Why Richard Pryor Threatened to Shoot One of the Hosts of 'Def Comedy Jam'
By Tony Alpsen
Published on March 25, 2026.
Richard Pryor, the comedian icon known for his battle with multiple sclerosis, threatened to shoot Joe Torry, the host of Def Comedy Jam in 1992 when his career was on the decline. The two men met on the set of 1989's Harlem Nights, where Torry was an extra in the film. Eventually, they became friends and made several films together, including The Three Muscatels, which featured Torry's first significant film appearance and was co-starred by Pryor's then-wife, Flynn Belnown. During their relationship, Torry suspected that Torry had affairs with his wife, but the two remained on friendly terms until Pryor's death in 2005.
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