Richard Pryor’s life reads like a collection of strange tales that could rival any Hollywood screenplay. From a brothel‑filled childhood to on‑set explosions, his story is a roller‑coaster of chaos and brilliance.
Strange Tales That Shaped a Comedy Legend
10 He Grew Up In A Brothel
Born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1940, Pryor entered the world as the son of a prostitute named Gertrude and a pimp known only as Buck. His grandmother ran a brothel, and young Richard spent his formative years under that roof. Though he was somewhat shielded from the daily grind of the business, he witnessed shocking scenes—like his mother performing sexual acts for the local mayor.
He later recalled, “At least she didn’t flush me down the toilet, like some,” a grim comment that underscored the darkness of his upbringing. He even claimed to have found a shoebox containing a dead baby, which he believed might have been a sibling he never knew.
Childhood trauma piled on: a neighbor sexually abused him, his mother once tried to castrate his father with her fingernails, and at nine he lost his virginity to a 27‑year‑old woman. Physical abuse was relentless—his father beat him, and his towering grandmother (about 6 feet tall and 200 lb) wielded a switchblade hidden in her bra, delivering brutal beatings.
9 He Was Kicked Out Of The Army
At 17, a high‑school dropout with a pregnant girlfriend, Pryor enlisted in the Army hoping for a fresh start. He was stationed in Germany, expecting a more tolerant environment than 1950s Peoria. Instead, he faced brutal encounters, including an attack by three soldiers armed with tire irons, which he fought off with a lead pipe.
Things escalated during a screening of *Imitation of Life*. A white soldier kept laughing at the “wrong spots,” prompting Pryor to confront him. He produced a hidden switchblade and slashed the man seven times—miraculously leaving the soldier only lightly wounded. The incident landed Pryor a month in the brig and ultimately led to his discharge.
8 He Started Out As A Singer
While in the Army, Pryor participated in amateur variety shows, discovering a knack for entertaining. After returning to the U.S. in 1960, he landed a gig at Harold’s Club in Peoria, claiming he could sing and play piano. In reality, he could only manage four chords, but his comedic interludes between songs won over audiences.
In 1963 he moved to New York, blending stand‑up with singing. He opened for icons like Bob Dylan and Nina Simone. Simone later recalled that Pryor trembled so much he seemed “malaria‑ridden,” and she had to cradle him in the dark until he steadied.
Few recordings survive, but a rare video shows him crooning “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.” Eventually, he abandoned singing altogether, focusing solely on comedy.
7 He Once Tried To Rob The Mafia With A Fake Gun
At 19, Pryor was an emcee hopping between clubs. In Youngstown, Ohio, a stripper confided that the club owners—who happened to be Mafia‑linked—had refused to pay her. Determined to help, Pryor grabbed a blank cap pistol, burst into the manager’s office, and shouted, “You motherf—kers! Give me the money!”
The manager simply laughed and called in friends. As Pryor later recounted on his album *Live on the Sunset Strip* and in the semi‑autobiographical film *Jo Jo Dancer*, the Mafia‑affiliated manager treated the cap‑pistol‑wielding kid as a joke rather than a threat.
6 His Early Comedy Material Was Family‑Friendly
Before his reputation for profanity, Pryor’s act resembled the squeaky‑clean style of Bill Cosby (back when Cosby’s image was untarnished). He even called his early material “white bread.” Nevertheless, he achieved early TV success, appearing on *The Ed Sullivan Show* and *The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson*.
In 1967, during a performance at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, he abruptly shouted, “What am I doing here? I’m not going to do this anymore!” He stormed offstage after spotting Dean Martin in the audience and realizing how stale his routine felt. The fallout led to a brief blackball, but when he returned, his comedy adopted the raw honesty that defined his legacy.
5 He Attacked A Director And Tried To Kill A Producer
*The Mack* (1973) was a blaxploitation staple with a chaotic behind‑the‑scenes story. While the script was originally scribbled on toilet paper by inmate Robert Poole, producer Harvey Bernhard wanted a low‑budget production. Director Michael Campus rewrote the script with co‑star Max Julien and Pryor.
Pryor threw himself into the writing process, channeling his painful childhood memories. However, he never received payment because no formal agreement existed. Frustrated, he turned to heavy cocaine and alcohol consumption, inviting prostitutes to his trailer and often needing a prop to stay upright on set.
Tensions exploded when Pryor insulted Campus’s deceased mother, prompting a sucker‑punch that knocked the director unconscious. Armed guards were drawn, but co‑star Julien intervened, shielding Pryor from gunfire and escorting him back to his hotel. Later that night, Pryor entered producer Bernhard’s room wielding a sock stuffed with metal, declaring, “I’m here to kill you.” Bernhard grabbed a knife, but his wife stepped in and defused the volatile situation.
4 He Set Himself On Fire
Mel Brooks once hired Pryor to co‑write *Blazing Saddles* and potentially co‑star with Gene Wilder. Pryor showed up to writing sessions with Courvoisier and cocaine, leading studios to deem him a financial risk. Brooks begged the studio to keep Pryor, but ultimately the role of Sheriff Bart went to Cleavon Little.
Later, Pryor was slated to star alongside Wilder in *Trading Places* (1983). However, after a suicide attempt involving rum and self‑immolation, he suffered severe burns. Doctors warned his survival was unlikely, yet he returned to the stage the following year, proving his resilience.
3 The West Hollywood Bowl Incident
In 1977, Pryor headlined a benefit called A Star‑Spangled Night for Rights, organized by one of the first gay‑rights groups. About 17,000 people gathered, but the event imposed strict rules: no swearing and, oddly, the word “gay” was forbidden.
Unaware of the restrictions, Pryor—renowned for his profanity—found the constraints baffling. Witnessing backstage racism toward black performers fueled his fury. Onstage, he launched into a blistering monologue, declaring, “I came here for human rights, and I found out it was really about not getting caught with a d—k in your mouth.” He also spoke candidly about his own bisexual experiences before hurling a homophobic tirade, ending with “Kiss my happy, rich, black ass” and walking off to a chorus of boos.
The fallout split the gay community: some labeled Pryor a hateful incendiary, while others praised his exposure of hypocrisy. Regardless, the incident cemented his reputation for unapologetic, public meltdowns.
2 He Was A Nightmare During The Filming Of Stir Crazy
During the 1980 production of *Stir Crazy*, an Arizona cable crew captured Pryor on set. Initially calm, a brief break saw him return in a wildly altered state. He had begun free‑basing cocaine sourced from an outlaw motorcycle gang, leading to erratic behavior and chronic tardiness.
One notorious episode involved a watermelon. Pryor claimed a crew member tossed a slice at him, interpreting it as a racially charged attack. In reality, the crew were merely using watermelon pieces as frisbees. Pryor, convinced the crew were shooting guns at his house nightly, walked off set demanding $500,000 before agreeing to return.
1 He Hosted A Children’s TV Show
Defying expectations, Pryor fronted a 1984 Saturday‑morning series called *Pryor’s Place*. The show, reminiscent of *Sesame Street*, featured an opening theme performed by Ray Parker Jr. Guest stars included Robin Williams, Rip Taylor, and Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar.
Unlike many children’s programs, *Pryor’s Place* tackled serious subjects—adoption, bullying, and child abuse—within its episodes. Though the series earned several Emmy nominations, it lasted only one season. Today, the show has largely faded, though a handful of episodes survive on YouTube.