Paul Mooney, Richard Pryor's great collaborator, dies at 79

Comedian also worked on In Living Color and Chappelle’s Show

Paul Mooney, the writer and actor who helped Richard Pryor create some of his most provocative work, has died at the age of 79.

The comedian suffered a heart attack at his home in Oakland, California, today, his agent confirmed to US media.

Mooney was the head writer for the boundary-pushing The Richard Pryor Show, and co-wrote much of  Pryor’s stand-up, including the classic Live On The Sunset Strip special.

He was also drafted in to provide material when Pryor hosted Saturday Night Live in 1975, and is though to hae coemup with the infamous word association sketch, in which Pryor trades increasingly offensive racist terms with Chevy Chase. 

Mooney started in comedy as a circus ringmaster before writing on sitcoms such as Sanford and Son and Good Times. He was also head writer on the first year of the groundbreaking US sketch show In Living Color created by  Keenen Ivory Wayans

As an actor he appeared on The Larry Sanders Show and Chappelle’s Show, including the  Ask a Black Dude segment, and played playing singer Sam Cooke in The Buddy Holly Story in 1978.

Mooney was also an outspoken social commentator, and released his memoir Black Is the New White in 2007.

In November 2014, it was announced that Mooney had prostate cancer, but he continued to tour his stand-up show.

Published: 19 May 2021

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