Richard Pryor, one the greatest comic artists of the modern era, has died after a long illness. I had the honor of working with Richard for about eighteen months off and on as a screewriter on the movie Bustin’ Loose. Besides having been, as most know, an extraordinary talent, he was also an incredibly compassionate man with a remarkable capacity for empathy. Working with Richard was among the most memorable experiences of my life.
UPDATE: I will post some memories of Richard tomorrow.
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7 Comments
1. Mike Lief:I was a teenager when Pryor was at his best, and I laughed my ass off listening to his albums. His acting was a surprise, and I enjoyed him in damn near everything he starred in, although less so when paired with Gene Wilder.
His last years were terrible, and it was shocking to see what illness had done to such a vibrant talent. It’s hard to think of a more terrible curse for such a gifted monologuist than to be rendered speechless.
He’ll be missed, but I prefer to think that he’s finally regained his voice.
Rest in peace.
Dec 10, 2005 - 2:44 pm 2. David Thomson:Richard Pryor once humorously commented on the victim mentality of many Afro-American males. He suggested that if a black man gets pulled over by a cop for an traffic violation, the guy should immediate complain of racism—whether its true or not! If he yells and screams long enough, it just might work.
May God bless. He has left us too soon.
Dec 10, 2005 - 2:58 pm 3. Sissy Willis:I may be projecting, but I suspect he was “dying” to move on.
Dec 10, 2005 - 4:14 pm 4. Buddy Larsen:heartbreaking. Jackie Mason was interviewed on the phone this afternoon–Fox–and said the most beautiful things about the guy’s respect for other people, humility, and sweet soul, that I believe I’ve ever heard anyone say about anybody, ever.
Dec 10, 2005 - 8:54 pm 5. Buddy Larsen:He captured me forever with the “old street drunk” stand-up bit. the way he took that imaginary pint bottle out of his back pocket and carefully unscrewed the cap, all the while talking defiantly about how his life was SO much not what it might appear to be, and took that long alky pull which shivered throughout his face and body, then continued the rap–which was exactly counter to what we were seeing–while screwing the cap back on and putting the bottle back in his pocket, was a minor-key masterpiece of comic pathos.
You had to laugh and cry at the same time. If there’s a heaven–he’ll have made it ahead of most anybody I can think of.
Dec 10, 2005 - 9:08 pm 6. Buddy Larsen:I hope there’s somebody to say those kinds of things for Jackie Mason, whose big inclusive heart has finally overshadowed the rat-a-tat delivery, and has made him a bona-fide national treasure.
Dec 10, 2005 - 9:14 pm 7. Patrick Tyson:What first comes to mind when I think on Richard Pryor’s work:
That Nigger’s Crazy on the turntable
With Lily Tomlin and Johnny Carson (The Tonight Show) on the small screen
In Lady Sings the Blues and, then, opposite Gene Wilder, after not being opposite him, or even better, in my view, opposite Johnny Carson earlier, on the big screen
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2004_04_05.html#008375
Nice legacy. RIP.
Dec 11, 2005 - 7:52 am