Comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory died Saturday night of heart failure in Washington, D.C., a rep confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter. He was 84.
“It is with enormous sadness that the Gregory family confirms that their father, comedic legend and civil rights activist Mr. Dick Gregory departed this earth tonight in Washington, DC,” the comedian’s son, Christian Gregory, wrote in a post on social media.
“The family appreciates the outpouring of support and love and respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time,” he added. “More details will be released over the next few days–Christian Gregory.”
Gregory died after being hospitalized for over a week, according to the Associated Press. On Thursday, his son posted on his Facebook that his father was still in the hospital with a “serious but stable condition.”
“My father, Dick Gregory remains hospitalized with a serious but stable medical condition,” Gregory’s son wrote. “His prognosis is excellent and he should be released within the next few days. After feeling ill last Wednesday (August 9th) Mr. Gregory was taken to the hospital. He was evaluated, treated and released. Showing only minimal improvement we returned him to the hospital Saturday (August 12) he was evaluated and admitted.”
Comedian Dick Gregory receives his star on Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California February 2, 2015. REUTERS/Gus Ruelas (UNITED STATES – Tags: ENTERTAINMENT) – RTR4NZ3J
Known as one of the first black stand-up comedians, Gregory broke onto the scene after being hired to perform for another comedian at the Playboy Club in Chicago in 1961. At the time black comics couldn’t get work at white clubs. The one night gig turned into three years and led to numerous appearances in the 60’s and 70’s on late night TV shows.
Gregory used his fame to talk about issues like segregation and other race matters.
“When I started, a black comic couldn’t work a white nightclub,” Gregory explained in an interview last year. “You could sing, you could dance, but you couldn’t stand flat-footed and talk– then the system would know how brilliant black folks was.”
He is survived by his wife Lillian and 1o children.