Dick Gregory Dead At 84. You know we have lost an extraordinaire man. Dick started out as a comedian in the 1950’s, became a Civil Rights Activist in the 1960’s and was a health advocate until the day he died. He was just in Dallas this past December for Cheryl Smith’s Health Fair and also always a celebrity guest at her Don’t Believe The Hype Celebrity Bowl-a-thon. Sources say the cause of death was heart failure. Mr. Gregory was a man who spoke his mind, wasn’t afraid to stand up for what he believed in and was just an all around great man. R.I.P. Dick Gregory. You will be missed.