Chris Tucker
| Chris Tucker | |
|---|---|
 Tucker on the set of Rush Hour 2, in 2001. | |
| Birth name | Christopher Tucker |
| Born | August 31, 1972 Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Genres | Blue comedy, black comedy, insult comedy, observational comedy |
Christopher "Chris" Tucker (born August 31, 1972)[2][3] is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series. Tucker became a frequent stand up performer on Def Comedy Jam in the 1990s. He came to prominence in the 1995 film Friday alongside Ice Cube, and then appeared in Luc Besson's The Fifth Element before beginning work on the highly successful Rush Hour films. In 2006, he negotiated a $25 million salary to appear in Rush Hour 3, which made him the highest paid actor in Hollywood at the time.[4]
Early life
Tucker was born on August 31, 1972, in Atlanta, Georgia, the youngest son of Mary Louise (née Bryant) and Norris Tucker.[3] His father was an independent businessman who owned a janitorial service.[5][6] Tucker grew up in Decatur, Georgia, and after graduating from Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia, Tucker moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in comedy and film acting.
Career
In 1992, at the age of 19 or 20, Tucker was a frequent performer on Def Comedy Jam.[7] He made his cinematic debut in House Party 3,[8] and gained greater film recognition alongside rapper Ice Cube in the 1995 film Friday.[8] In 1997, he co-starred with Charlie Sheen in Money Talks, and alongside Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element.
He, along with Jackie Chan, later starred in the 1998 martial arts action comedy Rush Hour and its sequels, Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3, in which he played James Carter, an abrasive wise-cracking detective. After the commercial success of the first Rush Hour film, Tucker held out for a $20 million salary for Rush Hour 2 and was paid $25 million salary for Rush Hour 3.[9] 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 against his salary from the Rush Hour 3.[10]
Tucker did not reprise his role of Smokey in Next Friday (2000) because he had become a born-again Christian after filming Money Talks (1997).[11] He starred in Michael Jackson's video "You Rock My World" and made a cameo appearance in Tupac Shakur's "California Love".[12] On February 13, 1999, Tucker participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend's Celebrity Game. Other celebrities participating include 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' autobiography of working as Frank Sinatra's valet during the Rat Pack era of 1953–1968.[13]
In 2011, Tucker made a comeback to stand-up comedy.
Personal life
Chris has a son named Destin Christopher Tucker, who lives with his mother in Los Angeles. Chris divides his time between Bel Air, Los Angeles and Atlanta, Georgia.
Tucker is good friends with fellow Rush Hour star Jackie Chan, and was also close friends with the singer Michael Jackson, introducing and dancing with him at his 30th Anniversary Special, and appearing in Jackson's video "You Rock My World" from his 2001 album Invincible and attending Jackson's memorial service. Tucker's career was also influenced by Jackson, as he is seen dancing and singing to Jackson's song "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" in a scene in Rush Hour 2. A friend of Bill Clinton, Tucker has traveled with the former President overseas, though he endorsed Barack Obama rather than Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primaries.[14][15]
Tucker participated in a PBS documentary on the genetic makeup of African Americans. He found he has African, European, and Native American ancestry.[16] Through DNA tests (as aired on the 2006 PBS documentary African American Lives), Tucker's patrilineal ancestry was traced back to the Ambundu ethnic group of Angola and one line of his mother's to the Bamileke of Cameroon.[17][18][19] He also managed to trace his family tree back to the 1830s.[20] Tucker was shown traveling to Angola, the birthplace of his ancestors, with the program's host, Henry Louis Gates.[21]
Filmography
Film
Rush Hour 4
Director Brett Ratner joked in the Rush Hour 3 commentary that Rush Hour 4 could be released in 2012. In an interview in May 2012 martial arts superstar Jackie Chan stated that he is still planning on a Rush Hour 4. Producer Arthur M. Sarkissian said he was not happy with Rush Hour 3 and he wants to make Rush Hour 4 different, he doesn't want to just give Lee and Carter another city and another case, he wants something better. He also said Director Brett Ratner is more than welcome to come back and direct the Fourth installment if he would do it in a right way. Chris Tucker stated he would love to revisit the film.
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Rapper | Uncredited |
| Def Comedy Jam | Himself | ||
| 2001 | Diary | 1 episode | |
| 2006 | African American Lives |
Awards and nominations
Film
| Year | Title | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Friday | MTV Movie Award | Best Comedic Performance | Nominated |
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Nominated | |||
| Best On-Screen Duo (with Ice Cube) | Nominated | |||
| 1997 | Money Talks | Razzie Award | Worst New Star | Nominated |
| The Fifth Element | Nominated | |||
| 1998 | Rush Hour | Blockbuster Entertainment Award | Favorite Duo – Action/Adventure (with Jackie Chan) | Won |
| MTV Movie Award | Best On-Screen Duo (with Jackie Chan) | Won | ||
| Best Fight (with Jackie Chan) | Nominated | |||
| Best Comedic Performance | Nominated | |||
| Kid's Choice Award | Favorite Movie Actor | Nominated | ||
| Image Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
| 2001 | Rush Hour 2 | Kid's Choice Award | Favorite Movie Actor | Won |
| MTV Movie Award | Best Fight (with Jackie Chan) | Won | ||
| Best Comedic Performance | Nominated | |||
| 2007 | Rush Hour 3 | Best Fight (with Jackie Chan) | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b Chris Tucker – Movie and Film Biography and Filmography – AllRovi.com. Allmovie.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-19.
- ^ Stated on African American Lives, 2006
- ^ a b Gates, Jr., Henry Louis (2009). In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary Blacks Reclaimed Their Past. Crown. p. 397. ISBN 0-307-38240-0.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Friedman, Roger (11 May 2006). "Chris Tucker – Tucker Becomes Highest-Paid Actor, Says Report". contactmusic.com. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ Chris Tucker Biography – Yahoo! Movies.
- ^ Chris Tucker Biography filmreference.com.
- ^ mirobo1 Added Aug 31, 2006 All my reviews (2006-08-31). "Def Comedy Jam on". Tv.com. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Chris Tucker at IMDb
- ^ Grossberg, Josh. "Chris Tucker's Taxing Situation", E! News, July 28, 2010
- ^ "Chris Tucker signs onto Brett Ratner's Rush Hour 3". MovieWeb.com, May 5, 2005. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- ^ Anthony Miccio (2010-12-08). "New Chris Tucker Movie Rumored, Plus 4 Other Comedy Recluses". TheFABlife. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ^ You Rock My World at IMDb
- ^ Giles, Jeff. "Chris Tucker, Brett Ratner Reteam for Sinatra", Rotten Tomatoes, September 20, 2007
- ^ Nedra Pickler (January 22, 2008). "Obama sees rock-star power in action". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2008-01-28. [dead link]
- ^ Candace Newson (January 26, 2008). "On the trail: Stars talk politics, endorsements as they 'stand for change' with Obama". TheTimesandDemocrat.com. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ Richard Willing (2006-02-01). "DNA rewrites history for African-Americans". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "African Ancestry & DNA Tests: The Results".
- ^ Kam Williams. "Chris Tucker 'Rush Hour 3' Interview with Kam Williams".
- ^ Chris Tucker and Brett Ratner The A.V. Club.
- ^ African Ancestry & DNA Tests.
- ^ Oprah, Bishop Jakes, Chris Tucker Trace Roots On PBS. Retrieved 2007-08-05. [dead link]
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
