Amna Nawaz
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WATCH: How Richard Pryor found authenticity in his comedy
Posted
July 9, 2026
Views
5,131
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235
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July 9, 2026
5,131
235
4.58%
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2:49Now PlayingHistorian Elizabeth Pryor says her father, comedian Richard Pryor, found his authentic voice after walking off stage mid-set in Las Vegas.
"He looked out in the audience and said, 'My own grandmother,' who raised him, 'would not be welcome in this audience, and I don't want to be doing this shtick anymore.' And he walked off the stage," she told PBS News' Geoff Bennett.
Elizabeth said her father started delving more into race, politics and history, and then brought those topics into his act in a way many could not "get away with doing."
"Part of what made him so brilliant is that he was so vulnerable and kind of welcoming and open-hearted, even as he's talking about this really difficult stuff. So he disarms the audience," Elizabeth said.
She spoke to Geoff Bennett for the latest episode of PBS News' podcast, "Settle In." They discussed Elizabeth's new book, "Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me," and more.
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