Dick Gregory: Trailblazer Comedian and Fearless Activist

Dick Gregory was an American comedian, actor, author, and social critic who used humor to expose racism and injustice. He broke barriers in the early 1960s as one of the first Black performers at the Chicago Playboy Club. Born in St. Louis in 1932, Gregory shone as a student athlete on scholarship at Southern Illinois University. His time in the U.S. Army led him to talent shows and set him on the path to professional comedy. Gregory’s 1964 autobiography broke ground with its candid title and sold over one million copies. He marched alongside civil rights leaders, staged hunger strikes against the Vietnam War and animal cruelty, and was frequently arrested for his protests. Later in life, he promoted healthy diets and natural remedies while battling lymphoma. He passed away from heart failure in Washington, D.C., on August 19, 2017, at age 84.

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