Richard Claxton "Dick" Gregory‘s son Christian confirmed via his father’s official Instagram page that the veteran comedian, civil rights activist, author and artist died Saturday (August 19):
Rolling Stone reports that Gregory was hospitalized at Washington, D.C.’s Sibley Memorial Hospital with a urinary tract infection on August 9. He wrote on Instagram on August 16 that his "prognosis is excellent and [he] should be released within the next few days," but Christian wrote to Rolling Stone that he later suffered "a bifurcated thoracic aortic aneurysm."
"For a lifetime, my father took all the hits, however, this hit was too much," he wrote.
Per Rolling Stone’s biography, the St. Louis-born artist started performing stand-up comedy during a 1950s U.S. Army stint. He earned significant acclaim as one of the first Black comics to perform for predominantly White audiences, addressing difficult racial justice topics at a time when most comedy clubs were segregated. He later joined the Civil Rights Movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, and befriending both Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. He attempted a stint in politics by running for both Chicago mayor and U.S. president. Gregory remained active on the stage up until his death over the weekend.
Gregory helped pave the way for Black creators to attack anti-Blackness and promote change through art. Here’s how seven of those creators reacted to his passing:
You taught us and loved us. Thank you, #DickGregory. pic.twitter.com/uYytZ3PIKy
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) August 20, 2017
I was honored to celebrate Dick Gregory’s last birthday at @CarolinesonBway. Thanks for 60+ years of laughter & for fighting the good fight. pic.twitter.com/elvC2qivRK
— George Wallace (@MrGeorgeWallace) August 20, 2017
Humanity has lost a Giant. RIP my dear friend #DickGregory -CT
— Cicely Tyson (@IAmCicelyTyson) August 20, 2017