Photo: Elvert Barnes / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Public records list Dick Gregory as a comedian, writer and social activist. Born on October 12, 1932, Dick Gregory was from St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Death is recorded on August 19, 2017, at the age of 84. Schooling on record includes Sumner High School and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Recorded honors include Thomas Merton Award (1974), star on Hollywood Walk of Fame and Phoenix Award (1993).
My Take
What grabs me about Dick Gregory is that he treated comedy as a frontline weapon. Coming out of segregation-era St. Louis, he stood on stage and mocked bigotry head-on at a time when that took real courage. He was never just a comic, he was an activist, author and relentless critic of injustice who later poured the same intensity into health and diet. Plenty of performers chase laughs, but few make you think while they make you laugh. To me he represents a vanishing breed, the entertainer who uses humor to confront power, and his Hollywood star feels well earned.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Dick Gregory
- Name (Japanese)
- ディック・グレゴリイ
- Reading
- でぃっく・ぐれごりい
- Born
- October 12, 1932 – August 19, 2017
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Monkey
- Origin
- St. Louis, Missouri, United States
- Occupation
- comedian / writer / social activist / social critic / entrepreneur
2. Background
- High school
- Sumner High School
- University
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Awards & achievements
- 1974 Thomas Merton Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 1993 Phoenix Award
3. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.dickgregory.com
- Xhttps://x.com/IAmDickGregory
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick%20Gregory
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1209674
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Dick Gregory born?
Born October 12, 1932.
When did Dick Gregory die?
Died August 19, 2017, aged 84.
Where was Dick Gregory from?
Dick Gregory was from St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
What did Dick Gregory do?
Dick Gregory worked as comedian, writer, social activist, social critic, entrepreneur.
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