Comedian and activist broke barriers

Pioneering comedian and activist Dick Gregory has died aged 84.

He died at hospital in Washington DC after being admitted earlier in the week with an undisclosed illness.

His son Christian broke the news on Instagram, writing: ‘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.'

‘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.’

Gregory was taken to hospital after feeling ill last Wednesday and later released, with instructions to rest for a few days, but returned on Saturday.’

Comedians paid tribute on Twitter.

Patton Oswalt said Gregory was ‘a planet of a person whose gravitational effect on comedy was so massive and all-encompassing it still can't be measured.’

Barry Crimmins said: ‘He was a heroic, hilarious, courageous and kind man and always wonderful to me. We all have some extra work to do.’

And singer-songwriter John Legend said: ‘Dick Gregory lived an amazing, revolutionary life. A groundbreaker in comedy and a voice for justice. RIP’

Gregory began his comedy career while serving in the military in the mid-1950s, then later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he became part of a new generation of black comedians that also included Bill Cosby that shunned stereotypical characters. 

Gregory drew on current events, especially racial issues, for much of his material, with jokes such as:  ‘Segregation is not all bad. Have you ever heard of a collision where the people in the back of the bus got hurt?’

In the 1960s he worked the Playboy circuit after being spotted by Hugh Hefner working a predominantly white crowd. He got a TV breakthrough on Tonight Starring Jack Paar – after turning down an invitation several times because black comics were never asked to stay after their set to sit on the famous couch and talk with the host. They broke that convention for Gregory.

He continued to work to the end, and was forced to cancel a gig in San Jose only last Wednesday when first admitted to hospital.

Gregory was also an outspoken activist for civil rights. He campaigned against the Vietnam war, ran for President of the United States in 1968 as a write-in candidate of the Freedom and Peace Party, and traveled to Tehran during the US Embassy Hostage Crisis in Iran in 1980 to try to secure the hostages’ release.

He also claimed President John Kennedy was not assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, that the moon landing was faked and the US government has hidden the truth about the 9/11 attacks.

Gregory was diagnosed with lymphoma in late 1999. He said he was treating the cancer with herbs, vitamins, and exercise, which he believed kept it in remission.

Published: 20 Aug 2017