Magazine


A very personal Pryor engagement

Conrad Astley
21/ 4/2006

RICHARD Pryor lived a life that was every bit as fast and out of control as his controversial stage performances. He grew up in a brothel, fought alcoholism and drug addiction, and once set himself on fire while freebasing cocaine - an episode that he would often recount in his stand-up show.

He became loved by millions for his films, including Blazing Saddles, Stir Crazy and Brewster's Millions, and became the highest-paid black actor of the time for his appearance in Superman III.

In one of the final interviews before his death last year, which came after he lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 20 years, he said the disease was "God's way of telling me to chill."

His daughter Rain seems to agree with this.

"I think MS slowed him down," she said. "And it enabled him to allow us in. I'd always been close to him when I was a kid, but it enabled us to heal things that had happened in the past, and get rid of things that stood in the way, which was really lovely.

"He had his career, but we still grew up with him. He was on the road a lot, and he was often not there, because of his career or because of women. It's hard to describe, but he was still a big part of our childhoods.

"My father used to joke that MS stood for More Shit. But in some ways, it brought us closer to him."

Rain, who followed her father into the world of showbusiness, is now committed to raising awareness for the disease, as well as funds for research into a cure.

Last year, she became an official ambassador for America's National MS Society and often tours the US talking about her experiences. Now she is helping raise awareness for the disease on this side of the Atlantic, as a face to promote the Multiple Sclerosis Society's largest ever charity event - MS Life at the G-Mex Centre this weekend.

Other celebrity supporters of the event include Harry Potter author JK Rowling, TV designer Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen and ex-Manchester United and Southampton player Danny Wallace, who retired from football after being diagnosed with the disease in 1996.

The exhibition will include 100 stands devoted to living and working with MS, including information on accessible holidays, complementary therapies, and diet.

Meanwhile, the city's Harvey Nichols store will host an exclusive fashion show featuring models with MS.

Rain's contribution will be to host a special tribute night to her father, introducing comics including John Maloney, Nick Wilty and Gavin Webster.

Like her father - who often tackled thorny racial and political issues with his uncompromising stand-up performances - she understands laughter is best the way of getting people to listen.

"My big thing really is to be part of the whole MS campaign," she said. "And give a face to a disease that needs a face.

"I've become very much involved in that area and I think it's really important that I do this in honour of my dad.

"He never really went out there with his disease and talked about it publicly, which is what he needed to do. So what I'm trying to do is show there's a face to the disease - I think that's the best way to use your celebrity."

Rain's showbusiness career extends much further than being the daughter of a famous comedian. She has sold out theatres as a jazz singer, won awards, and recently returned from touring Australia with her one-woman show, Fried Chicken And Latkes, about being a black Jewish child in the 70s.

There are plans to turn the account into a film, while Rain also has an album and a novel due out later in the year.

But she insists much of it was down to her dad's encouragement.

"It was definitely my father's influence," she said. "He always encouraged me to do it and so I did.

"He was very inspirational, he always told me to keep my chin up."

The Richard Pryor tribute night takes place at The Comedy Store tomorrow night (Saturday). For every £10 ticket sold, £1 will be donated to the MS Society. Call The Comedy Store on 0161 839 9595 or visit www.thecomedystore.co.uk. MS Life takes place at the G-Mex on Saturday and Sunday, while the fashion show takes place at Harvey Nichols on Sunday night. Visit www.msconvention.org.uk.


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