Dick Gregory

Biography

Richard Claxton Gregory was a comedian, actor, writer, activist, and social critic who became popular in the African-American communities of the southern United States with his biting humor targeting bigotry and racism. A prominent figure in the 1960s anti-war movement and animal rights activism, Gregory advocated for change through protests, hunger strikes, and speaking engagements. His autobiography sold over a million copies before he died of heart failure at 84 in 2017.