Chris Tucker

Profile
Name: Chris Tucker
Birth Name: Christopher Tucker
Height: 6'1"
Sex: M
Nationality: American
Birth Date: August 31, 1972
Birth Place: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Profession: actor, comedian
Education: Columbia High School
Father: Norris Tucker (operated a cleaning service)
Mother: Mary Tucker
Sister: Two sisters (older)
Brother: Three brothers (older)
Son: Destin Christopher Tucker (born in September 1998)
Claim to fame: as Det. James Carter in Rush Hour (1998)

Biography
There is nothing tranquil about comedian/actor Chris Tucker. A limber, wiry fellow with a high-pitched voice and a delivery as fast as a mosquito's wing beats, he seems energy incarnate. In regard to Chris Tucker's acting, some have hailed him the next Eddie Murphy; indeed, Murphy was one of Tucker's icons while growing up.

A native of Atlanta, GA, Chris Tucker's proclivity for comedy has been lifelong, beginning when Chris Tucker, the youngest of six children, used humor as an attention-getting device and as a way to get his brothers to allow him to hang around them. In addition to Eddie Murphy's comedy, Chris Tucker was heavily influenced by that of Richard Pryor. In high school, Chris Tucker was one of those class clowns who was able to make even his teachers laugh and it was one of his instructors who suggested Tucker display his gifts in a school talent show. He proved a roaring success and following graduation, decided to become a professional. Chris Tucker's classmates, having voted him "Most Humorous," supported his efforts. Chris Tucker made his debut at a local comedy club. Because he was underage, Chris Tucker had to sneak in and then do some real fast talking to be allowed to perform. He succeeded and his routine garnered a tremendous response. More local successes followed and this emboldened the then 19-year-old Tucker to try his luck in Los Angeles. Soon after arriving on the West Coast, Chris Tucker had established himself in the major comedy clubs and, after appearing on HBO's Def Comedy Jam found himself a bona fide rising star.

Chris Tucker made his film debut with a small but memorable role in House Party 3 (1994). The following year, Chris Tucker appeared in F. Gary Gray's crazy comedy Friday, playing Smokey, a lazy pot-smoking drug dealer who could be quite rich if only he'd stop using the merchandise himself. Chris Tucker's hilarious improvisation during filming helped to make the film a sleeper hit. In his next film, Dead Presidents, directed by brothers Allen Hughes and Albert Hughes, Chris Tucker hinted at some real talent as a dramatic actor. In regard to movies, 1997 proved a very good year for Chris Tucker who was given his first showcase film in the action comedy Money Talks, which he executively produced. He also had a small but memorable role in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown and played a hyper-manic intergalactic DJ in Luc Besson's The Fifth Element. In 1998, Chris Tucker had his second starring role, working opposite international action superstar Jackie Chan in the action-packed comedy Rush Hour. While his movie career continues its rapid ascent, Chris Tucker remains passionate about performing live and still appears in comedy clubs and other venues.

Filmography
Actor
2007 Rush Hour 3
2001 Rush Hour 2
2000 Def Comedy Jam, Vol. 2
2000 Def Comedy Jam, Vol. 5
1998 Rush Hour
1997 The Fifth Element
1997 Jackie Brown
1997 Money Talks
1995 Friday
1995 Dead Presidents

Executive Producer
1997 Money Talks

Awards
Kids' Choice Award (Blimp Award)
Year : 2002
Category : Favorite Male Movie Star
For : Rush Hour 2
Won

MTV Movie Award
Year : 2002
Category : Best Fight (Shared with Jackie Chan)
For : Rush Hour 2
Won

Teen Choice Award
Year : 2002
Category : Film - Choice Actor, Comedy
For : Rush Hour 2
Won

Blockbuster Entertainment Award
Year : 1999
Category : Favorite Duo - Action/Adventure (Shared with Jackie Chan)
For : Rush Hour
Won

MTV Movie Award
Year : 1999
Category : Best On-Screen Duo (Shared with Jackie Chan)
For : Rush Hour
Won

Trivia

Is set to star in GANGSTER M.D., a Hollywood remake of the Bollywood hit MUNNABHAI MBBS, which is about a mafioso who enrolls in medical school. (May 31, 2006)

Says he likes all the outtakes of RUSH HOUR 3. (June 7, 2005)

Has pleaded guilty to speeding and eluding police during a brief car chase on April 17, 2005.

Claims he was in a hurry to make it to church on time when police caught him speeding on a Sunday morning in 2005.

Tucker is in talks with New Line to cash another $20 million-plus paycheck to reprise his trash-talking cop role in RUSH HOUR 3. (June 26, 2003)

At the Billboard Music Awards Tuesday night, Tucker – a close pal of Michael Jackson who was honored for his 1982 landmark album Thriller -- insisted on presenting the King Of Pop with his award and persuaded the eccentric star to let him present him with his special award from Jackson's California home. (December 12, 2002)

On a five-day tour, together with former president Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey, Tucker visits Africa to fight AIDS and encourage economic development in Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa. (September 27, 2002)

Tucker says he's the perfect model to play the role of America's first black president, Colin Powell -- he is studying Powell as part of his preparation for the title role in MR. PRESIDENT, an upcoming comedy about the first black chief executive.

He insists there's no reason why he and fellow funnyman Chris Rock should be feuding - because they're both outrageously rich. At the moment both of them are writing and preparing separate comedies about a White House occupied by a black commander-in-chief, with both listed as directors and lead actors.

The scene in RUSH HOUR 2, where Carter gets the kosher meal was originally scripted to have Carter ask Lee want some of my gefilte fish? after the stewardess left. But Chris Tucker (qv) couldn't pronounce gefilte, so the scene never made the final cut (outtakes of this scene are in the end credits).

Tucker actually likes the idea of being the President - he's particularly fond of the idea of having Air Force One as his private jet.

Tucker made his debut at a local comedy club. Because he was underage, Tucker had to sneak in and then do some real fast talking to be allowed to perform.

Turned down the role of Willie Beaman in ANY GIVEN SUNDAY (1999).

Seasickness helped Roselyn Sanchez feign a lack of enthusiasm for his advances in the yacht sequence in RUSH HOUR 2 (2001).

Nominated for Best On-Screen Team at MTV Movie Awards for RUSH HOUR 2 (2002) - shared with Jackie Chan

Nominated for Best Comedic Performance at MTV Movie Awards for RUSH HOUR 2 (2002)

Nominated for Best Musical Sequence at MTV Movie Awards for RUSH HOUR 2 (2002)

Nominated for Best Fight at MTV Movie Awards for RUSH HOUR (1999) - shared with Jackie Chan

Nominated for Best Comedic Performance at MTV Movie Awards for RUSH HOUR (1999)

Nominated for Best On-Screen Duo at MTV Movie Awards for FRIDAY (1996) - shared with Ice Cube

Nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at MTV Movie Awards for FRIDAY (1996)