Born Name:  Richard Claxton Gregory

Born Date:  October 12, 1932

Born Place:  St. Louis, Missouri

Died Date:  August 19, 2017

Died Place:  Washington, D.C.

Occupations:  Comedian, actor, writer, activist, social critic

Brief Biography:  Dick Gregory revolutionized stand-up comedy in the 1960s by using biting social satire to address racial injustice. He broke color barriers in entertainment, became a prominent voice against inequality, and later focused on health, diet, and political activism.

Early Life and Education:
He was raised in poverty, which later influenced his comedy and social activism.
He attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a track scholarship, excelling as a middle-distance runner.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953, where he began performing comedy routines in military shows.

Comedy Breakthrough:
Gregory broke into the national comedy circuit in 1961 with a successful stint at the Chicago Playboy Club, leading to a spot on The Jack Paar Show.
As one of the first African American comedians to crossover to white audiences, he moved away from joke-telling to personal, satirical commentary on segregation and politics.

Civil Rights and Activism:
He was heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in demonstrations, voter registration drives, and fundraisers.
He was arrested multiple times for civil disobedience, including in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.
He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and used his comedy income to support the movement.
In 1968, he ran for President of the United States as a write-in candidate for the Freedom and Peace Party.

Author and Health Advocate:
In the 1970s, he largely left comedy to focus on politics, nutrition, and world hunger, becoming a health advocate who promoted vegetarianism and fasting.
He authored several books, including Dick Gregory's Natural Diet for Folks Who Eat: Cookin' With Nature (1973) and Callus on My Soul (2000).