Chris Tucker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Tucker
Tucker in 2019
Birth name	Christopher Tucker
Born	(1971-08-31) August 31, 1971 (age 53) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up film television
Years active	1992–present
Genres	Observational comedy sarcasm insult comedy
Subject(s)	African-American culture Current events Pop culture race relations
Spouse	Azja Pryor ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2003)​
Children	1

Christopher "Chris" Tucker (born August 31, 1971) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is famous for his high-energy comedy and for starring in blockbuster movies.

Tucker first became known in the 1990s as a stand-up comedian on the HBO show Def Comedy Jam. He then moved into acting, with his first major movie role in House Party 3 (1994). He became even more famous after co-starring in the hit comedy Friday in 1995.

He also appeared in popular films like The Fifth Element and Money Talks. However, Tucker is best known around the world for playing Detective James Carter in the action-comedy series Rush Hour alongside martial arts star Jackie Chan.

Early Life and First Steps in Comedy

Chris Tucker was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 31, 1971. He was the youngest of six children. From a young age, Chris discovered that he could make people laugh and get their attention with his sense of humor. His father, Norris Tucker, owned a cleaning service business.

Chris grew up in Decatur, Georgia. After finishing high school at Columbia High School, he moved to Los Angeles to follow his dream of becoming a comedian. His biggest inspirations were famous comedians like Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. Even in school, his teachers and friends knew him for his funny impressions of Murphy and the singer Michael Jackson.

Career in Movies and Stand-Up

Tucker in 2000

Tucker started performing his comedy routines in clubs in his hometown of Atlanta. In 1990, he moved to Los Angeles to take his career to the next level. By 1992, he was a regular performer on the popular HBO comedy show Def Comedy Jam.

Breaking into Hollywood

His movie career began with House Party 3 in 1994. The next year, he starred with rapper Ice Cube in the movie Friday, which made him a big star. In 1997, he had roles in two more movies, The Fifth Element and Money Talks. He also had a small part in Quentin Tarantino's film Jackie Brown.

The Rush Hour Series

Tucker became an international superstar when he teamed up with Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan. They starred in the action-comedy movie Rush Hour (1998). Tucker played the fast-talking LAPD detective James Carter. The movie was a huge success.

For the sequel, Rush Hour 2, Tucker was paid $20 million. For Rush Hour 3, he earned $25 million. This made him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood at the time.

Tucker chose not to return for the sequels to Friday. He later explained that because of his Christian faith, he wanted to avoid roles that might encourage behavior he didn't agree with.

Later Career and Return to Film

In 2011, Tucker returned to his roots with a stand-up comedy tour. The next year, he appeared in the award-winning movie Silver Linings Playbook. He acted alongside stars like Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro. Critics and audiences loved his performance in the film.

In 2016, he was in the movie Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. More recently, in 2023, he played Nike executive Howard White in the movie Air.

Charity Work and Personal Life

In 2008, Tucker showed his support for Barack Obama during the presidential primaries.

He is also involved in charity. In 2021, he became an ambassador for the Heal Los Angeles Foundation. This organization was co-founded by Michael Jackson's son, Prince Jackson. It works to help young people in Los Angeles by fighting problems like homelessness and hunger.

Tucker has one son, Destin, with his ex-wife Azja Pryor. He is very good friends with his Rush Hour co-star, Jackie Chan. He was also a close friend of the singer Michael Jackson. Tucker appeared in Jackson's music video for "You Rock My World" and attended his memorial service.

In 2006, Tucker was part of a PBS documentary called African American Lives. In the show, he learned about his family's history. DNA tests showed he had ancestors from Africa, Europe, and likely some Native American heritage. He even traveled to Angola, a country in Africa where some of his ancestors came from.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and Nominations