Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor

Most comedians today claim Pryor as one of their inspirations. He grew from rough beginnings and exploded onto the American comedic scene in the 1970s with his unflinching and brash style.

His bits covered subjects ranging from street life to his own multiple ... moresclerosis to drugs, including an infamous incident in which he injured himself while freebasing cocaine. One of Pryor's best known characters was Mudbone, a drunken street sage.

He won several Grammys for his comedy albums and had his stand-up routines captured in several films. Pryor co-starred with Gene Wilder in a series of movies, including "Stir Crazy" and "Silver Streak" and starred in the autobiographical film "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling."

His new style of comedy combined his working-class roots and African folk traditions to win over generations of fans before his death in 2005. (J.T./Retna Ltd.)