Mystery continues to shroud Richard Pryor's act of dousing his body in rum and setting himself on fire in 1980
The life of Richard Pryor, one of the most influential stand-up comedians of all time, has been well-documented and analysed. However, there is one defining moment in the comedian's life which still leaves his fans baffled even after decades — when the superstar set himself on fire.
Pryor, on June 9, 1980, set himself on fire, running across the streets of Los Angeles while free-basing cocaine and drinking 151-proof rum. He was subdued by the police and rushed to the hospital. Pryor's daughter, Rain, at the time told officials that her father in a drug-induced psychosis had poured rum over his body and set himself on fire.
The comic genius, 39 at the time, suffered burns over 50 per cent of his body and was given a 1-in-3 chance to live, however, he survived and continued to do stand-up. He often joked about this experience, famously once lighting a match stick in front of his audience and waving it as he said: "What's this? It's Richard Pryor running down the street."