Legendary American Comedian and Civil Rights activist Dick Gregory dies at 84

 

Legendary American Comedian and Civil Rights activist Dick Gregory dies at 84
Legendary American Comedian and Civil Rights activist Dick Gregory dies at 84

Legendary American Comedian and Civil Rights activist Dick Gregory dies at 84

Pioneering American stand-up comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory, who made his advocacy work a key component of his on-stage persona has died at the age of 84.

Gregory made his mark in the early 1960s as a rare African-American comedian who was successful in nightclubs geared to white audiences. One important break famously came in 1960 when he was invited by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to perform at his Playboy Lounge in Chicago.

Gregory was known for his folksy delivery and for incorporating commentary about segregation and discrimination into his routines. During this period he released a number of successful spoken word albums, notably 1961’s “In Living Black and White,” 1962’s “Talks Turkey,” 1964’s “So You See … We All Have Problems” and 1968’s “The Two Sides of Dick Gregory.” In 1964, his autobiography was published with the provocative title: “N—-: An Autobiography.”

His family confirmed the news of his death in a statement by his son Christianvia his Instagram page:

It is with enormous sadness that the Gregory family confirms that their father, comedic legend and civil rights activist Mr. Dick Gregory departed this earth tonight in Washington, DC. The family appreciates the outpouring of support and love and respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time. More details will be released over the next few days – Christian Gregory

Gregory is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lillian, and 10 children.

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