Oprah Winfrey Cast as Richard Pryor’s Grandmother in Biopic

Oprah Winfrey has been tapped to play Richard Pryor’s grandmother in the upcoming biopic of the legendary comedian.

The media mogul/actress is reteaming with filmmaker Lee Daniels in the big screen version of Pryor’s life, according to Entertainment Tonight.

Winfrey will play Marie Carter, the grandmother with whom Pryor had an extremely complicated and strained relationship. Carter ran the brothel where the funnyman grew up, and where his mother Gertrude also worked as a prostitute, but left her family behind when he was just 10 years old.

Winfrey confirmed on Sunday that actor Mike Epps will play Pryor in the film by posting a photo on Instagram.com of herself along with Epps and director Daniels, alongside the caption, “@theoriginalbigdaddy, @eppsie, and me just finished a great 1st read session. #RichardPryorMovie.”

Winfrey and Daniels previously collaborated as co-executive producers of Precious in 2009, and he directed her in Lee Daniels’ The Butler last year.

Photo Credit:Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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