RICHARD PRYOR DIES

Richard Pryor
1940-2005

Comedian Richard Pryor died today. He had been ill for years with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nervous system. Pryor lived dangerously close to the edge, both on stage and off. Born in 1940 in Peoria, Ill., Pryor grew up in his grandmother's brothel. His first professional performance came at age 7, when he played drums at a night club. Following high school and two years of Army service, he launched his performing career, honing his comedy in bars throughout the United States.

He was regarded early in his career as one of the most foul-mouthed comics in the business, but he gained a wide following for his universal and frequently personal routines. After nearly losing his life in 1980 when he caught on fire while freebasing cocaine, he incorporated the ordeal into his later routines. He battled drug and alcohol addictions for years. An admitted "junkie" at the time, Pryor spent six weeks recovering from the burns and much longer from his addictions.

Despite his health troubles, he was happy and in good humor in his final days, said his wife Jennifer Lee Pryor. "He will be missed, but will forever live in thousands and thousands of hearts and continue to impact and inspire people with his truth and his pain, which he turned into comedy brilliantly," she said.

Even in poor health, his comedy was vital. At a 1992 performance, he asked the room, "Is there a doctor in the audience?" All he got was nervous laughter. "No, I'm serious. I want to know if there's a doctor here." A hand finally went up. "Doctor," Pryor said, "I need to know one thing. What the fuck is MS?" Pryor was married six times.