Richard Pryor’s shockingly honest no-hold-barred routines revolutionised American comedy. But during the last part of his life a debilitating illness left Pryor paralysed and struggling to speak. And on December 10th 2005 Pryor dies from a cardiac arrest. Many believe Pryor’s hard living had finally caught up with him. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s7e9: Richard Pryor
1977: Pryor is now spending a quarter of a million dollars’ of cocaine every year. ibid.
‘His drug use and drinking would have seriously weakened his heart over time.’ ibid. pathologist
‘Pryor suffered severe burns to 50% of his body.’ ibid.