Kevin Hart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kevin Hart |
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![]() Hart in 2018
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Birth name | Kevin Darnell Hart |
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
July 6, 1979
Medium |
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Education | Community College of Philadelphia |
Years active | 2001–present |
Genres | |
Subject(s) |
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Spouse |
Torrei Skipper
(m. 2003; div. 2011)Eniko Parrish
(m. 2016) |
Children | 4 |
Kevin Darnell Hart (born July 6, 1979) is a famous American comedian and actor. He has been nominated for several awards, including four Primetime Emmy Awards, for his work.
Kevin Hart first became known after winning many stand-up comedy contests. He got his first big break when director Judd Apatow cast him in the TV show Undeclared in 2001. His comedy career grew even more with his first stand-up album, I'm a Grown Little Man (2009). He has since released four more popular comedy albums: Seriously Funny (2010), Laugh at My Pain (2011), Let Me Explain (2013), and What Now? (2016).
He has also starred in many movies. Some of his well-known films include Scary Movie 3 (2003), Soul Plane (2004), Little Fockers (2010), Think Like a Man (2012), Ride Along (2014), Central Intelligence (2016), and the Jumanji film series (2017–present). He also created and starred in Real Husbands of Hollywood (2013–2016), where he played a funny, made-up version of himself. In 2015, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2017, he started the Laugh Out Loud Network, a streaming service for comedy videos.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Kevin Darnell Hart was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 6, 1979. His mother, Nancy, raised him and his older brother, Robert, in a single-parent household. His mother worked as a systems analyst at the University of Pennsylvania. Kevin often talks about his mom in his comedy shows, describing her as a loving but strict woman.
After finishing George Washington High School, Kevin briefly went to the Community College of Philadelphia. He then left college and moved to New York City. Later, he moved to Brockton, Massachusetts, where he worked as a shoe salesman.
Kevin Hart's Comedy Career
Stand-up Comedy Journey
Kevin Hart's first stand-up show was at The Laff House in Philadelphia. He performed under the name "Lil Kev," but it didn't go well. His early career was tough, and audiences sometimes booed him. Once, someone even threw a piece of chicken at him!
After these difficult shows, he started entering comedy competitions in Massachusetts. Slowly, audiences began to enjoy his performances more. It took time for Kevin to find his own unique comedy style. Instead of trying to copy other comedians, he started talking about his own life and feelings. He once said that his comedy is like "an open book" because he shares so much about himself.
Kevin's comedy tours became very popular. His first big tour was I'm a Grown Little Man in 2009. This was followed by Seriously Funny in 2010, Laugh at My Pain in 2011, and Let Me Explain in 2013. The last two were also released as movies in theaters. His "Laugh at My Pain" tour earned over $15 million, making it one of the most successful comedy tours that year.
Kevin also has a game app called "Little Jumpman" available on iTunes. His Facebook page, Twitter account, and YouTube channel are all linked to this app. Many of his fans outside the U.S. first discovered him on YouTube.
On April 9, 2015, Kevin started his "What Now? Tour" in San Antonio. This world tour ended on August 7, 2016. Universal Pictures later announced that a stand-up comedy film, Kevin Hart: What Now?, would be released in theaters. The film showed a performance from his "What Now? Tour." The show was filmed live on August 30, 2015, in front of 53,000 people at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field.
Film and Television Roles
Kevin Hart made a guest appearance in the TV show Undeclared in 2002. He then made his movie debut in Paper Soldiers that same year. He went on to appear in films like the Scary Movie series, Soul Plane, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Death at a Funeral, and Little Fockers.
In 2012, he played Doug in The Five-Year Engagement and was in Think Like a Man, which was a big success at the box office. He also appeared in the sequel, Think Like a Man Too. In 2013, Kevin played a boxing promoter in Grudge Match and had roles in Exit Strategy and 35 and Ticking. He also had a small role as himself in This Is the End.
In 2014, Kevin starred as Ben in Ride Along with Ice Cube. Even though critics didn't love the movie, it was a huge hit at the box office. Kevin returned for the sequel, Ride Along 2, which came out in 2016.
In 2013, Kevin Hart helped create Real Husbands of Hollywood with Chris Spencer. The show features Kevin and other married celebrities playing funny, made-up versions of themselves. The show is filmed like a reality TV series. Kevin's character often tries to become more famous in Hollywood, but his plans usually go wrong in funny ways.
In 2015, Kevin starred in Get Hard with Will Ferrell and The Wedding Ringer. In 2016, he appeared in Central Intelligence with Dwayne Johnson and voiced a character in the animated movie The Secret Life of Pets. In 2017, he voiced a character in Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie and starred in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle with Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Dwayne Johnson again. In 2017, he earned about $32.5 million.
In 2018, he produced his first movie, Night School, through his company, HartBeat Productions. In October 2018, his production company announced a deal with Nickelodeon. This means Hart and HartBeat Productions will create and produce live-action shows for kids on the network. Kevin also has a movie deal with Universal Studios.
In 2019, Kevin's movie The Upside was released. This was his first main role in a drama film, and it also starred Bryan Cranston and Nicole Kidman. He also returned to voice Snowball in The Secret Life of Pets 2 and played Franklin Finbar in Jumanji: The Next Level.
In 2021, Kevin starred in Fatherhood, a drama about a man who has to raise his daughter alone after his wife passes away. This movie premiered on Netflix on June 18, 2021.
In July 2020, his series Die Hart started on Quibi. In March 2023, Roku and Kevin's comedy company, Laugh Out Loud, released the second season of the series. Kevin not only starred in but also helped produce the second season.
Kevin signed a deal with Netflix in January 2021 to create more projects. In 2022, he starred with Mark Wahlberg in the comedy movie Me Time. The movie is about a dad who has a wild adventure with his friend during a rare free weekend.
In January 2024, Kevin starred as a master thief in the Netflix comedy heist film Lift. A month later, he appeared on The Masked Singer as "Book." He purposely unmasked himself as a prank on the host, Nick Cannon.
Future Projects
In 2019, Kevin Hart agreed to star in and produce a movie based on the game Monopoly. As of June 2023, the Monopoly movie is still being developed.
Laugh Out Loud Productions
In 2017, Kevin Hart started Laugh Out Loud (LOL). This is a global media and production company that helps new comedy talents from all backgrounds. Kevin became the main owner in 2019. LOL creates content for many platforms, including digital, audio, and live events. It has four main parts: LOL Network, LOL Studios, LOL Audio, and LOL X!
Kevin has worked hard to expand LOL's reach. He has made deals with companies like PlutoTV, Roku, Snap, Facebook, Peacock, and YouTube. In 2020, he also extended his company's agreement with Sirius XM. LOL has won many awards and nominations, including from the Producers Guild of America and the Webby.
LOL is known for shows like Cold As Balls, What the Fit, and Die Hart. It has had over 1 billion video views across its digital platforms. LOL and Kevin's other production company, Hartbeat Productions, joined together in April 2022 to form a new company called Hartbeat.
Hosting Gigs
Besides acting, Kevin Hart has also hosted many events. He first hosted the 2011 BET Awards. Then, he hosted the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards after his friend Judd Apatow suggested him. Kevin hoped this would lead to more hosting jobs, like the Emmys or Oscars. From 2013 to 2015, he hosted three episodes of Saturday Night Live. In 2015, Kevin hosted the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber. In 2016, he co-hosted the 2016 MTV Movie Awards with Dwayne Johnson.
In September 2018, Kevin Hart hosted HQ Trivia with Scott Rogowsky and gave away $100,000 to one lucky winner.
On December 4, 2018, Kevin was announced as the host of the 2019 Academy Awards. However, he decided not to host a few days later. On January 8, Kevin confirmed he would not be hosting. The ceremony ended up being held without a host that year.
In September 2020, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announced that Kevin Hart would host their yearly telethon. This event raises money for people with muscular dystrophy. The two-hour telethon, called The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon, was held on October 24, 2020, and was shown on social media platforms.
In 2024, Kevin hosted the Netflix special The Roast of Tom Brady.
Music Career
Kevin Hart also has a music alias called Chocolate Droppa. Under this name, he signed with Motown Records. He released Kevin Hart: What Now? (The Mixtape Presents Chocolate Droppa), which was the soundtrack for his stand-up film. He released singles like "Push It On Me" with Trey Songz and "Baller Alert" with Migos & T.I.
Modeling
In 2017, Kevin Hart and Tommy John appeared in an underwear commercial for Macy's.
Hart House Restaurants
In August 2022, Kevin Hart opened a vegan restaurant called Hart House. He wanted it to compete with regular fast-food chains by offering tasty plant-based options. The first restaurant opened in Los Angeles, California. It had a simple menu of veggie burgers and "Chick'n" products. The food at Hart House is said to be free of cholesterol, antibiotics, hormones, artificial colors, and other unhealthy ingredients. This was inspired by Kevin's own healthy lifestyle.
Kevin opened a second location in Monrovia, California, in November 2022. A third opened on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, in May 2023, and a fourth near the University of Southern California campus in June 2023. All locations closed down in September 2024.
Influences on His Comedy
Kevin Hart has said that many famous comedians have influenced his work. Some of these include George Carlin, Dave Chappelle, Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld.
Kevin Hart's Personal Life
Kevin Hart married Torrei Skipper in 2003. They divorced in 2011, and Kevin asked for joint custody of their two children, a daughter born in 2005 and a son born in 2007.
On August 18, 2014, Kevin got engaged to Eniko Parrish. They were married on August 13, 2016, near Santa Barbara, California. They have two children together: a son born in 2017 and a daughter born in 2020.
Kevin is also a big poker player and has played in major tournaments like the World Series of Poker. He even became a Brand Ambassador for PokerStars in 2017, appearing in their ads with Usain Bolt.
Kevin Hart is a Christian and often talks about his faith.
Injuries
On September 1, 2019, Kevin Hart was a passenger in a car accident near Calabasas, California. The car went off the road and rolled down a hill. He and the driver had serious back injuries. Kevin was released from the hospital 10 days later and continued his recovery at a rehabilitation center.
On August 23, 2023, Kevin Hart raced against a former National Football League player, Stevan Ridley. During the race, Kevin tore muscles in his lower abdomen. He needed a wheelchair to recover and later joked that he was "the dumbest man alive" and that "the age 40 is real," advising others not to race like he did.
Height
Kevin Hart's height has often been a topic of discussion. Different sources have listed him between 5'2" and 5'5". In an interview in April 2024, Kevin clarified his actual height. He said, "I'm 5-foot-5, like with a shoe on, like a sneaker. Now, if I put a boot on, I can get to 5'5" and a half." Kevin often uses humor about his height in his stand-up comedy shows.
Work
Discography
- Kevin Hart: What Now? (The Mixtape Presents Chocolate Droppa) (2016)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2002 | Paper Soldiers | Shawn | |
2003 | Scary Movie 3 | CJ | |
Death of a Dynasty | Various Roles | ||
2004 | Along Came Polly | Vic | |
Soul Plane | Nashawn Wade | ||
2005 | The 40-Year-Old Virgin | Smart Tech Customer | |
In the Mix | Busta | ||
2006 | Scary Movie 4 | CJ | |
The Last Stand | F Stop/G Spot | ||
2007 | Epic Movie | Silas | |
2008 | Fool's Gold | Bigg Bunny | |
Drillbit Taylor | Pawn Shop Dealer | ||
Superhero Movie | Trey | ||
Meet Dave | Number 17 | ||
Extreme Movie | Barry | ||
2009 | Not Easily Broken | Tree | |
2010 | Death at a Funeral | Brian | |
Little Fockers | Nurse Louis | ||
Something Like a Business | JoJo | ||
2011 | 35 and Ticking | Cleavon | |
Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain | Himself | Stand-up film | |
Let Go | Kris Styles | ||
2012 | Think Like a Man | Cedric | |
Exit Strategy | Mannequin Head Man | ||
The Five-Year Engagement | Doug | ||
2013 | This Is the End | Himself | |
Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain | Himself | Stand-up film | |
Grudge Match | Dante Slate Jr. | ||
2014 | Ride Along | Ben Barber | |
About Last Night | Bernie | ||
Think Like a Man Too | Cedric | ||
School Dance | OG Pretty Lil' Thug | ||
Top Five | Charles | ||
2015 | The Wedding Ringer | Jimmy Callahan/Bic Mitchum | |
Get Hard | Darnell Lewis | ||
2016 | Ride Along 2 | Ben Barber | |
Central Intelligence | Calvin Joyner | ||
The Secret Life of Pets | Snowball (voice) | ||
Kevin Hart: What Now? | Himself | Stand-up film | |
2017 | Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie | George Beard (voice) | |
The Upside | Dell Scott | ||
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle | Franklin "Mouse" Finbar | ||
2018 | Night School | Teddy Walker | |
2019 | The Secret Life of Pets 2 | Snowball (voice) | |
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw | Air Marshall Dinkley | ||
Jumanji: The Next Level | Franklin "Mouse" Finbar | ||
2021 | Fatherhood | Matt Logelin | |
The One and Only Dick Gregory | Himself | ||
2022 | The Man from Toronto | Teddy | |
DC League of Super-Pets | Ace the Bat-Hound (voice) | ||
Me Time | Sonny | ||
2023 | Back on the Strip | Uptight Dad | |
2024 | Lift | Cyrus Whittaker | |
Borderlands | Roland |
Television Roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2002–2003 | Undeclared | Luke | 3 episodes |
2004 | The Big House | Kevin | 6 episodes |
Comedy Central Presents | Himself | Episode: "Kevin Hart" | |
2005 | Barbershop | James Ricky | 3 episodes |
2005–2006 | Jake in Progress | Nugget Dawson | 2 episodes |
2006 | Help Me Help You | Kevin | Episode: "Raging Bill" |
Love, Inc. | James | 2 episodes | |
2007 | All of Us | Greg | Episode: "The B-R-E-A-K-U-P" |
Wild 'n Out | Various | 21 episodes | |
2009 | Party Down | Dro Grizzle | Episode: "Taylor Stiltskin Sweet Sixteen" |
Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire | Zezelryck | 6 episodes | |
Kevin Hart: I'm a Grown Little Man | Himself | Stand-up special | |
2010 | Kevin Hart: Seriously Funny | Himself | Stand-up special |
2011–2012 | Modern Family | Andre | 2 episodes |
2011 | BET Awards 2011 | Himself (host) | TV special |
2012 | Workaholics | Kevin | Episode: "To Kill a Chupacabraj" |
2012 MTV Video Music Awards | Himself (host) | TV special | |
2013–2016; 2022 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Himself | 60 episodes; also co-creator, writer, executive producer |
2013 | Second Generation Wayans | Himself | Episode: "The Arrival" |
2013–2017 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | 3 episodes |
2015 | Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber | Himself (host) | TV special |
2016 | 2016 MTV Movie Awards | Himself (co-host) | TV special |
2018 | TKO: Total Knock Out | Himself (host) | 10 episodes; also executive producer |
2019 | Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History | Himself | TV special; also executive producer |
Kevin Hart: Don't F**k This Up | Himself | 6 episodes; also executive producer | |
Kevin Hart: Irresponsible | Himself | Stand-up special | |
2020–present | Die Hart | Himself / Doug Eubanks | 25 episodes; also executive producer |
2020 | Kevin Hart: Zero F**ks Given | Himself | Stand-up special |
2021 | Dave | Himself | Episode: "Dave"; also executive producer |
True Story | Kid | 7 episodes; also executive producer | |
Live in Front of a Studio Audience | Arnold Drummond | Episode: "Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life" | |
2021–present | Hart to Heart | Himself (host) | Also creator and executive producer |
2023 | Kevin Hart: Reality Check | Himself | Stand-up special |
2024 | The Roast of Tom Brady | Himself (host) | Main host |
Abbott Elementary | Himself | Episode: "Mother's Day" | |
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist | Chicken Man | Miniseries, also executive producer | |
Secret Level | Buddibot (voice) | Episode: "Playtime: Fullfillment" |
Music Videos
Year | Song | Artist | Role |
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2004 | "Lean Back" | Terror Squad featuring Fat Joe and Remy Ma | Himself |
2007 | "Get Buck in Here" | DJ Felli Fel featuring Diddy, Akon, Ludacris and Lil Jon | Himself |
2011 | "Booty Wurk (One Cheek at a Time)" | T-Pain | Himself |
2012 | "Think Like a Man" | Jennifer Hudson and Ne-Yo featuring Rick Ross | Himself |
2014 | "Can You Do This" | Aloe Blacc | Jimmy Callahan |
2016 | "Push it On Me" | Trey Songz | Chocolate Droppa |
2017 | "Jumanji Jumanji" | Nick Jonas and Jack Black | Himself |
2018 | "Kevin's Heart" | J. Cole | Himself |
2019 | "Earth" | Lil Dicky | Kanye West |
2024 | "AMP Freshman Cypher" | Kai Cenat | Himself |
Comedy Tours
- What Now? Tour (2015–2016)
- Irresponsible Tour (2017–2018)
- Reality Check Tour (2022–2023)
- Acting My Age (2024–present)
Awards and Nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
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2004 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Breakout TV Star – Male | The Big House | Nominated | |
2005 | Black Entertainment Television (BET) Comedy Award | Platinum Mic Viewers' Choice | |||
2012 | BET Awards | Best Actor | Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain | Won | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie: Male Scene Stealer | Think Like a Man | Nominated | ||
Choice Movie Hissy Fit | |||||
2014 | BET Awards | Best Actor | Ride Along, Real Husbands of Hollywood, About Last Night | ||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Won | ||
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | |||||
Entertainer of the Year | |||||
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Funny Star | Grudge Match | |||
MTV Movie Awards | Best Comedic Performance | Ride Along | Nominated | ||
Best On-Screen Duo (with Ice Cube) | |||||
Acalpulco Black Film Festival | Artist of the Year | Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, This Is the End, Grudge Match | Won | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Reality Show | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Nominated | ||
Choice Movie Actor: Comedy | Ride Along | Won | |||
Choice Movie: Chemistry (with Ice Cube) | Nominated | ||||
Choice Movie: Hissy Fit | |||||
Choice Comedian | Won | ||||
2015 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Nominated | |
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | |||||
MTV Movie Awards | Best Comedic Performance | The Wedding Ringer | |||
Comedic Genius Award | Won | ||||
BET Awards | Best Actor | The Wedding Ringer, Think Like a Man Too, Real Husbands of Hollywood and Top Five | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Comedian | ||||
2016 | Billboard Touring Awards | Top Comedy Tour | Won | ||
People's Choice Awards | Favorite Comedic Movie Actor | The Wedding Ringer | |||
Favorite Cable TV Comedy | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Nominated | |||
Favorite Cable TV Actor | Won | ||||
MTV Movie Awards | Best Comedic Performance | Ride Along 2 | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actor: Comedy | ||||
Choice Movie: Hissy Fit | |||||
Choice Comedian | |||||
Choice Twit | |||||
Choice Movie Actor: Summer | Central Intelligence | Won | |||
2017 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Movie Actor | Nominated | ||
Favorite Comedic Movie Actor | Won | ||||
Favorite Cable TV Comedy | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Nominated | |||
Favorite Cable TV Actor | |||||
Favorite Comedic Collaboration (shared with Conan O'Brien and Ice Cube) | Conan | ||||
Favorite Animated Movie Voice | The Secret Life of Pets | ||||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Real Husbands of Hollywood | |||
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – (Television or Film) | The Secret Life of Pets | ||||
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie | ||||
Favorite Villain | Won | ||||
Most Wanted Pet | |||||
Best Friends Forever (shared with Dwayne Johnson) | Central Intelligence | ||||
Best Friends Forever (shared with Ice Cube) | Ride Along 2 | Nominated | |||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Comedian | ||||
2018 | Grammy Awards | Best Comedy Album | Kevin Hart: What Now? | ||
Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Voice Performance | Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie | |||
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Movie Actor | Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle | |||
MTV Movie Awards | Best On-Screen Team (shared with Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Nick Jonas) | ||||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actor – Comedy | ||||
Choice Comedian | |||||
People's Choice Awards | The Comedy Act of 2018 | Won | |||
2019 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Comedy Movie Acto | Night School | Nominated | |
Choice Comedian | |||||
2020 | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Movie Actor | Jumanji: The Next Level | ||
Favorite Male Voice from an Animated Movie | The Secret Life of Pets 2 | ||||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program | Kevin Hart: Don't ... This Up | |||
2021 | Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | Die Hart | |||
2022 | Grammy Awards | Best Comedy Album | Zero ... Given | ||
2023 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | Die Hart 2: Die Harter | Nominated | |
2024 | The Streamer Awards | Best Streamed Collab (shared with Kai Cenat and Druski) | Sleepover Stream | Won | |
2025 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Supporting Actor | Borderlands | Pending |
See also
In Spanish: Kevin Hart para niños