RICHARD PRYOR

I don't mean this to be an obituary column, but I can't let Richard Pryor's passing go without comment. They are calling him a comedian on the news, but he trancended that category. He was nothing short of brilliant and he changed the world of entertainment forever. His electric performances were part therapy, part exorcism of his personal demons. He demonstated the relationship of comedy to tragedy more than anyone since the Greeks. I can't think of anyone else who could take an embarrasing event in his life and make you laugh until you cried. He and I shared a birthday with Woody Allen and Bette Midler and I always felt that I knew him personally. His battle with MS has been lost, but I can always play "Richard Pryor on Sunset Strip" on my DVD player and he will live forever. Thanks, Richard for pointing out that we all are human and make mistakes, but if we can laugh at ourselves we can survive.