Richard Pryor widow reveals he threatened to kill her during drug psychosis
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Richard Pryor’s widow, Jennifer Pryor, claimed that he once threatened to kill her during a drug-induced psychosis.
Jennifer appeared on Howie Mandel’s podcast. “Howie Mandel Is Doing Something” In an episode that aired on January 20.
The difficulties began, he said, when he went to tell Richard he needed to do reshoots of the 1980 movie “Stir Crazy.”
“And at that point he was actually out of his mind,” Jennifer said. “And I was in danger again.”
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Jennifer claimed Richard once threatened her life with a condition she referred to as “drug psychosis.” (Art Zelin/Getty Images)
When Mandel asked him to explain whether he had threatened her, he said: “Yes. He threatened my life.”
When pressed further, Mandel said: “He said, ‘I’m going to kill you.'”
Jennifer clarified that she was not living with Richard at this point.
“He was out of his mind. He was in a drug psychosis. I woke up, there was a pile of Coke on the table and I said, ‘Oh Richard, I have to go now.’ And he said, ‘No, the sun is coming up now.’ And he said, ‘You’re going to die.'”
Richard and Jennifer married in 1982 (Bob V. Noble/Fotos International/Getty Images)
He added, “And I said, ‘Richard?’ I said. I had a cross around my neck and I grabbed it. So I said, ‘Give me the words.’ Give me the words.”
“So I calmed him down. I pushed him aside. I said, ‘Everything will be fine. There is no need for violence here. Everything will be fine.'”
“And at one point during this episode, he put his hands around my neck. So I calmed him down. I went and got my pants, put my pants on and walked away.”
Richard died in 2005, aged 65. (Bob Riha Jr/WireImage)
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When Mandel said he always came back to her, Jennifer agreed.
Best known as a comedian and actor, Richard has won five Grammy Awards and one Primetime Emmy Award throughout his career.
He appeared in films such as “Stir Crazy”, “Silver Streak”, “See No Evil, Hear No Evil”, “Harlem Nights” and many more.
Richard also hosted his own shows: “The Richard Pryor Show” and “Pryor’s Place.”
Richard and Jennifer were first married in August 1981, but their marriage lasted only 14 days. The divorce was finalized in October 1982.
The two secretly remarried in 2001 and remained together until Richard’s death in 2005.
Jennifer was his fourth wife; He married five different women in seven marriages. He was married to Patricia Price from 1960 to 1961; Shelley Bonus from 1967 to 1969, Deborah McGuire from 1977 to 1978; Jennifer in 1981; They married Flynn Belaine in 1986, their marriage ended two months later and their divorce was finalized in 1987.
He remarried Belaine in 1990, but they separated once again in 1991.
Richard died of a heart attack on December 10, 2005, aged 65. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986 and eventually had to use a mobility scooter.
Richard struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for most of his life.
Jennifer also talked about an incident where Richard allegedly pointed a gun at her.
Jennifer appeared on the podcast to talk about her relationship with Richard. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for SHOWTIME)
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He stated that the Rob Reiner case triggered him and reminded him of “when Richard had a .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum in his bedroom at home, it was loaded, and one night he fired three shots. One into the bedroom wall, one into the ceiling. And the other… at that point I was in the front hallway… at the back hallway entrance. He had the gun behind him and fired another shot.”
“Then he points the gun forward and I count how many bullets are in the gun. He pulls the trigger and says, ‘Get out, bitch—-‘. He cocks. And I say, ‘No problem.’ I walked outside. I sat on the back step. I smoked a cigarette. Ten minutes later I go back in.”
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He continued, “In the bedroom. ‘What was this about?’ I said. And he said: ‘Oh, I’m so glad you didn’t make me shoot you.'”
He explained that Reiner’s murder triggered him because he was so dependent on Richard that he thought he might die.
“I’m lucky to be here,” he said.
