Comedian Paul Mooney, 'Richard Pryor Show' writer and 'Bamboozled' actor, dies at 79
He was not on the list.
Paul Mooney, known for his comedic writing for Richard Pryor and appearances in "Bamboozled" and "Chappelle's Show" has died. He was 79.
The Emmy-nominated comedian's agent Helene Shaw confirmed to USA TODAY that Mooney died of a heart attack. "The Brilliant, talented, one of a kind, comedian, Paul Mooney has passed away. He died of a heart attack. There are many stars in the sky, but there will always be only ONE MOON," Shaw shared in a statement.
Journalist Roland Martin also announced news of the comedian's death on Twitter: "Comedic legend Paul Mooney has passed away. His cousin, Rudy Ealy, just called me from Paul's phone and said he passed away two hours ago after suffering a heart attack at his home in Oakland."
The comedian was born as Paul Gladney in Shreveport, Louisiana. After moving to Oakland, California, Mooney started his career in funny business as a circus ringmaster and later went on to write and work with comedy superstars.
His sage and incisive musings on racism and American life made him a revered figure in stand-up.
Mooney was the writer behind some of Pryor's greatest comedy hits like "Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip" and "The Richard Pryor Show." His friendship and collaboration with Pryor began in 1968 and lasted until Pryor’s death in 2005. Together, they confronted racism perhaps more directly than it ever had been before onstage. Mooney chronicled their partnership in his 2007 memoir “Black Is the New White.”
He also wrote for the 1970's sitcom "Sanford and Son" which starred Redd Fox and has writing credit for the Fox comedy sketch show "In Living Color," becoming the mind behind famous character of Homey D. Clown, played by Damon Wayans.
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As an actor, Mooney played Sam Cooke in 1978′s “The Buddy Holly Story” and Junebug in Spike Lee’s 2000 film “Bamboozled.”
Dave Chappelle also recruited the comedy legend to work on "Chappelle's Show" and appeared in several episodes of the show.
Chappelle mourned the loss of Mooney during a Wednesday interview with TMZ.
"One of the best that ever did it passed away today – his legacy will live forever," he said. "Paul Mooney will be sorely missed and wildly remembered, I'll see to that."
Members of the acting community expressed their condolences for the late comedian on Twitter.
Viola Davis wrote: "RIP comedy legend Paul Mooney! You were both funny and poignant. So happy to have witnessed your genius live. Rest well!!! Pour down some laughter here. We need it."
"A Wrinkle in Time" director Ava DuVernay remembered Mooney as a "comedy giant."
"Paul Mooney. A comedy giant. I recall listening to his RACE album in college and how formative it was. Yeah, the jokes. But more so, the freedom."
Fellow comedian Tracy Morgan wrote, "RIP TO ONE OF MY COMEDY HEROES."
In an August 2019 interview with Comedy Hype, Richard Pryor's ex-bodyguard, Rashon Khan, alleged that Mooney had molested Pryor's son, Richard Pryor Jr., when Pryor Jr. was a child. Khan also alleged that Pryor had expressed a desire to have Mooney killed in a murder-for-hire plot over this incident and was only prevented from doing so by his 1980 fire accident. Richard Pryor Jr. has confirmed he was a known drug addict and was raped, but did not mention Mooney by name as his rapist.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1970 Carter's Army Soldier uncredited
1972 F.T.A. Himself documentary
1977 Which Way Is Up? Inspector
1978 The Buddy Holly Story Sam Cooke
1981 Bustin' Loose Marvin
1985 Brewster's Millions Production consultant
1986 Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling Writer
1987 Hollywood Shuffle President of NAACP
1994 The Legend of Dolemite Himself
1994 In the Army Now Lt. Col. Peter Hume
1998 High Freakquency Love Doctor
2000 Bamboozled Junebug
2001 The Old Settler Man at Counter
2001 Call Me Claus Writer
2002 The Ketchup King Padro Buyers
2003 DysFunktional Family Consultant
2003 Bitter Jester Himself documentary
2004 The N-Word Himself documentary
2004 Paul Mooney: Analyzing White America Himself
2006 Know Your History: Jesus Is Black; So Was Cleopatra Himself
2007 Homie Spumoni George
2009 Good Hair Himself documentary
2010 It's the End of the World Himself
2012 The Godfather of Comedy Himself
2014 Hidden Colors 3: The Rules of Racism Himself
2016 Meet the Blacks Klansman
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1972 Sanford and Son writer; 3 episodes
1974 Good Times writer
1975 Saturday Night Live writer; Episode: "Richard Pryor/Gil Scott-Heron"
1977 The Richard Pryor Show Actor writer; 4 episodes
1984 Pryor's Place writer; 4 episodes
1990-94 In Living Color writer; 16 episodes
1995 The Larry Sanders Show Clyde Episode: "Beverly and the Prop Job"
2003 Chappelle's Show Negrodamus Actor; 2 episodes
Writer; 3 episodes
2004 Judge Mooney Judge Mooney Actor/Writer; 7 episodes
Standup
Race (StepSun Music/Tommy Boy, 1993) CD
Master Piece (StepSun Music, 1994) CD
Analyzing White America (SHOUT! Factory/Sony Music Video, 2004) DVD
Know Your History: Jesus Is Black; So Was Cleopatra (QD3 Entertainment, 2006) DVD
It's the End of the World (2010) DVD
Shaquille O' Neal's All Star Comedy Jam (2010) TV
The Godfather of Comedy (2012) TV
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