Richard Pryor, R.I.P.

Richard Pryor has died at the age of 65 after suffering for many years with multiple sclerosis.

Born in Illinois and raised in a brothel, Pryor started out trying to appeal to respectable audiences until he experienced what he called an epiphany whilst onstage in a swanky Vegas hotel in 1967. He looked out at the audience, said, "What the fuck am I doing here?" and walked off stage.

He reinvented himself and cultivated his 'angry nigger' style of profanity and storytelling, the influence of which can be seen through not only successive black comedians like Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock but also the likes of Bill Hicks and even Robin Williams.

He moved into films and became one of the first black men in Hollywood with the power to pick and choose his own projects.

His stand-up routines often drew on personal tragedy, including one infamous incident when he set himself on fire whilst high on cocaine. Probably the best example of his stand-up material is the 1980 film, Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip.

Raise your glasses, if you will, and drink a toast to a great man of comedy. Cheers, Richard.