Richard Pryor, RIP

One of the greats in comedy has died. Richard Pryor. In my early days of having cable, I'd sneak a listen at his concert films shown on Showtime. He was like no other.

Always loved the bit about being forced to walk to the tree to get a switch so his momma could whip his butt. And it swished in the wind while he was walking with it, so he was already crying when he got back. Wonderfully and hilariously told.

There was also the great bit about deer hunting and sneaking to through the forest and coming upon the deer drinking from a pond (a hilarious immitation), then he reveals to his father he didn't bring the gun. Pryor was a master of profanity but even when he didn't use it, he was sharp and funny.

Had some funny movies, too. The Toy. Stir Crazy ("Yeah. That's Right. We bad.") And here's some movie trivia for you, Kevin Spacy was in the cast with Pryor and Gene Wilder in 1989's "Hear No Evil, See No Evil," as well as Lauren Tom, who some might remember as Ross' girlfriend on "Friends" that he was dating when Rachel discovered her feelings for him.

His daughter, Rain, has posted a short message to him, too. Salon has this essay, which gives us a flavor of what made Pryor so very Pryor: the "rage, vulnerability and painful honesty" that comes with being the son of a prostitute. The kind of man, who upon being told he was to receive the Mark Twain Prize for Humor, remarked: "It's nice to be regarded on a par with a great white man -- now that's funny!"

Pathbreaking Comedian Richard Pryor Dies [AP via Yahoo]
Pryor Knowledge [Salon]