Pryor had a difficult childhood, including being raised in a brothel and facing family struggles.

Richard Pryor's early life was very tough. His mother, who worked as a prostitute, left him when he was 10 years old. After that, he was raised by his grandmother in a brothel. His father was a boxer and a bartender. These hard experiences influenced Pryor's comedy, which often included stories about his own life and hardships.