• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Resource Centers
    • Cancer Resource Center
    • Covid Resource Center
    • Clinical Trials Resource Center
  • Find A Doctor
  • BDO TV
Home / Health Conditions / Multiple Sclerosis / Richard Pryor: Lessons From His Caregiver

Richard Pryor: Lessons From His Caregiver

pryor stand upFrom legendary stand-up comedy shows to classic movie roles, comedian Richard Pryor is seen by many as a comic genius and serves as an inspiration for many comics today. In 2004, Pryor was voted No. 1 on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time. In a 2005 British poll to find The Comedian’s Comedian, Pryor was voted the 10th greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. In his later years starting in the early 1990s, Richard Pryor used a power operated vehicle/scooter due to multiple sclerosis (also known as MS, which he said stood for “More [email protected]#”).

Multiple sclerosis is the most common autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system. It disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to communicate, resulting in a wide range of signs and symptoms, including physical, mental, and sometimes psychiatric problems.

Check Out: Chris Tucker Says Real Comedy Comes From Pain

During the last 11 years of Richard Pryor’s life, his wife, Jennifer Lee-Pryor, cared for him on a full-time basis. They were together for five years before getting married in 1981, which like many of Pryor’s other marriages, only lasted a year. But unlike any other marriage, Pryor remarried Jennifer in 2001 and remained together until his death in 2005 (she was the comic’s fourth and seventh wife). The cause of Pryor’s death was multiple sclerosis, which he had been battling for nearly 20 years.

You May Also Like
13 Signs You Need to See a Dermatologist

In those last years, Jennifer shares in her own words what it was like being a caregiver for the comedic legend:

“I always made plans for Richard, like going to the movies every Friday or to a nearby Zen park to enjoy its beauty. I made sure friends and family came to the house to visit him, including his therapist.

Richard loved going to the Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard to perform stand-up sitting down. His bodyguard would hoist him out of his wheelchair and onto a stool. He also loved going to restaurants, even when he wasn’t hungry. He would enjoy just being there watching people.    
 
As celebrities get older they accumulate awards and accolades for their careers. And Richard was no exception. In 1995 he wrote an autobiography, Pryor Convictions and Other Life Sentences. He enjoyed doing the publicity and it became a best-seller. He won the first Mark Twain Award in 1999. I took him to Washington for the ceremony. Even though he wasn’t strong enough to go on stage and thank everyone, he sat in a box on the side of the Kennedy Center beaming.
 
His disease required visits to doctors three and four times a week. Rather than make them just medical visits, I’d turn them into fun outings that he’d look forward to. After seeing a doctor, we’d go to lunch or have ice cream, or go to the beach to watch the surfers.
 
I want to say something here. Yes, there was money to make Richard’s life easier. But caregiving is about some things that money can’t buy, namely respect and dignity.
 
Richard wasn’t self-conscious about being seen in his condition in public–which is what I really admired about him. He wasn’t ashamed of his situation. But Richard was always all about the truth, making people look at realities. He really wanted to be a part of life. There were other celebrities, and I won’t name names, who couldn’t face what he could. They told me they were too depressed by his situation to come visit. That infuriated me.

Initially, I thought I was going in with my eyes wide open. But nothing could have prepared me for the work and burdens I was taking on. I’m sure that’s true of anyone who wants to help someone who is ill or very old. Every day was a new surprise, a new travesty uncovered, a new lesson learned. My job was a three-prong effort: Get his business affairs straightened out, help him with his living situation and find him the very best doctors, nurses and caregivers.

You May Also Like
7 Proven Ways to Cure an Upset Stomach

I had to do my homework, which meant getting referrals from doctors and friends. I had a steep learning curve with lots of trials and errors. I finally learned to trust my instincts. That’s what you do with the people you love.”

November 30, 2013 by Gemma Greene

Read Next Article

The Latest In Multiple Sclerosis

foods that cause inflammation

Are Your Favorite Foods Causing Inflammation?

There is always a good reason to eat yummy foods. Life's celebrations - birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, vacations, you name it, we can find a reason to indulge in our favorite, delicious foods that makes us want more and more! read more about Are Your Favorite Foods Causing Inflammation?
MS symptoms

Managing Symptoms of MS: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a persistent and devastating central nervous system illness. It is characterized by a broad spectrum of symptoms that might vary substantially across individuals. Fatigue, muscular weakness, stiffness, trouble walking, and cognitive impairment are some of the read more about Managing Symptoms of MS: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers
morning routine

Rise and Shine! Make the Most of Your Morning With These Daily Practices

A morning routine is exactly what everyone needs in order to have a successful day. Your routine could look however you want it to look as well. It could be you waking up three to four hours before you start read more about Rise and Shine! Make the Most of Your Morning With These Daily Practices

P-Valley Star Brandee Evans on being a Caregiver for Her Mom: “It’s Bittersweet”

Actress and trained dancer Brandee Evans has quickly become more of a household name after becoming a breakout star of the STARZ hit drama series, P-Valley. Evans plays the character, Mercedes, who is equally fierce and strong, yet loving and read more about P-Valley Star Brandee Evans on being a Caregiver for Her Mom: “It’s Bittersweet”
multiple sclerosis

5 Biggest Myths About Multiple Sclerosis

When it comes to multiple sclerosis (MS), there are still a lot of misconceptions surrounding the disease, but not everything you’ve read or been told about MS is correct. Here, we separate fact from fiction by dispelling five of the most read more about 5 Biggest Myths About Multiple Sclerosis

Why Disability Strikes People With MS

In the past multiple sclerosis (MS) was thought to primarily affect whites. However, studies have shown a higher incidence of MS in the Black community with newly diagnosed cases. Black people who are diagnosed with MS may develop more severe read more about Why Disability Strikes People With MS

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • 10 Signs You’re Living With Clogged Arteries 10 Signs You’re Living With Clogged Arteries
  • Tracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No FilterTracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No Filter
  • Like Father, Like Son: ‘Miami Vice’ Star’s Son Handsome Like his DaddyLike Father, Like Son: 'Miami Vice' Star's Son Handsome Like his Daddy
  • Mo’Nique at 55: Slimmer, Happier & Wiser: “I Love Us For Real”Mo'Nique at 55: Slimmer, Happier & Wiser: "I Love Us For Real"
  • The Cast of The Bernie Mac Show: 20+ Years LaterThe Cast of The Bernie Mac Show: 20+ Years Later

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2023, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.