“He hasn’t come down since”

December 23, 2013 | 1 book mentioned

According to a new biography of Richard Pryor, the legendary comedian kicked off his career as a teen in Peoria, Illinois, when he starred in a play based on Rumpelstiltskin and “broke the other kids up.” At The Nervous Breakdown, nine choice passages from the book.

is a staff writer for The Millions. He lives in New York.