Comedy Legends
- TV documentary
- Sky Arts
- 2018 - 2021
- 40 episodes (4 series)
Barry Cryer pays tribute to the heroes of comedy he has worked with. Also features Tim Brooke-Taylor, Steve Punt, Clive Anderson, Stephen Armstrong, Tony Hawks and more.
Episode menu
Series 2, Episode 3 - Richard Pryor
This week, Barry Cryer takes a look at the life an career of one of the most influential stand-up comics of all time, Richard Pryor, who collaborated with Gene Wilder in four films including Stir Crazy and Silver Streak.
Further details
Pryor started his career in New York City clubs, performing alongside Bob Dylan, Woody Allen and Nina Simone. He worked past his initial bouts of performance anxiety to find his niche as a counterpart to the safe, middle-brow comedy that was utilised by artists like Bill Cosby at the time, and instead take an edgier approach and work profanity into his act.
His success saw him break through into television and film, co-writing Blazing Saddles with Mel Brooks and partnering with Gene Wilder in a range of popular films including 1980's Stir Crazy.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Wednesday 30th October 2019
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- Sky Arts
- Length
- 60 minutes
Cast & crew
| Barry Cryer | Host / Presenter |
| Steve Punt | Self |
| Stephen Armstrong | Self |
| Tony Hawks | Self |
| Neil Norman | Self |
| Jo Caulfield | Self |
| Richard Pryor | Self (Archive Material) |
| Lyndy Saville | Director |
| Lyndy Saville | Producer |
| David Byrne | Executive Producer |
| Jack Oliver | Executive Producer |
| Dominic Saville | Executive Producer |
| Ashley Hall | Edit Producer |
| James Burt | Editor |
| Cosmo Hildyard | Director of Photography |
| Nicholas Stylianou | Director of Photography |