Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
A comic with one eye on his audience and another eye on the truth.
1986 | 97m | English
Popularity: 4 (history)
| Director: | Richard Pryor |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Richard Pryor, Rocco Urbisci, Paul Mooney |
| Staring: |
| Although Jo Jo Dancer has achieved success as a stand-up comedian, he hasn't found happiness. After receiving severe burns in a narcotics-related incident, Jo Jo remains in a coma, and, while in this state, he looks back on his life. Drifting off into memories of his troubled childhood, Jo Jo revisits his youth, recalling his eventual rise to fame and the decadence that followed. As he considers his existence, he must decide if he wants to go on living or not. | |
| Release Date: | May 02, 1986 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Richard Pryor |
| Writer: | Richard Pryor, Rocco Urbisci, Paul Mooney |
| Genres: | Comedy, Fantasy, Drama |
| Keywords | |
| Production Companies | Columbia Pictures, Delphi V |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $18,034,150
Budget: $20,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 10, 2025 Entered: Apr 20, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Richard Pryor | Jo Jo Dancer / Alter Ego |
| Debbie Allen | Michelle |
| Art Evans | Arturo |
| Fay Hauser | Grace |
| Barbara Williams | Dawn |
| Carmen McRae | Grandmother |
| Paula Kelly | Satin Doll |
| Diahnne Abbott | Mother |
| Scoey Mitchell | Father |
| Billy Eckstine | Johnny Barnett |
| Tanya Boyd | Alicia |
| Wings Hauser | Cliff |
| E'Lon Cox | Little Jo Jo |
| Michael Ironside | Detective Lawrence |
| J.J. Barry | Sal |
| Mike Genovese | Gino |
| Marlene Warfield | Sonja |
| Virginia Capers | Emma Ray |
| Dennis Farina | Freddy |
| Frederick Coffin | Dr. Weissman |
| Richard Grossman | Dr. Carlyle |
| Ken Foree | Big Jake |
| Gloria Charles | Lady at Grandmother's House |
| Mary Bond Davis | Lady at Grandmother's House |
| Cheri Wells | Lady at Grandmother's House |
| Valerie McIntosh | Lady at Grandmother's House |
| Bebe Drake | Angry Prostitute (as Bebe Drake-Massey) |
| Charlie Dell | John #1 |
| Edy Roberts | Madelyn |
| Michael Prince | Screening Room Producer |
| Rocco Urbisci | Screening Room Director |
| Rod Gist | Manager |
| Elizabeth Robinson | Secretary |
| Beau Starr | Vito |
| Ludie C. Washington | Backstage Manager |
| Kiblena Peace | Joy |
| Larry Murphy | Male Attendant |
| Dennis Hayden | Policeman #1 |
| Sam Hennings | Policeman #2 |
| Rashon Khan | Bodyguard |
| Charles Knapp | Fat Man |
| Tracy Morgan | Female Heckler |
| Gary Allen | Male Heckler |
| Jack Andreozzi | Gangster #1 |
| Martin Azarow | Gangster #2 |
| Dean Wein | Stage Hand |
| Sig Frohlich | Ziggy |
| Joanna Lipari | Nightclub Patron |
| Robin Torell | Michelle's Dance Partner |
| Erika Marr | Showgirl |
| Laura Sorrenson | Showgirl |
| Geraldine Mason | Showgirl |
| Michael Anthony Williams | Raymond |
| Tom Lawrence | Emergency Room Doctor (uncredited) |
| Suzanne Niles | Dressing Room Fan (uncredited) |
| Nico Stevens | Bartender (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Cloudia Rebar | Set Decoration |
| Dino Ganziano | Hairstylist |
| Tony Lloyd | Makeup Artist |
| Terry Miles | Makeup Artist |
| Elizabeth Rabe | Makeup Artist |
| Julia L. Walker | Hairstylist |
| John DeCuir Jr. | Production Design |
| Larry L. Fuentes | Special Effects |
| Ron Oliney | Stunt Coordinator |
| Richard Pryor | Screenplay, Director |
| Rocco Urbisci | Screenplay |
| Paul Mooney | Screenplay |
| Marilyn Vance | Costume Design |
| John A. Alonzo | Director of Photography |
| Herbie Hancock | Original Music Composer |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| John G. Wilson | Associate Producer |
| Richard Pryor | Producer |
| Thom Mount | Supervising Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
| 2024 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| 2024 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 2024 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 371 | 717 |