeRoy Pryor), was a bartender, boxer and WWII veteran, who died in 1968 when Richard was 28.
24Children: Renee, Richard Jr, Elizabeth, Rain, Stephen, Kelsey and Franklin (Mason Pryor).
25Mother, Gertude, died when Pryor was 27 years old.
26Reunited with fourth wife, Jennifer Lee. [2001]
27Served with U.S. army, 1958-1960.
28Awarded The First Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize. [1999]
29Has 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

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Norm1999TV SeriesMr. Johnson
Lost Highway1997Arnie
Malcolm & Eddie1996TV SeriesUncle Buck
Mad Dog Time1996Jimmy the Grave Digger
Chicago Hope1995TV SeriesJoe Springer
Martin1993TV SeriesRichard Pryor
The Three Muscatels1991Narrator / Wino / Bartender
Another You1991Eddie Dash
Harlem Nights1989Sugar Ray
See No Evil, Hear No Evil1989Wallace 'Wally' Karue
Moving1988Arlo Pear
Critical Condition1987Kevin Lenahan / Dr. Eddie Slattery
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling1986Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego
Brewster's Millions1985Montgomery Brewster
Superman III1983Gus Gorman
The Toy1982Jack Brown
Some Kind of Hero1982Eddie Keller
Bustin' Loose1981Joe Braxton
Stir Crazy1980Harry Monroe
In God We Tru$t1980G.O.D.
Wholly Moses!1980Pharaoh
The Muppet Movie1979Balloon Vendor
California Suite1978Dr. Chauncey Gump
The Wiz1978The Wiz (Herman Smith)
Blue Collar1978Zeke
Which Way Is Up?1977Leroy Jones Rufus Jones Reverend Lenox Thomas
Greased Lightning1977Wendell Scott
Silver Streak1976Grover
Car Wash1976Daddy Rich
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings1976Charlie Snow, All-Star (RF)
Adiós Amigo1976Sam Spade
Uptown Saturday Night1974Sharp Eye Washington
Hit!1973Mike Willmer
Some Call It Loving1973Jeff
The Mack1973Slim
Lady Sings the Blues1972Piano Man
Mod Squad1972TV SeriesCat Griffin
You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat1971Wino
The Partridge Family1971TV SeriesA.E. Simon
The Phynx1970Richard Pryor
Carter's Army1970TV MoviePvt. Jonathan Crunk
The Young Lawyers1969TV SeriesOtis Tucker
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales1969
Wild in the Streets1968Stanley X
ABC Stage 671967TV SeriesUndertaker
The Busy Body1967Whittaker
The Wild Wild West1966TV SeriesVillar

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Pryor Offenses2004TV Movie story
The Mark Twain Prize: Richard Pryor1999TV Movie uncredited
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling1986written by
Richard Pryor... Here and Now1983Documentary writer
On Location: The Comedy Store's 11th Anniversary Show1983TV Special documentary
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip1982Documentary
Bustin' Loose1981story
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert1979Documentary writer
The Richard Pryor Show1977TV Series special material by - 4 episodes
The Richard Pryor Special?1977TV Special
Blazing Saddles1974screenplay
Lily1973TV Special
The Lily Tomlin Show1973TV Special writer
Sanford and Son1972TV Series written by - 2 episodes
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'1971Documentary
Uncle Tom's Fairy Tales1969written by

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Pryor Offenses2004TV Movie executive producer
Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America1993TV Special documentary co-executive producer
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling1986producer
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip1982Documentary producer
Bustin' Loose1981producer

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The 55th Annual Academy Awards1983TV Special performer: "It All Comes Down to This"
Some Kind of Hero1982performer: "Back in the Saddle Again", "Some Kind of Hero"
The Wiz1978performer: "So You Wanted To See The Wizard"
The Richard Pryor Special?1977TV Special performer: "There's No Business Like Show Business"
Car Wash1976"Richard Pryor Dialogue"

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling1986
Richard Pryor... Here and Now1983Documentary

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert1979Documentary executive album producer

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Laff Mobb Presents2012TV Series special thanks - 2 episodes
Nick DiPaolo: Raw Nerve2011TV Special documentary special thanks: comedy idol
Vixen Highway 2006: It Came from Uranus!2010special thanks
Louis C.K.: Chewed Up2008TV Special documentary thanks
George Lopez: America's Mexican2007TV Special documentary dedicated to the memory of
Louis C.K.: Shameless2007TV Special documentary personal thanks: from Louis C. K.
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman2006Video documentary dedicated to the memory of
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!2003TV Special documentary very special thanks
Hard Eight1996special thanks
Pacific Inferno1979special thanks
Wattstax1973Documentary special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Entertainment Tonight2014TV SeriesHimself
Bitter Jester2003DocumentaryHimself
The 15th Annual American Comedy Awards2001Himself
E! True Hollywood Story2001TV Series documentaryHimself
The Mark Twain Prize: Richard Pryor1999TV MovieHimself / Honoree
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?1998TV Movie documentaryHimself
27th NAACP Image Awards1996TV SpecialHimself
Biography1996TV Series documentaryHimself
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards1996TV SpecialHimself
The Blackberry Inn1996TV SeriesHimself
Showbiz Today1995TV SeriesHimself
Who Makes You Laugh?1995TV SpecialHimself
A Century of Cinema1994DocumentaryHimself
BET's Comicview Awards1994TV SpecialHimself
The Second Annual Comedy Hall of Fame1994TV SpecialHimself - Honoree
Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame1994TV Movie documentaryHimself
Soul Train Comedy Awards1993TV SpecialHimself
Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame1993TV Special documentaryHimself - Honoree
The Comedy Store's 20th Birthday1992TV MovieHimself
The Arsenio Hall Show1992TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The 9th Annual American Cinema Awards1992TV SpecialHimself
A Party for Richard Pryor1991TV Special documentaryHimself
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration1990TV SpecialHimself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1967-1989TV SeriesHimself - Guest / Himself / Himself - Actor / ...
Good Morning America1979-1989TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Late Night with David Letterman1987TV SeriesHimself
One Voice1986TV Special documentaryHimself - Audience Member (uncredited)
The Barbara Walters Summer Special1979-1986TV SeriesHimself
Ebony/Jet Showcase1983-1986TV SeriesHimself
The Making of 'Superman III'1985TV Movie documentaryHimself / Gus Gorman (uncredited)
Pryor's Place1984TV SeriesHimself
Superstars of Comedy Salute the Improv1984TV MovieHimself
Richard Pryor... Here and Now1983DocumentaryHimself
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever1983TV Movie documentaryHimself / Host
The 55th Annual Academy Awards1983TV SpecialHimself - Co-Host
The 9th Annual People's Choice Awards1983TV SpecialHimself - Presenter: Favourite All Around Male Entertainer
On Location: The Comedy Store's 11th Anniversary Show1983TV Special documentaryHimself
Sesame Street1978-1982TV SeriesHimself
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter1982TV Movie documentaryHinself - Co-Host
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip1982DocumentaryHimself
The 53rd Annual Academy Awards1981TV SpecialHimself - Co-Presenter: Best Film Editing
Hot Hero Sandwich1979TV SeriesHimself
The 21st Annual Grammy Awards1979TV SpecialHimself
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert1979DocumentaryHimself
The Richard Pryor Show1977TV SeriesHimself / Various / U.S. President
The Richard Pryor Special?1977TV SpecialHimself / The Reverend James L. White / Idi Amin Dada / ...
The David Steinberg Show1977TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The 49th Annual Academy Awards1977TV SpecialHimself - Co-Host
The 19th Annual Grammy Awards1977TV SpecialHimself
Soul Train1973-1977TV Series documentaryHimself - Guest / Himself - Guest Emcee / Himself
Donahue1977TV SeriesHimself
A Concert: Behind Prison Walls1977TV Movie documentaryHimself
Dinah!1975-1976TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The Lion Roars Again1975Documentary shortHimself
Sammy and Company1975TV SeriesHimself
Saturday Night Live1975TV SeriesHimself - Host / Junior Griffin / Mr. Wilson / ...
The Mike Douglas Show1965-1975TV SeriesHimself - Co-Host / Himself / Himself - Comedian
Flip Wilson... Of Course1974TV MovieHimself
The Midnight Special1972-1974TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Host
Flip1973-1974TV SeriesHimself
Lily1973TV SpecialJuke
The Lily Tomlin Show1973TV Special
Wattstax1973DocumentaryHimself
Black Omnibus1973TV SeriesHimself
Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin'1971DocumentaryHimself
Dynamite Chicken1971Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show1965-1970TV SeriesHimself - Comedian
The Smothers Brothers Summer Show1970TV SeriesHimself
The David Frost Show1970TV SeriesHimself - Guest
This Is Tom Jones1969TV Series documentaryHimself - Guest
Operation: Entertainment1968TV SeriesHimself
Mod Squad1968TV SeriesHimself
The Kraft Music Hall1968TV SeriesHimself
The Joey Bishop Show1967-1968TV SeriesHimself
The Steve Allen Show1968TV SeriesHimself
The Pat Boone Show1968TV SeriesHimself
Away We Go1967TV SeriesHimself
The Roger Miller Show1966TV SeriesHimself
The Merv Griffin Show1965-1966TV SeriesHimself
The Kraft Summer Music Hall1966TV SeriesHimself - Performer / Himself - Guest
On Broadway Tonight1964-1965TV SeriesHimself / Herself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1997Lifetime Achievement AwardNew York Comedy Festival
1996Lifetime Achievement AwardImage Awards
1994CableACECableACE AwardsEntertainment/Cultural Documentary or Informational SpecialMo' Funny: Black Comedy in America (1993)
1993Lifetime Achievement Award in ComedyAmerican Comedy Awards, USA
1993Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameMotion PictureOn 20 May 1993. At 6438 Hollywood Blvd.
1983GrammyGrammy AwardsBest Comedy RecordingRichard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
1982GrammyGrammy AwardsBest Comedy RecordingFor the Album "Rev. Du Rite"
1981Image AwardImage AwardsBest Performance by an Actor in a Motion PictureBustin' Loose (1981)
1977GrammyGrammy AwardsBest Comedy RecordingFor the Album "Bicentennial Nigger"
1976GrammyGrammy AwardsBest Comedy RecordingFor the album "Is It Something I Said?".
1975GrammyGrammy AwardsBest Comedy RecordingFor the Album "That Nigger's Crazy"
1975WGA Award (Screen)Writers Guild of America, USABest Comedy Written Directly for the ScreenBlazing Saddles (1974)
1974Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsBest Writing in Comedy-Variety, Variety or MusicLily (1973)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1996Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesChicago Hope (1994)
1996Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesChicago Hope (1994)
1985Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Performer in a Children's ProgramPryor's Place (1984)
1984Razzie AwardRazzie AwardsWorst Supporting ActorSuperman III (1983)
1983Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music ProgramMotown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (1983)
1980NSFC AwardNational Society of Film Critics Awards, USABest ActorRichard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)
1975BAFTA Film AwardBAFTA AwardsBest ScreenplayBlazing Saddles (1974)
1974WGA Award (TV)Writers Guild of America, USABest Written Variety ScriptLily (1973)
1973Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or MusicThe Lily Tomlin Show (1973)

3rd Place Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1977NYFCC AwardNew York Film Critics Circle AwardsBest Supporting ActorSilver Streak (1976)

Known for movies


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Reinaldo Massengill

Update: 2024-07-24