Former child Scott Schwartz claims Richard Pryor arranged makeout sessions on set

Scott Schwartz, the former child actor known for his role as Flick in A Christmas Story, has made a series of new claims about his time working with Richard Pryor during the filming of The Toy, a 1982 comedy in which they appeared together.

In an episode of the Investigation Discovery series Hollywood Demons, Schwartz reflected on what he described as an unusually informal and unfiltered relationship with Pryor while he was still a teenager. He stated that Pryor often spoke to him in a direct and candid manner on set, discussing topics that ranged from comedy and acting to broader aspects of adult life.

Schwartz said that he was 14 during the production and that Pryor treated him more like an adult than a typical child actor. He described conversations that he claimed included frank discussions about personal subjects, which he said were part of Pryor’s effort to be open with him.

The actor also made claims regarding social interactions on set, stating that Pryor facilitated situations where teenage extras were invited to spend time with him in informal settings during filming. These claims were presented as Schwartz’s personal recollections and have not been independently verified.

In the same documentary episode, Schwartz further alleged that Pryor was involved in arranging circumstances that led to moments he later found surprising during production, describing them as part of a wider pattern of informal behaviour on set. He suggested that crew members were aware of Pryor’s influence during filming.

Richard Pryor, widely regarded as one of the most influential comedians of the 20th century, died in 2005. His work in stand up comedy and film is often cited as groundbreaking, particularly for its influence on later generations of performers.

The production company behind The Toy, Columbia Pictures, has not issued a public response to the claims raised in the documentary series.

Hollywood Demons explores the experiences of former child stars and behind the scenes accounts from past film and television productions. The episode featuring Schwartz focuses on his career in the early 1980s and his interactions with established Hollywood figures during that period.