Pioneering comic Paul Mooney dies aged 79

Paul Mooney in Los Angeles in 2016 (Eric Charbonneau/Meet The Blacks via AP)

Paul Mooney, a boundary-pushing comedian who was Richard Pryor’s longtime writing partner and whose sage, incisive musings on racism and American life made him a revered figure in stand-up, has died aged 79.

Cassandra Williams, Mooney’s publicist, said he died on Wednesday morning at his home in Oakland, California, from a heart attack.