Rick Fox

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Rick Fox
Rick Fox 2009.jpg
Rick Fox attending "Susan G. Komen's 8th Annual Fashion For The Cure" event – Hollywood, CA on Sept. 24, 2009
No. 44, 17
Small forward
Personal information
Born (1969-07-24) July 24, 1969 (age 43)
Toronto, Ontario
Nationality Canadian
Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight 230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school Warsaw Community
(Warsaw, Indiana)
College North Carolina (1987–1991)
NBA Draft 1991 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Pro career 1991–2004
Career history
1991–1997 Boston Celtics
1997–2004 Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 8,966 (9.6 ppg)
Rebounds 3,517 (3.8 rpg)
Assists 2,649 (2.8 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Ulrich Alexander "Rick" Fox (born July 24, 1969) is a Canadian television actor and retired professional basketball player who last played for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Fox was born in Toronto, the son of Dianne Gerace, who was an Olympic high jumper and women's pentathlete, and Ulrich Fox.[1] His father is Bahamian and his mother is Italian Canadian. Fox's family moved to his father's native Bahamas when Fox was young. He attended Kingsway Academy in Nassau, where he was a member of the high school's basketball team, the "Saints." Fox also played high school basketball in Warsaw, Indiana. After two seasons (1984–1986) at Warsaw, Fox was projected to have a monster senior season. Just prior to his senior season, the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) ruled that he had no more high school eligibility left (due to completing eight semesters in the Bahamas) and was not allowed to participate in any IHSAA games.[2] Despite not playing his senior season, Fox was voted onto the Indiana All-Star team in 1987.

He then went on to star collegiately at the University of North Carolina where his highlights included leading the Tar Heels to the 1991 NCAA Final Four.

Basketball career [edit]

Rick Fox with Los Angeles Lakers

Fox began his pro basketball career when he was selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft. As a member of the Celtics, Fox became the first rookie starter on opening night since Larry Bird in 1979.[3] Fox played for thirteen seasons in the NBA (from 1991–1997 with Boston and from 1997–2004 with the Los Angeles Lakers). With the Lakers, Fox won three NBA championships: in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and played in the 2004 NBA Finals.

On April 5, 1999, Fox scored his 6,000th career point in the Lakers' 117-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets. In 56 career NBA Playoff games, he averaged 6.1 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.[3]

Fox played internationally for Canada once, at the 1994 FIBA Basketball World Championship held in Toronto.

Acting career [edit]

During NBA career [edit]

While attending UNC, Fox completed a bachelor's degree in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures.[4] In 1994 Fox appeared in the film Blue Chips as a member of the Texas Western basketball team.[5] In 1996 Fox then played the role of Terry Hastings in the film Eddie, a slumping basketball player who receives help from fan "Eddie" played by Whoopi Goldberg.[6] Fox then had a role as the ladies man Chick Deagan in the 1998 film He Got Game film directed by Spike Lee.[7] It was in 1997 however that Fox received the biggest role of his early acting career playing prison inmate Jackson Vahue on the HBO prison drama Oz, appearing in 11 episodes of the show between 1997 and 2003. Vahue is a superstar basketball player imprisoned for charges related to a major drug addiction. Fox first appeared on the episode To Your Health and each of the following episodes for the rest of the first season. His character would again appear at the beginning of the second season, before returning during the middle of the fourth season on the episode Revenge is Sweet and appearing on the duration of the season, as Vahue is nearing probation. His character's final appearance would come in the show's last season, on series finale Exeunt Omnes, when Vahue is almost killed by the character Brass.[4][8]

Fox was a supporting actor in the 1999 film Resurrection playing the role of Detective Scholfield and the role of Ray in the television film The Collectors. At the time ESPN quoted Fox as saying of trying to balance his acting career with his sports career that, "I mean, Penny Marshall is courtside. You got Jack (Nicholson) and Denzel (Washington). The head of the William Morris Agency is there. (Ally McBeal creator) David E. Kelley comes to some games ... I want to jump into conversations with them, but I'm working!"[9]

In addition to Oz, Fox appeared in three more television series in the year 2003. On the first season of the crime drama 1-800-Missing starring Vivica A. Fox, Rick Fox played the role of Eric Renard over five episodes. He also provided the voice of the characters Flash Williams and Smooth Daley on the Crime Wave/Odd Ball episode of Nickelodeon's animated series The Fairly OddParents, and played the role of Peter Sampson on the television show Street Time.[4] As Eric Renard he played the love interest of the FBI agent Brooke Haslett, played by actress Gloria Reuben.[10] That year he also appeared in the film Holes in the supporting character role of Clyde 'Sweetfeet' Livingston.[11]

Contemporary acting career [edit]

In 2005 Rick Fox guest starred as the character Stephen Melbourne in the UPN television series Kevin Hill[12] and appeared in Love, Inc. as the character David Marley,[13] appearing in six episodes after only being announced for three.[4] In 2006 Fox played the role of Fabrizio in the film Mini's First Time[14] in addition to appearing over five episodes as the character Daunte on the drama One Tree Hill. In 2007 Fox played Wilhelmina Slater's bodyguard and lover Dwayne in the second season of Ugly Betty, opposite his former wife Vanessa L. Williams.[15] The following year Fox signed on with the show Dirt to play a recurring role in a multi-episode storyline lasting six episodes playing the role of Prince Tyrese.[4][16] In 2008 and 2009, he had a recurring role (as a fictionalized version of himself) on the CW comedy-drama television series The Game, also returning to reprise his role in the 2012 season finale.[17] In 2008 Fox also had a lead role in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns as Harry, a coach trying to court the character of Brenda played by Angela Bassett.[18]

In 2009, Fox played himself in the comedies Party Down[19] and Head Case,[20] and he currently has recurring roles on VH1's Single Ladies and Tyler Perry's House of Payne. In 2010 Fox briefly guest starred on the science-fiction series Dollhouse,[21] and took on a recurring role on the CW remake of Melrose Place.[22] In 2011, Fox then played the role of Bernadette's ex-boyfriend Glenn in The Big Bang Theory episode The Love Car Displacement. In an article about his appearance TV Guide quoted Fox as saying about his role, "It's all in Glenn's head now. 'How am I losing to this guy? He's smarter than me ... I love that they turned the 'threatening ex' on its ear. At the end of the day, I have more insecurity about my intellect and am constantly fighting to be accepted intellectually and be seen for more than my looks and my size. I want to appear intelligent and prove my intelligence. That's where I'm battling with him."[23]

In 2011 Fox also played a suspect on the crime drama Body of Proof[24] and in 2012 he played the character Andre Carson on the series Franklin & Bash.[25] He also played the recurring role of Winston on Single Ladies[26] and Andrew Thompson the series Mr. Box Office.[4]

Fox has also appeared in four videos with College Humor duo Jake and Amir titled "Rick Fox", "Rick Fox 2", "Rick Fox 3" and "Rick Fox 4". In these videos Fox plays Amir's bookie and is shown to have a fixation on eggs and chicken. His girlfriend, Eliza Dushku, appears in "Rick Fox 4."

Reality television [edit]

In late 2010, he was a celebrity contestant on ABC's Dancing With The Stars, paired with pro Cheryl Burke. They came in sixth place.

He was host of the "Jace Hall Show" for 5 episodes.

He was a special guest judge during season four of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Personal life [edit]

Rick Fox holding a producer credit for The 1 Second Film in May 2006.

Fox has a son with college girlfriend Kari Hillsman.[27] Fox was also married to actress/singer Vanessa L. Williams. After eloping in summer 1999 in the Caribbean, they had another ceremony in September 1999 in New York. They had a daughter in May 2000. After The National Enquirer published pictures of Fox kissing and hugging another woman in mid-2004, Fox's representative announced that the couple had been "headed toward divorce" for over a year.[28] A few months later in August 2004, Fox filed for divorce from Williams.[29] Fox and Williams' split however was amicable enough for the two of them to work onscreen together several years later on the television show Ugly Betty.[15] Currently Fox is dating actress Eliza Dushku.

References [edit]

  1. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (November 25, 2001). "TALKING MONEY with RICK FOX and VANESSA L. WILLIAMS; Behind the Glamorous Life, His-and-Hers Nest Eggs". The New York Times. 
  2. ^ Herman, Steve (June 22, 1987). "Year layoff doesn't stop Fox, Indiana". Associated Press (The Daily News). Retrieved 12 March 2010. 
  3. ^ a b "Rick Fox". NBA. Retrieved February 25, 2011. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Rick Fox bio". Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  5. ^ Mark Blaudschun (April 5, 1993). "Some final deliberations North Carolina, Michigan weigh possibilities before taking to court". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  6. ^ David Goodman (June 1, 1996). "Eddie review". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  7. ^ Eric Stephen (August 27, 2010). "Rick Fox Continues Dominance Of Female Demographic". SBNation.com. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  8. ^ Augustus Hill (2003). OZ: Behind These Walls: The Journal of Augustus Hill. HarperCollins. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  9. ^ Tom Farrey (June 3, 1999). "The L.A. story: Opportunity". ESPN. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  10. ^ "Rick Fox". Lakeland Ledger. July 12, 2003. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  11. ^ "Variety Reviews - Holes". Variety Magazine. April 16, 2003. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  12. ^ Bob Joseph (May 2, 2005). "Tar Heel Pros News & Notes". Fox Sports. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  13. ^ "Former NBA Player to Guest Star in 'Love, Inc.'". Starpulse.com. November 8, 2005. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  14. ^ MANOHLA DARGIS (July 14, 2006). "A Teenager Goes From Naughty to Worse in 'Mini’s First Time'". New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  15. ^ a b Exes Vanessa Williams, Rick Fox Hook Up for Ugly Betty – Rick Fox, Vanessa Williams : People.com
  16. ^ "Former Laker Rick Fox Scores Role in New FX Series 'Dirt'". Fox News. August 16, 2006. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  17. ^ Tanner Stransky (May 30, 2012). "'The Game' season finale scoop: Rick Fox returns to stir up trouble with Tasha?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  18. ^ Roger Moore (March 22, 2008). "Movie Review: 'Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  19. ^ IMDb page for Episode 6, Season 1 of Party Down
  20. ^ "Head Case: Rick Fox Role Playing". First Post. Retrieved October 29, 2012. 
  21. ^ Michael Ausiello (December 22, 2009). "'Dollhouse' exclusive: Eliza Dushku's BF Rick Fox moves in!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  22. ^ "Rick Fox to hang at "Melrose Place"". Reuters. September 3, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  23. ^ Joyce Eng (January 19, 2011). "The Big Bang Theory: Can Rick Fox Measure Up to Wolowitz?". TV Guide. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  24. ^ Jethro Nededog (August 7, 2011). "'Body of Proof': Rick Fox Guest Stars on Season 2 (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2012. 
  25. ^ Philiana Ng (October 19, 2011). "'Franklin & Bash' Books Cybill Shepherd, Eric Mabius and Rick Fox for Guest Spots". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2012. 
  26. ^ Randy Roper (July 18, 2012). ""I'm So Excited": VH1's 'Single Ladies' Renewed For 2nd Season". Hip Hop Wired. Retrieved October 25, 2012. 
  27. ^ "VANESSA L. WILLIAMS And NBA Star RICK FOX Tie The Knot In New York". Jet. 1999. 
  28. ^ contactmusic.com
  29. ^ usatoday.com

External links [edit]
First round
Second round
Authority control
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