Dick Gregory
Stand-up comedian · 1932–2017

Dick Gregory

Who Dick Gregory is

American comedian, writer and civil-rights activist from St. Louis whose pointed material on racism made him a breakthrough star in 1961, when Hugh Hefner booked him at Chicago's Playboy Club and he appeared on Jack Paar's show. He recorded a run of comedy albums in the 1960s, then turned largely to activism, including marches and hunger strikes, and ran for president as a write-in candidate in 1968. His 1964 autobiography sold more than a million copies; he died in 2017.

At a glance

Born
1932
Died
2017
Style
Political satire, Social truth, Political
Albums
In Living Black and White, East & West, Dick Gregory Talks Turkey and 3 more
Podcasts
N⸺: An Autobiography, Write Me In! and Callus on My Soul: A Memoir
On screen
Jack Paar's show, Sweet Love, Bitter, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and 7 more

Specials, shows and podcasts

Albums

On screen

Podcasts

Comedians like Dick Gregory

Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.

Every stand-up comedian with a page, A to Z →

Career timeline

  1. 1932Born
  2. 1961Jack Paar's show (guest, 1961) On screen
  3. 1961In Living Black and White (1961) Album
  4. 1961East & West (1961) Album
  5. 1962Dick Gregory Talks Turkey (1962) Album
  6. 1963The Two Sides of Dick Gregory (1963) Album
  7. 1964Dick Gregory Running for President (1964) Album
  8. 1964N⸺: An Autobiography (book, with Robert Lipsyte, 1964) Book
  9. 1967Sweet Love, Bitter (Richie 'Eagle' Stokes, film, 1967) On screen
  10. 1968Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (guest performer, 1968) On screen
  11. 1968Write Me In! (book, 1968) Book
  12. 1970Live at the Village Gate (1970) Album
  13. 1995Panther (Rev. Slocum, 1995) On screen
  14. 1999Children of the Struggle (Vernon Lee, 1999) On screen
  15. 2000Callus on My Soul: A Memoir (book, 2000) Book
  16. 2002The Hot Chick (Bathroom Attendant, 2002) On screen
  17. 2004Reno 911! (Blind Panhandler, 2004) On screen
  18. 2005Wonder Showzen (Mr. Sun, 2005) On screen
  19. 2017The Leisure Seeker (Dan Coleman, 2017) On screen
  20. 2017Died
  21. 2021The One and Only Dick Gregory (Showtime documentary, 2021) On screen

Questions about Dick Gregory

What podcast does Dick Gregory host?

N⸺: An Autobiography, Write Me In! and Callus on My Soul: A Memoir.

What TV shows and films are they in?

Jack Paar's show, Sweet Love, Bitter, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Wonder Showzen, The One and Only Dick Gregory and Panther, among 10 credits.

Who are some comedians like them?

Carrot Top (also in Reno 911!), Flip Wilson (also in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In), George Lopez (also in Reno 911!), Heather McDonald (also in Reno 911!) and Henny Youngman (also in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In).

The full SUCDb record

The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with their place on the Legends ballots.

Their SUCDb record →

Sources

Updated 5 October 2026 · the record checked 27 September 2026