Chris Rock

Richard Pryor (1940-2005) was a black stand-up comedian who revolutionized the craft of comedy. Famous for his blunt style, use of profanity, and fearless examination of racism, Pryor was as much a political satirist as a stand-up comedian.

Comedian, actor. Born February 7, 1966 in Andrews, South Carolina. Rock is the eldest son of Julius Rock, a truck driver, and Rose Rock, a teacher. When Rock was a toddler his family relocated to Brooklyn, New York. He spent the remainder of his childhood in Brooklyn's notoriously tough Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.