Who is Chris Tucker? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Christopher Tucker

Age: 52 Years, 52 Year Old Males

Family:

father: Norris Tucker

mother: Mary Louise Tucker

children: Destin Christopher Tucker

Born Country: United States

Actors Comedians

Height: 6'1" (185 cm), 6'1" Males

Ancestry: Cameroonian American, Angolan American

City: Atlanta, Georgia

U.S. State: Georgia, African-American From Georgia

Recommended For You

Recommended Lists:

Black Stand-up Comedians

Childhood & Early Life

Chris Tucker was born on August 31, 1971, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Norris Tucker Sr. and Mary Louis (ne’e Bryant). He was raised in Decatur, Georgia, along with his five siblings. Tucker is the youngest son of his parents and he has a native American ancestry.

Chris’ father Norris was a business owner who ran a janitorial service. Tucker was very close to his father who was more his best friend. Tucker’s father passed away on 14th January, 2016 in his home in Lithonia, Georgia.

Chris decided to become a comedian at a very young age. He even snuck into a popular comedy club in Atlanta and received a standing ovation for his stand-up comedy becoming a local celebrity instantly.

Tucker studied at Columbia High school. To earn money while in high school he started to work at a local Burger King, mopping bathroom floors. After his graduation, he shifted to Los Angeles, California, to pursue his career in show business.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Black Film & Theater Personalities

American Men

Georgia Actors

Tall Celebrities

Early Career

Tucker started to perform stand-up comedy in ‘Def Comedy Jam’ followed by several appearances as rapper on the American sitcom Television series ‘Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper’ in 1992.

He made his film debut with the 1994 movie ‘House Party 111’ where he performed for 90 seconds as the outrageous party promoter ‘Johnny Booze’. Tucker was highly praised by critics for the role and also received standing ovation at press screenings in the film’s public promotions.

Tucker gained recognition for his role as ‘Smokey’ in the comedy film ‘Friday’ starring Ice Cube. The film was about a day in the life of a misbehaving and carefree drug dealer named Smokey who is a constant habitual marijuana smoker.

Tucker received positive response from critics for this role as they agreed that Tucker had given a very natural, honest and uncanny performance in the movie.

In 1995, Chris was offered the role of ‘Skip’ a heroin addict, a college drop-out and an ex-US Marine Corps in the Albert and Allen Hughes directed crime thriller film ‘Dead Presidents’. He added humour to the film and the critics found his dialogue delivery to be similar to Richard Pryoresque style. The film was well received by audiences and critics and it was a moderate hit.

In 1995, he appeared as bodyguard in the political drama film ‘Panther’ which portrayed the rise and fall of a 1960’s black radical movement.

Chris appeared as the funny cross-dressed Disc Jockey ‘Ruby Rhod’ who shows-off about hosting an endless TV show in the 1997 science-fiction film ‘The Fifth Element’ co-starring Bruce Willis. This film received positive response from critics and became a financial success. Tucker wearing a yellow wig and leopard print gowns made the audience laugh out loud enacting a character that was hilarious, sexually promiscuous and really loud.

Tucker next got signed in the action comedy film ‘Money Talks’ along with Charlie Sheen. In this film he played the role of ‘Franklin Maurice Hatchett’ a small-time car wash hustler who gets locked up in a jail cell.

In 1997, Tucker appeared as ‘Beaumont Livingstone’, a fast talking hustler who had violated his parole, in the Quentin Tarantino crime thriller film ‘Jackie Brown’. In the movie he shared screen space with veteran actors like Samuel l. Jackson and Robert De Niro. This film was appreciated by critics for its wit and charm.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Tall Male Celebrities

Virgo Actors

Male Comedians

American Actors

The Rush Hour Series

Tucker earned immense admiration and A-list celebrity status for his acting as the loud and brash ‘Detective James Carter’, the main protagonist in the ‘Rush Hour’ series of films (1998, 2001 and 2007) co-starring Jackie Chan. Tucker got astounding $ 25 million remuneration for ‘Rush Hour 3’ making him the highest paid actor in Hollywood in 2007.

He won several awards for the movie series like ‘MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo’ (1999) and ‘Kid’s Choice Awards - Favourite Male Movie Star’ (2002).

Recommended Lists:

American Comedians

Actors Who Are In Their 50s

American Stand-up Comedians

American Film & Theater Personalities

Return to Films

Tucker took a break from films for five years rejecting several offers. He, however, returned to stand-up comedy in 2011, and acting in 2012, with the film ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ in the role of Danny McDaniels, an easy going man involved in a legal dispute with the mental hospital where he is admitted.

Tucker was immensely praised for his acting and was one of the winners of the ‘Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast’. He was one of the recipients of the ‘Best Cast Ensemble’, ‘Capri Ensemble Cast’ Awards in 2012 and ‘Gold Derby Award- Ensemble Cast’ in 2013 for this film.

Chris performed as himself in the Netflix Stand-up Special ‘Chris Tucker-Live’ in 2015 showcasing his comedic talents while sharing his experiences from childhood to the big times.

In 2016, he acted as ‘Albert’ a producer in the war drama film ‘Billy Lynn’s Halftime Walk’. This film was a box office hit and got mixed reviews from critics.

There are talks about a fourth ‘Rush Hour’ movie with Tucker to be titled ‘Grumpy Old Rush Hour’. However, he is currently more indulged in stand-up comedy.

Recommended Lists:

Virgo Men

A Humanitarian

Tucker has supported many charitable organizations like ‘American Foundation for AIDS Research’, ‘US Doctors for Africa’ and ‘Britticares International’. He is the founder of non- profit organization called ‘The Chris Tucker Foundation’ which provides funds for youth development and welfare globally.

Personal Life & Legacy

Tucker has had affairs with actresses like Nia Long, Vanessa Mendoza, India Arie and producer Gelila Asres.

He was married to Azya Pryor and later the couple got divorced. Tucker has a teenage son, Destin Tucker, from this relationship who lives with his mother in Los Angeles.

There were rumors of Tucker having an affair with news anchor, Cynne Simpson, and that they had secretly got married but the reports turned out false. Chris is apparently single off late.

Trivia

Tucker featured in many videos like Michael Jackson’s ‘You Rock My World’, Mariah Carey’s ‘Shake It Off in Ferrari’ and Tupac Shakur’s ‘California Love’.

He testified in defence of Michael Jackson during his trial on charges of child molestation.

Chris Tucker Biography