Marcus Chong facts for kids

Marcus Scott Chong (born July 8, 1967) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in popular movies and TV shows.

He played Miguel Mendez in the TV crime drama Street Justice (1991–1993). Marcus also played the real-life activist Huey P. Newton in the movie Panther (1995). One of his most famous roles was Tank in the science fiction movie The Matrix (1999).

Early life and Family

Marcus Chong was born in Seattle, Washington, on July 8, 1967. His biological father was African-American, and his mother was Chinese. His father, Martin Wyatt, worked as a sports reporter in San Francisco.

In 1978, Marcus was adopted by the famous comedian Tommy Chong and his wife, Shelby Chong.

Acting Career Highlights

Marcus Chong started acting when he was nine years old. His very first role was playing a young character named Frankie Warner. This was in the 1979 TV miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. He also appeared as a guest star on the classic TV show Little House on the Prairie.

Broadway and Early TV Roles

In 1990, Marcus acted in a Broadway play called Stand-Up Tragedy. Even though the play had a short run, his performance earned him an award. He received a 1991 Theatre World Award for his work.

In the early 1990s, Marcus had a regular role on the TV show Street Justice. He played the character Miguel Mendez from 1991 to 1993. Later, in 1994, he appeared in the action series Vanishing Son. In 1995, he was in the music video for the song "Temptations".

Major Film and Later TV Appearances

In 1999, Marcus Chong became widely known for his role as Tank in the hit movie The Matrix. This science fiction film was very popular.

Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, Marcus appeared in several popular TV shows. In 2001, he was in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also appeared in Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2002. Later, he had roles in Numb3rs (2009) and Burn Notice (2010).

His last major film role was in the 2005 movie The Crow: Wicked Prayer. After that, he appeared in a few short films. His last acting role was in 2013.

Film and Television Roles

Marcus Chong has appeared in many films and TV shows. Here are some of his notable roles:

Films

• 1978: Lady and the Tramp: A Lesson in Sharing Attention – Richard
• 1980: Cheech & Chong's Next Movie – Johnny
• 1991: Flight of Black Angel – 'Dragonfly'
• 1992: American Heart – Terry Cosmos
• 1995: Panther – Huey Newton
• 1999: The Matrix – Tank
• 2005: The Crow: Wicked Prayer – 'War'
• 2013: Not 4 Sale – Harry Belafonte (a short film)

Television Shows

• 1978: Little House on the Prairie – Samson
• 1979: Roots: The Next Generations – Frankie Warner (2 episodes)
• 1979: Dallas – Jimmy Monroe
• 1982: Diff'rent Strokes – Kid at the arcade
• 1991–1993: Street Justice – Miguel Mendez (24 episodes)
• 2001: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – Darrell Guan
• 2002: Law & Order: Criminal Intent – Johnny West
• 2009: Numb3rs – Jones
• 2010: Burn Notice – Caleb