Richard Pryor
One of the most brilliant architects of comedy, Pryor became a titan of stand-up with his layered examinations of race and his use of vulgarity. Throughout his illustrious career, he landed roles in films like Lady Sings the Blues and Uptown Saturday Night, released a slew of Grammy-winning albums, worked as writer for a number of TV shows like “Sanford & Son,” and starred in a number of comedy specials. Sadly, the iconic comedian died on Dec. 10, 2005, after suffering a heart attack just nine days after his 65th birthday.
