Chris Tucker

Chris Tucker
Tucker in 2019
Birth name	Christopher Tucker
Born	(1971-08-31) August 31, 1971 (age 50)[1] Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, film, television
Years active	1992–present
Genres	Blue comedy black comedy insult comedy observational comedy
Spouse	Azja Pryor (1997–2003)
Children	1
Notable works and roles	Detective James Carter in Rush Hour
Website	christucker.com

Christopher Tucker (born August 31, 1971) is an American comedian and actor. Tucker made his debut as a stand-up performer on the HBO comedy series Def Comedy Jam, frequently appearing on the show throughout the 1990s. Tucker appeared in the films Friday, The Fifth Element, Money Talks, and Jackie Brown, and later gained fame for playing Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour series, for which he received several accolades.

Early life and education[]

Christopher Tucker was born on August 31, 1971^[2][3][4] in Atlanta, Georgia, the youngest son of Mary Louise (née Bryant) and Norris Tucker.^[3] One of six children, Tucker learned early in life that humor had the power to draw attention to himself both at school and at home.^[5] His father was an independent businessman who owned a janitorial service.^[6][7] Tucker grew up in Decatur, Georgia, and after graduating from Columbia High School, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy and acting. His early comedy influences were Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy, and he was known by his teachers and high school classmates for making people laugh by doing impressions of Murphy, Michael Jackson, and others.^[8] Tucker grew up in a Pentecostal Christian household, as his parents were members of the Church of God in Christ during his childhood.^{[citation needed]}

Career[]

Tucker in 1996

Tucker began showcasing his comedy skills before an audience in local Atlanta comedy clubs until he decided to move to Los Angeles at 19 to further pursue his stand-up comedy career.^[9] In 1992, Tucker was a frequent performer on Def Comedy Jam.^[10] He made his cinematic debut in House Party 3^[11] and gained greater film recognition alongside rapper Ice Cube in the 1995 film Friday.^[11] In 1997, he co-starred with Charlie Sheen in Money Talks and alongside Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element. Also in 1997, he played a supporting role in Jackie Brown. Double-O-Soul was a spy comedy in which Tucker had a starring role, but the film was never released.^[12]

Along with Jackie Chan, Tucker starred in the 1998 martial arts action comedy Rush Hour and its sequels Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3, in which he played LAPD detective James Carter. After the commercial success of the first Rush Hour, he held out for a $20 million salary for Rush Hour 2, and was paid $25 million for Rush Hour 3.^[13] The latter was part of a $40 million two-movie contract with New Line Cinema that also included an unnamed future film. He was also to receive 20% of the gross from Rush Hour 3.^[14]

Tucker did not reprise his role as Smokey in Next Friday (2000) or in Friday After Next (2002) because he claims that he was never paid for Friday.^[15] He starred in Michael Jackson's video "You Rock My World" and made a cameo appearance in Tupac Shakur's "California Love".^[16] On February 13, 1999, Tucker participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend's Celebrity Game. Other celebrities participating included rapper Master P, NBA Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Dominique Wilkins, wide receiver Terrell Owens, and four Harlem Globetrotters.

Tucker was announced in 2007 to star in the New Line drama film Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra, directed by Brett Ratner and based on George Jacobs's autobiography of working as Frank Sinatra's valet during the Rat Pack era of 1953–68.^[17]

In 2011, Tucker made a comeback to stand-up comedy. The next year, he returned to film in Silver Linings Playbook, co-starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro. Tucker's performance in the film was well received by critics and audiences alike.^{[citation needed]} The film itself received numerous nominations and awards including the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast. He also hosted the 2013 BET Awards. In 2016, he appeared in Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

Personal life[]

Tucker has a son named Destin with his ex-wife Azja Pryor.^[18] He divides his time among Bel Air, Las Vegas, and Atlanta.

In 2002, Tucker flew on the Lolita Express alongside Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Kevin Spacey and Bill Clinton as part of a humanitarian trip to Africa where Clinton raised awareness around HIV/AIDS.^[19][20] Tucker also appeared in Epstein's contact book.^[21]

Tucker is good friends with fellow Rush Hour co-star Jackie Chan. He was also close with singer Michael Jackson: introducing and dancing with him at his 30th Anniversary Celebration; appearing in his video "You Rock My World" from the 2001 album Invincible; and attending his memorial service. Tucker's career was also influenced by Jackson, as he is seen dancing and singing to "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" in a scene in Rush Hour 2 and imitating Jackson's dancing style in Friday. He endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 primaries.^[22][23]

Tucker participated in professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s 2006 PBS documentary on the genetic makeup of African Americans, African American Lives, that specifically focused on stories of Native American heritage in African-American communities. Tucker's DNA test results showed African, European, and "likely some Native American" ancestors.^[24] Tucker's patrilineal ancestry was also traced back to the Ambundu ethnic group of Angola and one line of his mother's to the Bamileke of Cameroon.^[25][26][27] He also traced his family tree back to the 1830s.^[28] Tucker and Gates were shown visiting Angola, the birthplace of some of his ancestors.^[29]

In 2014, Tucker settled a $2.5 million tax debt. A representative blamed "poor accounting and business management".^[30]

Also in 2014, Tucker told an interviewer that he refrains from using harsh profanity in his performances due to his Christian faith.^[31]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Television[]

Music videos[]

References[]

External links[]

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Chris Tucker

• Official website
• Chris Tucker at IMDb