Ričard Prajor (1940-2005)

Poznati komičar Ričard Prajor (Richard Pryor) preminuo je rano ujutru u subotu, 10. decembra, u jednoj losanđeleskoj bolnici od srčanog udara. Prajor je bio ozbiljno bolestan od 1986. godine, kada mu je dijagnozirana multipla skleroza. Prethodni srčani udar, koji je doživeo 1990. godine, ostavio je ozbiljne posledice, te se 1991. podvrgao bajpas operaciji.

Iako ozbiljno bolestan gotovo dve decenije, ovaj simpatični crni komičar nije dozvolio da publika oseti njegove probleme sa zdravljem. On je, naime, nastavio da aktivno snima filmove sve do početka devedesetih, a komičarskim nastupima po klubovima uveseljavao je publiku širom Amerike do pre nekoliko godina. Publici je najbolje poznat po ulogama u komedijama "The Toy", "Brewster's Millions" i "Harlem Nights", ali i po ulozi kompjuterskog genija Gasa u "Supermenu 3" ("Superman III") i po jednoj ozbiljnoj ulozi iz 1972. godine u filmu "Lady Sings the Blues".

Rođen je kao Ričard Frenklin Tomas Prajor III u neobičnoj porodici koja je vodila bordel u Ilinoisu koji je bio vlasništvo njegove bake. Školovao se u katoličkoj školi sve dok se nije saznalo kako njegova porodica zarađuje za život. Tada je prebačen u sistem javnog školovanja. Tu su i počeli njegovi problemi s alkoholom, drogama, nasiljem i kriminalom.

I pored takvog života, ili možda baš zbog toga, njegov komičarski talenat izbio je na površinu. Prvi put je izveo komičarsku tačku dok je služio vojsku u Nemačkoj, a po povratku kući nastavio je da nastupa po klubovima. Ubrzo je Prajoru rodni grad postao premali za njegove rastuće glumačke apetite pa je ponukan uspehom crnog komičara odlučio da se preseli u Njujork. Nedugo zatim dobio je i stalan posao u Las Vegasu, ali je i taj posao napustio da bi se oprobao u Holivudu.

http://www.richardpryor.com/

Pryor's Parents:
Mother Gertrude nee Thomas, a prostitute, deserted him when he was 10; died in 1967.
Father LeRoy Pryor Jr. (aka Buck Carter), a bartender, boxer, and WWII vet, died in 1968.
Raised by grandmother Marie Carter, madam on Peoria's North Washington Street; died 1978.

Pryor's Wives:
Patricia Price (1960 -1961)
Shelly Bonus (1967-1969)
Deboragh McGuire (1977-1979)
Flynn BeLaine (1986-1987; remarried 1990-1991)
Jennifer Lee (1981-1982; remarried 2001 to present)

Pryor's Children:
Renee (born 1957), Richard Jr. (1961), Elizabeth (1967), Stephen Michael (1984), Kelsey (1987), Franklin Matthew Mason (1987), and actress Rain Pryor (1969).

 
In Praise of Pryor

"Richard Pryor is an alchemist who can turn the darkest pain into the deepest comedy. [He] doesn't go for the jugular — he goes straight for the aorta."
-- Robin Williams
 
"What would life be like without Richard Pryor and Mudbone? Dull, baby, very dull. There will never be another Richard Pryor. He is, and always has been, the funniest man alive."
-- Whoopi Goldberg
 
"He's the kind of comedian that everyone calls him by his first name — like they know him. Richard!"
-- Dave Chappelle
 
"Some people are born wearing an iron shoe. They're the ones who kick doors down and enter the places that before them have been untouched even by light. Theirs is always a mission filled with loneliness and broken bones. Richard Pryor is one of the bravest of them."
-- Jim Carrey
 
"To fully appreciate the power of Richard Pryor as a stand-up comedian, you had to follow him at the Comedy Store. I did once, and I'm lucky to be alive."
-- David Letterman
 
"I've always thought that a big laugh is a really loud noise from the soul saying, 'Ain't that the truth!' Richard Pryor is the truth machine. He has taken black street humor to its highest universal level."
-- Quincy Jones
 
"Pryor peels back the last layer of his battle-scarred skin to reveal the wretched demons that make him the true King of Comedy, and the rest of us just pretenders to the throne."
-- Denis Leary
 
"It is impossible to exaggerate the greatness of Richard Pryor. [He] is truly an incandescent star, and we are lucky to bask in his glow."
-- Richard Belzer
 
"Richard Pryor is to comedy what Gretzky is to hockey, what Ali is to Boxing. He is The Beatles of comedy."
-- Paul Rodriguez
 
"[Richard is] a gifted, raging, soaring, plummeting, deeply human man with the tender boy inside — the greatest pioneering comic artist of the last three generations."
-- Lily Tomlin
 
"Richard is the consumate comic/jazz artist, and no one will ever touch his genius."
-- Chevy Chase
 
"Richard had that thing where he could make you laugh so hard and then all of a sudden he'd break your heart."
-- Robert Townsend
 
"I love Richard Pryor. He is a comic genious and a great human being. As he's explored the depths and heights, he's found a laugh around every corner."
-- David Lynch
 
"Richard Pryor is truly one of the great artists of our time. His comic genius and influence remain unparalleled."
-- Eddie Murphy
 
"His star shines fiercely in the universe of art, with a truth and intensity unlike any other."
-- Kris Kristofferson
 
"Richard was our King Solomon. He truly created the kingdom of Niggerdom.
-- Mitzi Shore, owner of the Comedy Store
 
"There are many different kinds of comedians . . . the observational humorist, the impressionist, the character creator, the physical comedian, the self-deprecator, and the dirty-joke teller. What made Richard Pryor so brilliant is he was able to incorporate all these styles at once."
-- Damon Wayans
 
"Richard Pryor is the greatest stand-up who ever lived. He opened the biggest door and turned the light on in the room."
-- Roseanne
 
"There are some people who impact your life forever. Richard Pryor is such a person. It is undefining to call him a comedian, for he seemed to transcend comedy when he spoke to us."
-- Morgan Freeman
 
"Richard Pryor is the King. He always will be."
-- Bernie Mac
 
"You are my friend, my pal, my domino partner, and the funniest motherfucker in the world today."
-- Willie Nelson
 
"At one moment you want to rescue him and save him and the next moment you know he's going to do the same for you."
-- Jennifer Lee
 
"He doesn't fall into the [categories] of comedians we have, like prop comic, black comic, Jewish comic, white comic... he doesn't even get comic. He's just funny!
-- Jon Stewart
 
"Richard Pryor is the greatest comedian of all time."
-- Chris Rock
 
"You changed the world... for everyone in it."
-- Mos Def

 
Feature Films

The Busy Body (1967)
Wild in the Streets (1968)
Bon Appetit (The Trial) (1969)
The Phynx (1970)
You've Got to Walk it Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat (1971)
Live and Smokin' (1971)
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Dynamite Chicken (1972)
Wattstax (1973)
The Mack (1973)
Hit! (1973)
Some Call it Loving (1973)
Uptown Saturday Night (1974)
Adios Amigo (1975)
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kinds (1976)
Car Wash (1976)
Silver Streak (1976)
Greased Lightening (1977)
Which Way Is Up? (1977)
Blue Collar (1978)
The Wiz (1978)
California Suite (1978)
Richard Pryor Live in Concert (1979)
The Muppet Movie (1979)
In God We Trust (1980)
Wholly Moses! (1980)
Stir Crazy (1980)
Bustin' Loose (1981)
Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip (1982)
Some Kind of Hero (1982)
The Toy (1982)
Richard Pryor Here and Now (1983)
Superman III (1983)
Brewster's Millions (1985)
Jo Jo Dancer: Your Life is Calling (1986)
Critical Condition (1987)
Moving (1988)
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
Harlem Nights (1989)
Another You (1991)
The Three Muskatels (1992)
Mad Dog Time (aka Trigger Happy) (1996)
Lost Highway (1997)

 
Television

On Broadway Tonight (1964)
The Wild Wild West (1965)
Kraft Music Hall (1966)
ABC Stage '67 (1966)
The Ed Sullivan Show (numerous appearances 1960s-1970s)
The Merv Griffin Show (several appearances 1960s)
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (numerous appearances 1960s-1980s)
The Young Lawyers (1969)
A Last Laugh at the 60s (1969)
Carter's Army (aka Black Brigade) (1970)
The Partridge Family (1970)
The Mod Squad: The Connection (1972)
Comedy News (1972)
The Flip Wilson Show (1973)
Lily Tomlin Specials (1973)
Mike Douglas Show, guest host (1974)
Saturday Night Live, guest host (1975)
The Richard Pryor Show (4 episodes; 1977)
Barbara Walters Specials (1979, 1980, 1986)
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1981)
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever, host (1983)
The Academy Awards, co-host (1983)
Pryor's Place (1984-1985)
Funny (1985)
Richard Pryor Biography: Biography (1987)
The Comedy Store 15th Year Class Reunion (1988)
A Laugh, A Tear (1990)
A Party for Richard Pryor (1991)
The Meaning of Life (1992)
What Is This Thing Called Love? (1992)
The Comedy Store's 20th Birthday (1992)
Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America, executive producer (1992)
HBO's 20th Anniversary: We Hardly Believe It Ourselves (1992)
Martin (1993)
Met Life Presents the Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame (1993)
But...Seriously (1993)
The Second Annual Comedy Hall of Fame (1994)
20 Years of Comedy on HBO (1994)
Chicago Hope (1995)
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards (1995)
Richard Pryor: Comic on the Edge (1995)
Malcolm and Eddie (1996)
The 27th Annual NAACP Image Awards (1996)
Margot Kidder: The E! True Hollywood Story (1997)
The 12th Annual American Comedy Awards (1997)
The Mark Twain Prize: Richard Pryor (1999)
The Norm Show (1999)
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

 
Recordings

Is It Something I Said? ® Gold 1975/Platinum 1986/Grammy 1975
Bicentennial Nigger ® Gold 1976/Grammy 1976
Wanted: Richard Pryor Live ® Gold 1979/
Richard Pryor's Greatest Hits ® Gold 1980/Platinum 1986
Rev. Du Rite ® Grammy 1981
Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip ® Grammy 1982
That Nigger's Crazy ® Grammy 1974/Gold 1986
Black Ben The Blacksmith
Craps (After Hours)
Who Me, I'm Not Him
Are You Serious???
SuperN*gger
The Wizard Of Comedy
...And It's Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968-1992) ®
includes 9 CDs/Grammy 2002
      Richard Pryor
      That Nigger's Crazy
      Is It Something I Said?
      Bicentennial Nigger
      Wanted/Richard Pryor Live in Concert Part 1
      Wanted/Richard Pryor Live in Concert Part 2
      Live On Sunset Strip
      Here and Now
      That African-American is STILL Crazy-Good Shit from the Vaults
Anthology 1968-1992 includes 2 CDs (highlights from "... And It's Deep, Too!")

U Los Anđelesu je vrlo brzo shvatio da je glumački hleb teško zaraditi, pogotovo ako si crne puti. Studiji mu nisu lako davali uloge, te mu je jedina mogućnost bila da se oproba i kao scenarista. Prajor je bio deo tima koji je napisao scenario za komediju Mela Bruksa "Blazing Saddles" 1974. godine. Taj scenario doneo mu je brojne nagrade, ali ne i mnogo uloga. Prijateljstvo sa Džinom Vajlderom (Gene Wilder), koje se izrodilo iz tog posla, preraslo je u uspešnu dugogodišnju poslovnu saradnju i partnerstvo.

Prvi zajednički film - "Silver Streak" (1976), doživeo je ogroman uspeh, te je ovaj komičarski duo nastavio svoju plodonosnu saradnju, tokom koje su se nizali hitovi među kojima su bili "Stir Crazy" (1980), "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" (1989) i "Another You" (1991). Prajor postaje velika zvezda na blagajnama, ispred glumačkih veličina kakvi su Pol Njumen i Harison Ford. Honorar koji je dobio za ulogu Gasa Gormana u "Supermenu 3" postao je rekordna zarada za jednog crnog glumca.

Privatni život Ričarda Prajora nije bio posut ružama. U toku karijere pratili su ga brojni skandali povezani s drogom, a najveći se desio 1990. godine, kada je usled neuspelog eksperimentisanja s drogom završio u bolnici s opekotinama po celom telu. Ženio se sedam puta sa pet različitih žena. Poslednji put venčao se 2001. godine sa Dženifer Li, s kojom je kratko bio u braku tokom osamdesetih. Iza njega je ostalo sedmoro dece: Rene, Ričard Džunior, Elizabet, Stiven Majkl, Kelsi, Frenklin i Rejn, koja je nastavila očevim stopama.

Filmografija: "The Busy Body" (1968), "Wild in the Streets" (1969), "The Phynx" (1970), "You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat" (1971), "Dynamite Chicken" (1972), "Lady Sings the Blues" (1972), "Wattstax" (1973), "The Mack" (1973), "Hit!" (1973), "Some Call It Loving" (1973), "Blazing Saddles" (glumac i koscenarista, 1974), "Uptown Saturday Night" (1974), "Adios Amigo" (1976), "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings" (1976), "Car Wash" (1976), "Silver Streak" (1976), "Greased Lightning" (1977), "Which Way Is Up? " (1977), "Blue Collar" (1978), "The Wiz" (1978), "California Suite" (1978), "Richard Pryor Live in Concert" (1979), "The Muppet Movie" (1979), "Stir Crazy" (1980), "Wholly Moses" (1981), "Bustin' Loose" (1981), "Some Kind of Hero" (1982), "The Toy" (1982), "Superman III" (1983), "Brewster's Millions" (1985), "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling" (1985), "Critical Condition" (1987), "Moving" (1988), "Harlem Nights" (1989), "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" (1989), "Another You" (1991), "Mad Dog Time" (1996), "Lost Highway" (1997).