by Scott Saul
Burbank studios, 430, 452
programming deals with RP, 408, 412, 415, 427–28
RP and censorship, 430, 435–37, 438, 453, 457, 556n438
RP and SNL, 362–63, 375, 379
RP meltdown and legal suit, 361
RP prime-time special, 412–15
RP series, 427–39, 434, 439, 448, 452, 454–62, 460
Negro Ensemble Company, 232
Negro Liberty League, 10
Newhart, Bob, 482
Newsweek, 313, 409, 411
Cosby interview, 113, 114
The Richard Pryor Show and, 427
Newton, Huey, xvi, 221–23, 242, 244, 290, 293, 338
Newton-John, Olivia, 466
New West magazine, 396
New York City. See also Greenwich Village
Harlem, 116
RP arrives in (1963), 115, 116
RP in, 115–44, 116, 122, 148–54, 163, 183, 282–88
New Yorker, 306, 320, 390, 470
New York Herald Tribune, 119
New York magazine, 382, 423
New York Times, 136, 255, 382, 391, 392, 431, 453, 458
review of Which Way Is Up? 463–64
RP’s 1977 interview, 40, 430
on RP’s death, 481
19 Necromancers from Now (anthology), 256
Nixon, Richard M., 336, 338, 339
“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” (song), 159
Northridge, CA, 384–85
Oakie, Jack, 308, 311, 385
Oakland, CA, 289, 290, 292, 293–94
Oakland Coliseum, 329
Oakland Tribune, 217
obscenity laws, 12, 135, 180, 339–40, 483
O’Donoghue, Michael, 375
Oh, God! (film), 549n391
Omit the Logic (documentary), xvi, 482
On Broadway Tonight (TV show), 130–35, 132, 133
O’Neal, Ryan, 157
Open City (alternative newspaper), 192
Operation: Entertainment (TV show), 179, 212
Opium Exclusion Act, 11
Ostin, Mo, 194
Oswald, Russell, 265, 533n267
“The Button Down Mind of Russell Oswald” (RP’s sound collage), 267
Our Show of Shows (TV show), 281, 282, 283
Outkast, 292
Oz (HBO series), 532n267
Pack, Harvey, 170
Page, LaWanda, 111
Pappas, Helen and Michael, 7–8, 17
Paramount Studios, 386, 391
Parker, Charlie, 558n463
Parker, Harold, 41, 44, 44, 95–99, 97, 98, 103, 104–5, 159
Parker, Margaret “China Bee,” 41
Parton, Dolly, 148
Partridge Family, The (TV show), 211, 230, 242–43
Pat Boone Show, The (TV show), 179
Patterson, Floyd, 106
“people-ology,” 95
Peoria, IL, 18, 25, 336–37
Ashanti Umoja Center, 340
Black Power movement in, 228
black residents in, 23, 57–58, 104
black underworld of, 41–45, 58, 63–64
Bumboat and city government, 19
burial of Marie Bryant, 471
China Bee’s (brothel), 55, 57
corruption in, 22, 23, 26, 57
curfew in, 80–81, 507n80
George Washington Carver Community Center, 66–74, 67, 142, 228, 340
history and culture, 20–24
Hotel Pere Marquette, 77, 79, 164, 507n77
industry in, 21
interracial socializing in, 44–45
Lakeview Museum, 71
map, 20
map, North Washington Street District of the 1940s, 42
Marie Bryant and family arrive in, 21
Marie Bryant running brothels in, 8, 25–26, 30, 39–40, 51, 57–58
movie theaters, 37
the Oasis brothel in, 18
police brutality in, 24, 80–81
public records on RP and family, xv
racism in, 23–24, 50, 53–54, 63–65, 76, 503n50
reform movements in, 29–30, 56–58, 144
“Richard Pryor Days,” 340–41
RP born in St. Francis Hospital, 28
RP leaves (1962), 107–8
RP as product of, xvi, 108
RP returns (1966), 164
RP returns (1969), 226–29
RP returns (1974), 340–41
RP returns (1977), 416
RP returns and has heart attack (1977), 465–66
RP’s family’s avoidance of disclosure, xiii–xiv
RP’s generosity to, 340
RP’s summation of, 424
schools and education of black children, 50, 58–63, 66, 75–76, 157, 159, 486, 503n50
sex trade in, 22–23, 24, 29–30, 39, 52, 55, 57
Shrine Mosque, 340
Thomas family moves to, 27
underground economy in, xiii, 22, 57, 58
urban renewal in, 56–57, 58, 144
vice district, 8, 18–19, 26, 29, 52, 56, 67, 72, 104
World War II and, 29, 499n29
Peoria Journal, 22, 63
Peoria Journal Star, xiv, xv, 164, 165, 220, 226, 227, 228, 466
Peoria Star, 70
Perry, Tyler, 464
Persian Fuckers, 246, 262
Petry, Ann, 356
Philadelphia Tribune, 118
Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High School, xi
Pilot, IL, 27
Piper, Abner (great-great-grandfather), 8
Pleshette, Suzanne, 157
Poitier, Sidney, 128, 131, 168–69, 215, 327, 363–65, 394, 486, 508n82
Poole, Robert, 288, 290, 291
Powell, Colin, 84
Presley, Elvis, 352
Prinze, Freddie, 342, 343, 350
Pryor, Deboragh McGuire (third wife), 417, 428, 429
leaves RP, 465
marriage to RP, 447, 448–53, 451, 465
marriage to RP ends, 466–67
Pryor, Dee (aunt), 31, 473
Pryor, Denise (cousin), 165, 190, 190
Pryor, “Dickie” (uncle), 7, 14, 25, 27, 31, 58, 88, 92, 165, 342, 347, 465
arrest and imprisonment for narcotics, 63–64, 504n63
Pryor, Elizabeth (daughter), 172, 348, 516n142
Pryor, Gertrude Thomas (mother), 19, 26–28, 31, 229, 499n28
appearance, 27
birth of RP, 28
divorce and custody fight, 32–36, 500n36
domestic violence and, 32
marriage to Buck Pryor, 30
RP in Springfield with, 33, 36, 51
RP visits (1969), 227–28
working in Marie’s brothel, 27
Pryor, Herman (granduncle), 80, 228
Pryor Jennifer Lee (fourth wife), xv, 429, 449
conflict with RP’s children over estate, 481–82
relationship with RP, 449–51, 465, 467, 467, 480–81
Pryor, Leroy “Buck,” Jr. (father), 31
appearance, 25, 27–28
arrest for keeping house of prostitution, 184
birth, 12
birth of RP, 19, 28
childhood, 14
children fathered by, 29, 34, 79, 93, 190–91
death of, 205, 206–8
death of wife, Ann, 184, 189, 190
divorce from Gertrude Thomas and custody fight for RP, 32–36
domestic violence and, 32, 220
love affair with Gertrude Thomas, 19, 27–28
marriage to Ann Hurst, 55
marriage to Gertrude Thomas, 30
relationship with RP, 28–29, 46–47, 53–54, 65, 73, 76, 77–79, 92–93, 101, 145–46, 164, 184, 189, 484
RP buys new house for (1319 Millman), 146, 190, 517n146
RP’s marriage to Patricia Watts and, 101
in RP’s routines, 47, 78, 81, 229
RP thrown out by, 107
sexual abuse of daughter Sharon, 191, 203–5
sex
ual cynicism of, 79
in U.S. Army and dishonorable discharge, 30, 31–32, 499n31
violence and criminality of, 32
women and, 28
work in the sex trade, 25, 58, 92, 144–45, 184
Pryor, Maxine (aunt), 14, 25, 27, 190, 190, 206, 330, 471
Pryor, Patricia Watts (first wife), 100–103, 141, 509–10n101
birth of son, 104
child support suit by, 235
divorced by RP, 155, 518n155
left behind in Peoria, 108
RP beats, 102
Pryor, Rain (daughter), 232–33, 348, 480
Pryor, Richard, xiii
biographers of, xiii–xiv, 493nxii, 493nxiv
bitterness of, 164, 247, 307
censorship and fight for free speech, 216, 322–24, 339, 341, 342, 361, 375, 435–37, 438, 453, 457, 556n438
charisma as performer, 373
as childlike and uninhibited, 214, 459
creativity of, 3, 124–25, 171, 194–97, 214, 216, 221, 237, 247, 249, 258, 259, 266, 283, 286, 290, 291, 320, 322, 327, 358, 404–6, 454, 475, 483–84, 485, 486
dark side of, 213, 308, 459, 481
Decatur, paternal ancestors and family in, 7–19
depression and, 83, 90, 349, 424–25, 455, 472, 474
fear of heights, 340, 369
interviewers and, xiii
money, carefree attitude toward, 130, 140
“nigger” used by, 52, 209–10, 216–17, 236, 239, 249, 285–86, 303, 329, 332–33, 373, 378, 387, 537n303
personality, as mercurial, contradictory, antic, 3, 87, 130, 174, 306, 326–27, 391–92, 458
as trickster, 72, 210, 213, 226, 283, 316, 337, 469
violence and, 89–90, 126, 130, 173–75, 183, 213, 295, 361, 375, 420–21, 422, 461
violence by, against women, 102, 107, 112–13, 140, 141, 220, 234, 280, 287, 297–98, 310, 348, 349
womanizing by, 102–3, 171–72, 233, 310, 348, 465, 529n242, 559n465
—1940–1962 (PEORIA YEARS), 28–108
adolescent affair and first child born (1957), 79
alcohol use, 77–78, 80, 94, 105
ambitions and dreams of, 55, 77, 91, 107, 108
appearance, 51, 80
“the backside of life” (brothels, gambling, vice), 25, 51, 71, 72, 77, 498n25
birth of, in Peoria, 28
birth of son, Richard Jr., 104
Blaine-Sumner elementary school, 58–63, 66, 157, 159, 486
childhood as “hell,” 38–39, 92
Collins Corner job, 105–8
comedy as means of acceptance for, 50, 59–63
comedy stand-up routines, 80
drug use begins, 103
education and schools attended, 50–54, 55–66, 60, 75–76, 501n39
exposure to adult sex, 40, 55
expulsion from high school, 76
false memories of custody battle for, 34–35, 36
Famous Door tavern and, 42–43
fantasy life of, 49, 54–55
father’s relationship with, 28–29, 46–47, 53–54, 65, 73, 76, 77–79, 92–93, 101
father throws him out, 107
fear and, 39, 46–47, 79–80
first jobs, menial, 77, 79, 91
friendships with white children, 51–52, 53–54, 61–63, 66
Glow Girls and, 61–63
grandmother’s brothel and, 30, 36, 38, 39–40, 51
grandmother’s relationship with, 28, 38–39, 45–46, 50, 65, 77–78
health and physical condition, 83
income, money situation of, 92, 93, 102, 105, 107
influence of teacher, Margaret Yingst, 58–63
leaves Peoria for good, 107–8
legitimated by marriage, 30
mother’s relationship with, 28, 32–36, 51, 499n28
movies, love of and cinema heroes, 37–38, 48–49, 54–55, 93
neighborhood and characters of early years, 40–45, 42
nightclub debut and comedy sets at Harold’s Club, 95–96, 102–3, 486
Patricia Watts, affair, pregnancy, and marriage, 100–103
Peoria characters used in comedy routines, 94–95, 99
Peoria nightclub world and, 93–96, 103–4
as a prankster and rule-breaker, 52–53, 54, 72–73
punishment and beatings, 46–47, 77–78
racism and, 53–54, 63–64, 65
rat incident, 47–48
Rumpelstiltskin production, 69–70, 142
school performances, 59–63, 64–65
self-image, 81
sexual abuse incident, 48
sexual mores, Germany, 88
sister Sharon and, 93
stepmother’s relationship with, 55, 499n28
stigma of family’s business and, 55–56
stint in family prostitution business, 107
truancy of, 65
in U.S. Army, 82–91, 509n87
witness to domestic violence, 33
Youth Theater Guild, Carver Community Center and, 66–74, 67
—1962–1971 (DEFINING HIMSELF), 111–270
acting roles, 163–64, 211, 219, 229–32, 242–43, 269–70
appearance, 118, 129–30, 142–43, 158, 187, 225, 232, 261–62, 516n143
arrest for assault and battery and jail, 112–13, 513n112
arrest for marijuana, 172, 521n172
Attica prison uprising, impact on RP, 265–69, 533n267
Bay Area friends, 255–56
Bay Area year (1971), xi–xii, 245–70
bench warrant for default of legal fees, 235
Berkeley friends, 245
breaks with nightclub circuit, 235–36, 249
child support suits against, 235
Chitlin Circuit and on the road, (1962), 111–15, 511n112
comedian friends, 120–23, 126–27, 154, 214–15
Cosby and, 113–15, 168
counterculture and, xii, 117–18, 151, 169, 192, 211–12, 240, 247, 248
crack-up, Aladdin hotel, 175–80, 181, 182–83, 194, 332, 339, 472, 522n180
daughter Elizabeth born, 172
daughter Rain born, 232–33
debts to drug dealers, 237
divorces wife Patricia, 155, 518n155
family in Peoria and, 135, 145–46, 183–84
fantasy version of his life, 131, 165, 515n130
father’s death and, 206–8
father’s relationship with, 145–46, 164, 184, 189
finances and, 140, 144, 173, 177, 213, 226, 522n173
friendship with Alan Farley, 248–50
friendship with Bobby Darin, 159–62, 160, 519n159
friendship with Cecil Brown, 254–57
friendship with Henry Jaglom, 123–26, 135, 136–38, 147–48, 518n148
friendship with LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka), 136–38
friendship with Paul Mooney, 214–15, 217–18, 220, 305
Gallin as agent, 148, 154, 157, 167, 182, 183, 212, 213, 523n183
General Artists as manager, 143, 148
Hollywood friends and hangouts, 155–57, 245
identity issues, 211–13, 221, 245, 257–58, 332
industry reputation as unmanageable, 213
King memorial benefit, Hollywood Bowl and controversy, 193–94, 211, 524n194
meltdowns and self-destructive behavior, 167, 175–80, 181, 182–83, 212, 232, 332, 472 (see also substance abuse below)
as “Mr. Congenialty,” 128–46, 332
Peoria visits, 164, 187, 189–91, 190, 206–8, 226–29
playing in Ontario, 113
politics of, 135, 138, 167, 170, 211, 212, 223, 250–52, 257, 265–69
relationship with his mother, 227–28, 229
relationship with Maxine Silverman, 138–41, 155, 171–72, 183, 235, 516n138, 516n142
relationship with Patricia Heitman, 265–66, 269
relationship with Shelley Bonis, 187–89, 190, 191–92, 220–21, 232–34, 235, 240
residences, 118, 155, 159, 167, 172–73, 188, 213, 233, 241–42, 248
Roberts as manager, 178, 194, 197, 200, 213
Roth as manager, 119, 128–35, 143
Sammy Davis, Jr. advice to, 112
singing onstage, 159
substance abuse and (cocaine, alcohol, marijuana), 117, 125, 147–48, 172, 173, 175, 196, 213, 215, 216, 217, 220, 226, 241, 245, 257–58, 261, 266, 518n148, 522n173
Sunset Towers assault charge, 173–75, 183
TV appearances, 141, 143, 148–54, 157–59, 158, 179, 210, 211, 212, 257
TV debut, 130–35, 132, 133
—1971–1975 (HOLLYWOOD STARDOM), 273–358
acting roles, 276–80, 290, 294–97, 299–300, 320–27, 323
appearance, 275, 279, 281, 321
arrest for obscenity, 339
“black goes first” chess incident, 315–16
at Cannes Film Festival, 314–17, 315
comedy, concerts, 327–29
comedy, touring, 338–41
cottage at Yamashiro, 280–81, 290, 297–98, 305, 317, 347
DeBlasio as manager, 305–6, 314, 327, 329, 334, 338, 339, 349–50
finances and, 292, 341, 349–50
Franklin as manager plus, 350–53
friendship/feud with Billy Dee Williams, 309, 368, 372
jail sentence for tax evasion, 334–35
lack of professionalism, 279–80, 294, 307
meltdowns and self-destructive behavior, 294–96, 307 (see also substance abuse below)
in Monaco, 316
Pay Back Inc. founded, 341, 352
Peoria return (1974), 340–41
politics of, 304
Queen Booking as agent, 329, 347
relationship with Patricia Heitman, 275, 275–76, 280, 297–98, 305, 309–10, 317, 347–49
“Richard Pryor Enterprises,” 352
“Richard Pryor Salute,” 306
screenwriting opportunities, 281–88, 290–94, 320–27
as sensation, hot item, 347
substance abuse, 275–76, 280, 282, 287, 291, 294, 307
testing new collaborators, 318–19
TV appearances, 314, 320–27, 342–47
Watergate scandal, Nixon presidency, and, 336–37
—1975–1978 (THE PLANET’S FUNNIEST MAN), 361–470
acting roles, 363–73, 380–403, 417–26
in Barbados, 404–7
career peak, 430
car shooting by, 461, 466, 468
comedy recordings, 373–75, 397
concerts and club dates, 374
conflict with TV networks, 361–63
as crossover artist, 363, 367, 374–75, 380, 383, 414
death of grandmother, and her message to him, 470, 471–72
education sought, 404
finances and, 384, 396, 415
Franklin as manager, 362, 368, 392, 395, 415, 428
gay sex and, 442–46, 558n457
gifts to Peoria friends and family, 416