Stir crazy Pryor dies, aged 65

RICHARD PRYOR who died on Saturday night was recognised as a groundbreaking comedian whose profanely personal insights into race relations and modern life made him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Pryor, aged 65, lived dangerously close to the edge, on stage and off.

He was regarded early in his career as one of the most foul-mouthed comics in the business, but gained a wide following for his universal and frequently personal routines.

After nearly dying in 1980 when he doused himself in cognac and set it alight while using cocaine, he incorporated the ordeal into later acts.

His audacious style influenced generations of stand-up artists, from Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock to Robin Williams and David Letterman.

A series of hit comedies in the 1970s and 1980s ensured he was one of the first black performers to cut his own deals. In 1983, he signed a $40 million (€33 million), five-year contract with Columbia Pictures.

His films included Stir Crazy, Silver Streak, Superman III and Live on the Sunset Strip.

Pryor battled drug and alcohol addictions for years. He battled multiple sclerosis in the 1990s.

Born in 1940 in Peoria, Illinois, Pryor grew up in his grandmother’s brothel.

Pryor married six times. His children include sons Richard and Steven, and daughters Elizabeth, Rain and Renee.