Richard Pryor died from a heart attack (cardiac arrest) on December 10, 2005, at the age of 65.

Quick Scoop: What did Richard Pryor die from?

  • Immediate cause: Heart attack / cardiac arrest.
  • Underlying health issues: He had long‑standing coronary artery disease, which doctors and a later forensic review linked in part to decades of heavy cigarette smoking.
  • Other conditions: Pryor had multiple sclerosis (MS) from the mid‑1980s, a serious degenerative disease, but it is described as part of his overall health decline rather than the direct cause of death.

So, if you’re answering “what did Richard Pryor die from,” the clear, accepted answer is: he died of a heart attack brought on by coronary artery disease, after years of serious health problems including multiple sclerosis and heavy smoking.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.