OT Richard Pryor Dies at Age 65

LOS ANGELES -- Richard Pryor, the groundbreaking comedian whose
profanely personal insights into race relations and modern life made
him one of Hollywood's biggest stars, died of a heart attack Saturday.
He was 65.

Pryor died shortly before 8 a.m. after being taken to a hospital from
his home in the San Fernando Valley, said his business manager, Karen
Finch. He had been ill for years with multiple sclerosis, a
degenerative disease of the nervous system.

Music producer Quincy Jones described Pryor as a true pioneer of his
art.

"He was the Charlie Parker of comedy, a master of telling the truth
that influenced every comedian that came after him,'' Jones said in a
statement. "The legacy that he leaves will forever be with us.''

....

Even in poor health, his comedy was vital. At a 1992 performance, he
asked the room, "Is there a doctor in the audience?'' All he got was
nervous laughter. "No, I'm serious. I want to know if there's a doctor
here.''

A hand finally went up.

"Doctor,'' Pryor said, "I need to know one thing. What the (blank) is
MS?''

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

Daughter Rain became an actress. In an interview in 2005, she told the
Philadelphia Inquirer that her father always "put his life right out
there for you to look at. I took that approach because I saw how well
audiences respond to it. I try to make you laugh at life.''

<http://www.startribune.com/stories/466/5775216.html>

In article <1134275772.936355.168470@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
"Learning Richard" <learningrichard@gmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> LOS ANGELES -- Richard Pryor, the groundbreaking comedian whose
> profanely personal insights into race relations and modern life made
> him one of Hollywood's biggest stars, died of a heart attack Saturday.
> He was 65.
>
> Pryor died shortly before 8 a.m. after being taken to a hospital from
> his home in the San Fernando Valley, said his business manager, Karen
> Finch. He had been ill for years with multiple sclerosis, a
> degenerative disease of the nervous system.
>
> Music producer Quincy Jones described Pryor as a true pioneer of his
> art.
>
> "He was the Charlie Parker of comedy, a master of telling the truth
> that influenced every comedian that came after him,'' Jones said in a
> statement. "The legacy that he leaves will forever be with us.''
>
> ...
>
> Even in poor health, his comedy was vital. At a 1992 performance, he
> asked the room, "Is there a doctor in the audience?'' All he got was
> nervous laughter. "No, I'm serious. I want to know if there's a doctor
> here.''
>
> A hand finally went up.
>
> "Doctor,'' Pryor said, "I need to know one thing. What the (blank) is
> MS?''
>
> Pryor was married six times. His children include sons Richard and
> Steven, and daughters Elizabeth, Rain and Renee.
>
> Daughter Rain became an actress. In an interview in 2005, she told the
> Philadelphia Inquirer that her father always "put his life right out
> there for you to look at. I took that approach because I saw how well
> audiences respond to it. I try to make you laugh at life.''
>
> <http://www.startribune.com/stories/466/5775216.html>[/color]

I didn't care for his brand of humor.
--

What does this have to do with Toyota?

Gary Eickmeier

Gary Eickmeier wrote:
[color=blue]
> What does this have to do with Toyota?
>
> Gary Eickmeier[/color]

Both are known for high quality in their respective specialties. :-)

BTW, the "OT" in the subject header means "off topic". So if you don't
like to read off-topic threads, just skip over them.

In article <pgXmf.4895$md.371@tornado.tampabay.rr.com>,
Gary Eickmeier <geickmei@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> What does this have to do with Toyota?
>
> Gary Eickmeier[/color]

what does your posting have to do with Toyotas??
--

"The benevolent dbu" <relaxand@smelltheroses.com> wrote in message
news:relaxand-93BD37.03484411122005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=blue]
>
> I didn't care for his brand of humor.[/color]

Fair enough - but I still say he was the best standup comic ever - material
notwithstanding, that man knew how to tell a story with grit, bite, and best
of all, integrity. He never compromised.

Natalie, who had the privilege of seeing Pryor perform at Red Rocks in
Denver, 1979

Wickeddoll® wrote:[color=blue]
> "The benevolent dbu" <relaxand@smelltheroses.com> wrote in message
> news:relaxand-93BD37.03484411122005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=green]
> >
> > I didn't care for his brand of humor.[/color]
>
> Fair enough - but I still say he was the best standup comic ever - material
> notwithstanding, that man knew how to tell a story with grit, bite, and best
> of all, integrity. He never compromised.[/color]

He changed the country.

Richard Pryor wrote in his biography that he also stopped using the 'N'
word after a trip to Africa -- he commented that the Africans had their
self respect, and that he saw none there.
[color=blue]
>
> Natalie, who had the privilege of seeing Pryor perform at Red Rocks in
> Denver, 1979[/color]

Lucky you!!! I have "That ******'s Crazy" on vinyl. Oh man... the
whino and the spaceship was a riot!!!

In article <dnhf2b.3os.1@news.evilcabal.org>,
"Wickeddoll®" <wickeddoll1958DIEspammersDIE@yahoo.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> "The benevolent dbu" <relaxand@smelltheroses.com> wrote in message
> news:relaxand-93BD37.03484411122005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=green]
> >
> > I didn't care for his brand of humor.[/color]
>
> Fair enough - but I still say he was the best standup comic ever - material
> notwithstanding, that man knew how to tell a story with grit, bite, and best
> of all, integrity. He never compromised.
>
> Natalie, who had the privilege of seeing Pryor perform at Red Rocks in
> Denver, 1979[/color]

Jack Benny was the best standup in my time, hands down. He could do it
with class and not use one four letter word to back himself up with.
Plus, he could play the violin, squeeky style. He was cleanly funny.
--

The benevolent dbu wrote:[color=blue]
> In article <dnhf2b.3os.1@news.evilcabal.org>,
> "Wickeddoll®" <wickeddoll1958DIEspammersDIE@yahoo.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> > "The benevolent dbu" <relaxand@smelltheroses.com> wrote in message
> > news:relaxand-93BD37.03484411122005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=darkred]
> > >
> > > I didn't care for his brand of humor.[/color]
> >
> > Fair enough - but I still say he was the best standup comic ever - material
> > notwithstanding, that man knew how to tell a story with grit, bite, andbest
> > of all, integrity. He never compromised.
> >
> > Natalie, who had the privilege of seeing Pryor perform at Red Rocks in
> > Denver, 1979[/color]
>
> Jack Benny was the best standup in my time, hands down. He could do it
> with class and not use one four letter word to back himself up with.
> Plus, he could play the violin, squeeky style. He was cleanly funny.
> --[/color]

You've missed the larger point. Surprised? not I.

In article <1134337947.417510.253400@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
"Learning Richard" <learningrichard@gmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> The benevolent dbu wrote:[color=green]
> > In article <dnhf2b.3os.1@news.evilcabal.org>,
> > "Wickeddoll®" <wickeddoll1958DIEspammersDIE@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >[color=darkred]
> > > "The benevolent dbu" <relaxand@smelltheroses.com> wrote in message
> > > news:relaxand-93BD37.03484411122005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> > > >
> > > > I didn't care for his brand of humor.
> > >
> > > Fair enough - but I still say he was the best standup comic ever -
> > > material
> > > notwithstanding, that man knew how to tell a story with grit, bite, and
> > > best
> > > of all, integrity. He never compromised.
> > >
> > > Natalie, who had the privilege of seeing Pryor perform at Red Rocks in
> > > Denver, 1979[/color]
> >
> > Jack Benny was the best standup in my time, hands down. He could do it
> > with class and not use one four letter word to back himself up with.
> > Plus, he could play the violin, squeeky style. He was cleanly funny.
> > --[/color]
>
> You've missed the larger point. Surprised? not I.[/color]

I didn't miss anything rich. How about you?
--

>by The benevolent dbu ><relaxand@smelltheroses.com> Dec 11, 2005 at >09:43
PM

[color=blue]
>In article <dnhf2b.3os.1@news.evilcabal.org>,
> "Wickeddoll®" ><wickeddoll1958DIEspammersDIE@yahoo.com> wrote:[/color]
[color=blue][color=green]
>> "The benevolent dbu" ><relaxand@smelltheroses.com> wrote in message
>> news:relaxand-93BD37.03484411122005@news-rdr->01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=darkred]
>> >
>> > I didn't care for his brand of humor.[/color]
>>
>> Fair enough - but I still say he was the best >standup comic ever -[/color]
>material[color=green]
>> notwithstanding, that man knew how to tell a >story with grit, bite,[/color][/color]
and[color=blue]
>best[color=green]
>> of all, integrity. He never compromised.
>>
>> Natalie, who had the privilege of seeing Pryor >perform at Red Rocks in[/color][/color]
[color=blue][color=green]
>> Denver, 1979[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
>Jack Benny was the best standup in my time, >hands down. He could do it[/color]
[color=blue]
>with class and not use one four letter word to >back himself up with.
>Plus, he could play the violin, squeeky style. >He was cleanly funny.
>--[/color]

I saw George Burns being interviewed one time. He said one time he and
Benny were at some sort of a serious event and Benny was to speak.
Sometime before Benny went up George said to him "You know, it would be a
terrible thing if you got the giggles up there."
Sure enough Benny got up there and got the giggles .The audience thought
he was insane.
Burns just stood there grinning.

-hbuck

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 17:55:21 -0500, "hbuck"
<hbuck@nadaspam.breakthru.com> wrote:
[color=blue][color=green]
>>by The benevolent dbu ><relaxand@smelltheroses.com> Dec 11, 2005 at >09:43[/color]
>PM
>
>[color=green]
>>In article <dnhf2b.3os.1@news.evilcabal.org>,
>> "Wickeddoll®" ><wickeddoll1958DIEspammersDIE@yahoo.com> wrote:[/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> "The benevolent dbu" ><relaxand@smelltheroses.com> wrote in message
>>> news:relaxand-93BD37.03484411122005@news-rdr->01.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>>> >
>>> > I didn't care for his brand of humor.
>>>
>>> Fair enough - but I still say he was the best >standup comic ever -[/color]
>>material[color=darkred]
>>> notwithstanding, that man knew how to tell a >story with grit, bite,[/color][/color]
>and[color=green]
>>best[color=darkred]
>>> of all, integrity. He never compromised.
>>>
>>> Natalie, who had the privilege of seeing Pryor >perform at Red Rocks in[/color][/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> Denver, 1979[/color][/color]
>[color=green]
>>Jack Benny was the best standup in my time, >hands down. He could do it[/color]
>[color=green]
>>with class and not use one four letter word to >back himself up with.
>>Plus, he could play the violin, squeeky style. >He was cleanly funny.
>>--[/color]
>
>I saw George Burns being interviewed one time. He said one time he and
>Benny were at some sort of a serious event and Benny was to speak.
>Sometime before Benny went up George said to him "You know, it would be a
>terrible thing if you got the giggles up there."
>Sure enough Benny got up there and got the giggles .The audience thought
>he was insane.
>Burns just stood there grinning.
>
>-hbuck
>
>[/color]

Those guys were great!

--

Scott in Florida

<snip>[color=blue]
>Sure enough Benny got up there and got the >giggles .The audience[/color]
thought[color=blue][color=green]
>>he was insane.
>>Burns just stood there grinning.
>>
>>-hbuck
>>
>>[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
>Those guys were great![/color]
[color=blue]
>--[/color]
[color=blue]
> Scott in Florida[/color]

yup, lol
and Burns went on to become God, what an achievement!

-hbuck

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 20:13:21 -0500, "hbuck"
<hbuck@nadaspam.breakthru.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
><snip>[color=green]
>>Sure enough Benny got up there and got the >giggles .The audience[/color]
>thought[color=green][color=darkred]
>>>he was insane.
>>>Burns just stood there grinning.
>>>
>>>-hbuck
>>>
>>>[/color][/color]
>[color=green]
>>Those guys were great![/color]
>[color=green]
>>--[/color]
>[color=green]
>> Scott in Florida[/color]
>
>yup, lol
>and Burns went on to become God, what an achievement!
>
>-hbuck
>
>[/color]

LOL...

Wouldn't you just have loved to have a few 'adult' beverages with
them?

--

Scott in Florida

"Learning Richard" <learningrichard@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134332284.053598.231890@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

Wickeddoll® wrote:[color=blue]
> "The benevolent dbu" <relaxand@smelltheroses.com> wrote in message
> news:relaxand-93BD37.03484411122005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=green]
> >
> > I didn't care for his brand of humor.[/color]
>
> Fair enough - but I still say he was the best standup comic ever -
> material
> notwithstanding, that man knew how to tell a story with grit, bite, and
> best
> of all, integrity. He never compromised.[/color]

He changed the country.

**Richard Pryor wrote in his biography that he also stopped using the 'N'
**word after a trip to Africa -- he commented that the Africans had their
**self respect, and that he saw none there.

Yup - I remember his saying that.[color=blue]
>
> Natalie, who had the privilege of seeing Pryor perform at Red Rocks in
> Denver, 1979[/color]

**Lucky you!!! I have "That ******'s Crazy" on vinyl. Oh man... the
**whino and the spaceship was a riot!!!

I have all of his albums on CD in a boxed set from Rhino records- I'll burn
you copies, if you like

Natalie