Richard Pryor was born to tell it like it is. From Peoria, Illinois poverty to Hollywood affluence. From abandonment by his mother to adoration from millions. From school class clown to one of the top entertainers of the ‘70s and ‘80s. From tragedy to triumph and back again, Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was a legendary stand-up and multi-talented entertainer who reached a broad audience with his keen observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential comedians of all time.
This September, get ready to experience greatness when Time Life releases The Ultimate Richard Pryor Collection: Uncensored. Featuring all of Pryor’s most memorable stand-up and television performances together in one collection for the very first time, the 13-disc collector’s set contains more than 26 incredible hours of comedy. The groundbreaking stand-up, the mesmerizing TV appearances, the NBC show that was too hot for TV, and so much more.
Raw, sometimes shocking and always thrilling, Pryor — a once-in-a-generation innovator — pushed the envelope and was almost single-handly responsible for the comedy evolution that continues to this day. He won an Emmy, five Grammys, was the recipient of the very first Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (1998) and in 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him #1 on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time. There has simply never been a comedian like him: totally genius and outrageously funny, and that’s on full display in this superlative set, which features:
- All four of Richard’s full-length concert films – Live & Smokin, Live in Concert, Live on the Sunset Strip, and Here and Now
- Richard’s 1977 NBC TV Special and all four controversial episodes of The Richard Pryor Show, featuring Robin Williams, Sandra Bernhard, Tim Reid, Marsha Warfield, and more!
- Richard’s most memorable TV appearances on The Merv Griffin Show, The Dick Cavett Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
- The feature film, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, written, produced, and directed by Pryor
- Never-before-released footage from Richard’s infamous first film, Uncle Tom’s Fairy Tales, lost since 1968
- Exclusive footage of Richard’s final performances and a tribute event at The Comedy Store
- Two acclaimed documentary films – Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic and I Am Richard Pryor
- Extras including deleted scenes, outtakes, and a no-holds-barred interview with Richard’s widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor
- Plus, a Collector’s Booklet with personal photos, diary entries, tour notes and more!
Pryor’s comedy will live on forever in our hearts, our minds and now in The Ultimate Richard Pryor Collection: Uncensored, available exclusively from Time Life at TimeLife.com/RichardPryor.
