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Dick Gregory

Comedy history · 39 facts, each from at least two of 10 independent sources · last reviewed 2026-10-17

Dick Gregory, a St. Louis, Missouri native who entered the world on October 12, 1932, built a career in comedy and writing while advocating for civil rights, and he later died in Washington, D.C.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 His stand-up routines addressed current events, particularly matters of race, and Comedy Central included him among its 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.4,5,8 Alongside his comedy, he campaigned for civil rights, opposed the Vietnam War, and sought public office.1,3,5,9

Early Life and Start in Comedy

Gregory went to Southern Illinois University, where he became a star in track.1,3,6,10 His first attempts at comedy came in the mid-1950s during his U.S. Army service.4,8 He won talent competitions with his comedy, and an Army talent show victory led to his transfer into the Special Services entertainment division.1,6,10 In the early part of his career, he held a daytime post office job while doing comedy in the evenings.5,11

Breakthrough at the Playboy Club

Hugh Hefner hired Gregory in 1961 for an engagement at the Playboy Club in Chicago.8,11 That booking, which began as a one-night job, became the turning point of his career.2,3,5 The club lengthened his contract from several weeks to three years.1,3,4 Following the long engagement, Time magazine ran a profile of him, and Jack Paar asked him to be a guest on his program.1,3,5,10 Gregory was compared to the comedian Mort Sahl.4,11 He later gave up club work because of the smoking and drinking in those venues, turning instead to speaking at churches, schools, and universities.1,2,3,7

Civil Rights and Antiwar Activism

Gregory was jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.5,6 Medgar Evers asked him to address voter-registration rallies in Jackson, Mississippi, and he did so.3,6 He also staged benefit performances for civil rights organizations, among them CORE.1,3 He spoke out strongly against the Vietnam War.1,3,5,9 In 1980 he went to Iran, where he held a hunger strike while working to free the American hostages.5,11 He also undertook a 40-day fast connected to the Michael Jackson case.1,11

Political Campaigns

Gregory challenged Richard J. Daley for the office of mayor of Chicago; sources date that race to either 1966 or 1967.2,3,4,9,10,11 In 1968, he sought the presidency as a write-in contender representing the Freedom and Peace Party.4,8 Tied to both the New Left and the Black Power movement, his campaigns advocated for civil rights, social justice, and an end to the war in Vietnam.1,2

Writing, Business, and Honors

Gregory's autobiography, titled Nigger: An Autobiography, appeared in 1964.1,3,5,11 With Mark Lane, he co-wrote Code Name Zorro, a 1971 book concerning the assassination of Martin Luther King.1,4,11,12,13 In 1984 he started Dick Gregory Health Enterprises, a company that marketed weight-loss products.4,5 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale gave him an honorary doctorate in 1989, and the Kennedy Center held a tribute in his honor.1,4,5

Sources

  1. Dick Gregory | Encyclopedia.com (encyclopedia.com)
  2. Dick Gregory: Visionary Videos: NVLP: African American History (visionaryproject.org) · archived copy
  3. Dick Gregory Dead: Stand-Up Comedy Legend, Civil-Rights Activist Was 84 (hollywoodreporter.com)
  4. Dick Gregory Global Watch (dickgregory.com) · archived copy
  5. Comedian and Civil Rights Activist Dick Gregory Dead at 84 – The Root (theroot.com)
  6. Dick Gregory, who rose from poverty to become a groundbreaking comedian and civil rights activist, dies at 84 - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
  7. Comedian, civil rights activist Dick Gregory dies | PBS News (pbs.org)
  8. Comedian & Civil Rights Activist Dick Gregory Had Died (vibe.com)
  9. 8 Memorable Political Campaigns by Comedians - Splitsider (splitsider.com) · archived copy
  10. Dick Gregory, pioneering US comedian and activist, dies aged 84 | US news | The Guardian (theguardian.com)
  11. Dick Gregory obituary | US news | The Guardian (theguardian.com)
  12. Dick Gregory's Role as Michael Jackson's Adviser : NPR (npr.org)
  13. The 9/11 conspiracy: Rubbish or reality? (nbcnews.com) · archived copy

Updated November 12, 2026.

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