Comedian Richard Pryor was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986. He lived with the progressively debilitating disease for nearly two decades until his passing in 2005, following his third heart attack. Reflecting on his experience, Pryor shared with 'Entertainment Weekly', "Multiple Sclerosis is a very strange disease. I didn't know anything was wrong at first, the s*** just crept up on me." He noted that the disease began to significantly impact him around 1990. Pryor emphasized the profound perspective shift that came with losing mobility, stating, "We take so much for granted, but man, lose the movement of your legs and you begin to take a closer look at life."