When Jamaica Kincaid visited Richard Pryor at a Manhattan hotel, in 1976, the comedian was far from alone. "In his room with him," Kincaid reported in The New Yorker, "were a woman he introduced as his girl friend; his manager; his valet; and his jeweller." By the time Kincaid left, three hours later, the jeweller was wealthier, Pryor had praised vegetables for their "great sense of humor," and Kincaid had collected enough material for a playful, insightful portrait of Pryor, a glimpse of the entertainer's life and personality when he wasn't onstage. Kincaid's profile, originally written for The Talk of the Town, returned to the magazine this past week as part of our annual Archive Issue—devoted, this year, to celebrity, from those who avoid the spotlight to those who seek it constantly. Musicians play a major role: Profiles capture Bob Dylan and Missy Elliott as they were ascending to stardom, while Edith Piaf, John Lennon, and Yoko Ono feature after they've already reached the top. Louise Brooks and Kim Kardashian make appearances in their very different realms; so does Oprah, dubbed the Queen of All Media, and a royal of a more British sort: the actual Queen. We hope you enjoy the issue. |
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