SXSW: Richard Pryor’s widow Jennifer Pryor on their relationship and the new documentary ‘I Am Richard Pryor’

Richard Pryor may be one of the most complicated comedians to unpack in a single documentary, which might explain why there have been so many attempts over the years. The latest, I Am Richard Pryor, directed by Jesse James Miller, presents a warts and all look at Pryor’s life, from growing up in a brothel in Illinois to going on to become one of the most celebrated comedians of all time. His story includes copious drug use, a series of wives, a political awakening that would fuel his life and comedy, and his infamous self-immolation incident, none of which have dulled his lasting influence as a fearless comic dedicated to speaking his truth, regardless of the consequences.

We caught up with Pryor’s widow Jennifer Pryor following the film’s world premiere at SXSW in Austin to discuss her relationship with Pryor, his struggles with drugs, his lasting influence, and what this film finally gets right about the man she loved.

I Am Richard Pryor premieres on Paramount Network on Friday, March 15 at 10:00 pm ET/PT, and again on Comedy Central at 11:30 pm ET/PT.

Meeting Richard Pryor for the first time: 

When I first met him, I was working for him, I was decorating his house in Northridge, and through a friend I got the gig. I was broke and struggling as an actress and I needed some work. And I went out there, and I just thought he was the most touching, vulnerable person I had ever met. I fell in love, I swear. First meeting. He was just very tender, he’s a very tender-hearted guy, even with all of the Sturm und Drang around Richard, the drama, “he’s a predator walking the stage,” and he’s so hardcore and edgy, but he was also very tender-hearted, and I saw that. And that’s what I fell in love with, I just adored him immediately. And got to know him, and saw the women come in and out of the house, you know? I had the opportunity to see who he was. I saw the person, and that’s who I wanted.

Collaborating with Pryor and his first major cross-over success: 

We started dating in ’78, and he started working on Live in Concert when we were going out. I would go and take notes at The Comedy Store when he was on-stage and he was woodshedding. He finally had an act together and he took it on the road, we’d go over the notes the next morning and it was really a wonderful experience working with him that closely. He eventually took it on the road and I went on tour with him. And that was an interesting experience. [Laughs] And then we shot Live in Concert and he crossed over, and became a superstar basically from that, because it was brilliant.

Pryor’s relationship with drugs: 

[Following the death of his beloved grandmother] He eventually found freebase. Or should I say they found him, because a dealer turned him onto it. And that was really a bad thing, because it had a grip, It took hold. And I moved out eventually, because it was just too scary. I had used drugs with Richard, but nothing that seemed to be serious. A little hangover here and there, but we knew how to turn it off. Richard was very disciplined when he worked. He really had a great work ethic. But this was different, this was another level. And I didn’t like that shit either. I did it a couple of times, and that was like someone took a hammer to your head, I don’t know why people like that shit. You’re completely unconscious.

Richard used to work and do cocaine but still function. He was a functioning drug addict, until that damn pipe got a hold of him. Deadly, it was sad to see it, it was heartbreaking.

I always loved him, and I also felt a pronounced sense of loyalty when I saw what was going on. The locust had descended. I’m finding someone I adored being raked over the coals, and the parasites and locust has descended. What, I’m going to walk away? No. I could not leave him like that. I thought long and hard about it because I knew Richard’s life was always filled with chaos and drama and difficulty, and when I came back that’s what I was met with.

On Pryor’s fluid sexuality:

He talked about it in his comedy, “I sucked a dick.” Richard was definitely on the cutting edge of everything. I was surprised, I got a lot of vitriol from a lot of his fans [following Quincy Jones’  revelation that Richard Pryor had slept with Marlon Brando]. “How dare you, let him rest in peace!” “He’s not here, he can’t speak for himself.” I said, “Dude, he has spoken for himself, in his books, on-stage, in his routines, he discussed this openly.”

So I called Q [Quincy Jones] and I said, “Are you OK?” Because I know he was taking a lot of shit. He said, “Jennifer, they’re coming for me.” I said, you keep telling the truth, Richard would appreciate it. I confirmed [the story] because I knew it was true. Richard went out with a tranny for two weeks. She had a sex change apparently, came back to him, and he was not interested! [Laughs] And he talked about that in his book. Richard didn’t hide from stuff, even his own darkness, you know? He would let you see it. I was shocked that I received such vitriol about it, but I’m kind of used to it, the stupidity and preciousness of some people.

When Pryor set himself on fire in 1980: 

The only way out he saw was the fire, lighting himself on fire. I was there, he told me he was going to do it, he warned me, “You better get out or it’s going to happen to you too.” I told his bodyguard on the way out, and he dismissed me. I said, “He’s going to hurt himself.” So he had all these enablers too. This could have been avoided, I’m sure.

He was changed after that. Of course he was different. You light yourself on fire, who’s going to be the same?

Remarrying Pryor and her relationship with his children: 

I always loved him, and I also felt a pronounced sense of loyalty when I saw what was going on. The locust had descended. I’m finding someone I adored being raked over the coals, and the parasites and locust has descended. What, I’m going to walk away? No. I could not leave him like that. I thought long and hard about it because I knew Richard’s life was always filled with chaos and drama and difficulty, and when I came back that’s what I was met with.

Richard and I re-married in 2001. It was very clear that this is what real love is. The party’s over, all the piles of money, the piles of coke, it’s all gone. So now this is when the rubber meets the road. It was rehabbing him financially, work, and of course physically, going to the doctors, hiring caregivers. Dealing with the cacophony to the family was…when you take people’s money away, they’re not happy. I closed the bank of Pryor. And that created much hostility and aggression. I talk to the two younger kids, I don’t talk to the rest of them. I’m not holding any aggression towards them, but they have it towards me. Listen, Richard Pryor’s your dad? Not easy. 6 kids by 5 different women, hello! It’s endemic, you’re going to have issues. There are problems. But I don’t feel like they’re my problems.

What I Am Richard Pryor gets right: 

What I love about this documentary is it absolutely highlights his artistry and the evolution of his work, and the scandals don’t eclipse that. In other documentaries, it was the other way around. The scandals eclipsed the work…which really infuriated me, one of which I produced and I was furious. But the powers that be — Showtime, hello — prevailed. But that won’t happen again, so that’s why I’m really pleased with this.

The upcoming Pryor biopic: 

We’re doing a reset, we’re throwing that script out. I was with Harvey Weinstein before, and we’re tossing that out the door, and we’re doing a full reset, and I’m really thrilled with the direction we’re going in. It’s kind of meant to be. We were green lit at one point, and I was frustrated at the time that it didn’t go, Lee Daniels was busy doing Empire, he was going to direct. But I’m so glad now. We’ll use an unknown [actor], because the material is Richard, it’s so heavy and dense that you know, why would we use a star to tip it over? It would take you out of the movie. I’m working on that, I’m working on publishing [Pryor’s] diaries, and I’m working on a play. There’s a lot going on.

I Am Richard Pryor premieres on Paramount Network on Friday, March 15 at 10:00 pm ET/PT, and again on Comedy Central at 11:30 pm ET/PT.