Mark Curry (American actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Curry
Curry in 2008
Born	Marcus G. Curry (1961-06-01) June 1, 1961 (age 64) Oakland, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian host
Years active	1990–present
Known for	Mark Cooper – Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

Mark Curry, born Marcus G. Curry on June 1, 1961, is a famous American actor, comedian, and TV host. He is most known for playing Mark Cooper in the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. In this show, he played a former basketball player who became a teacher. The show aired from 1992 to 1997. Mark Curry also hosted It's Showtime at the Apollo in the early 1990s. Later, he starred in See Dad Run from 2012 to 2015. This was Nick at Nite's first original live-action family comedy.

Early Life and Education

Mark Curry was born in Oakland, California. He is the youngest of nine children in his family. He went to St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, California. Later, he studied at California State University, East Bay in Hayward, California. As a child, Mark was part of the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC). This is a local organization that helps young people.

Acting Career Highlights

Mark Curry's first acting job was in the 1991 movie Talkin' Dirty After Dark. He appeared in this film with actor Martin Lawrence.

Starring in Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

Mark Curry's biggest role came with the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. The show first aired in September 1992. He played the main character, Mark Cooper. Mark Cooper was a former NBA player. He then became a substitute teacher and gym coach. Hangin' with Mr. Cooper was very popular. It ran for five seasons and had over 100 episodes.

Other TV Shows and Movies

After Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Mark Curry appeared in many other shows. In 1994, he was a guest star on Living Single. He also appeared on Martin in 1997. Curry played Sergeant Easy, a funny driving instructor, on The Jamie Foxx Show.

He also had small roles in movies like Switchback (1997) and Armageddon (1998). In 2000, he had a recurring role on The Drew Carey Show. He played Robert Soulard, who was Drew Carey's boss. That same year, he hosted the game show Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. He also appeared on For Your Love with his former co-star, Holly Robinson Peete.

Mark Curry played the main scientist, Norton Ballard, in the Disney Channel Original Movie The Poof Point. In this movie, he worked again with Dawnn Lewis. She played his wife, Marigold, in Hangin' with Mr. Cooper.

Hosting and Reality TV

Curry hosted the PAX-TV show Animal Tails. He also hosted BET's Coming to the Stage in 2003. In 2004, he was on the reality show Celebrity Mole Yucatan. He finished in second place on that show.

Later Roles and Comedy Tours

In 2005, Curry appeared on Less than Perfect and Fat Actress. He also made a guest appearance on House of Payne in 2008. On November 30, 2008, he performed stand-up comedy. This was for The Comedy Festival Laffapalooza Special.

From 2009 to 2011, Mark Curry hosted FoxxHole Live for Jamie Foxx. In 2012, he joined the Royal Comedy Tour. He performed with other comedians like Sommore and Earthquake. He also appeared on The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

Curry starred in See Dad Run, a family sitcom on Nick at Nite. He played Marcus, a friend of Scott Baio's character. This show ran for three seasons. In 2014, he joined Sommore's Standing Ovation Comedy Tour. He also starred in the Bounce TV sitcom One Love. Since 2018, Mark Curry has regularly performed stand-up comedy. He often performs at the Hollywood Improv.

Music Video Appearances

Mark Curry has appeared in several music videos. He was in Too Short's music video for "I Ain't Trippin'". He also appeared in Bow Wow's video for "Take Ya Home". In that video, he played a dad trying to get his daughter a doll.

He was also in the 2002 song "Oakland Raiders" by the Oakland rap group Luniz. More recently, he was in the 2015 music video "Pulled Up" by Young Dolph. This video was a tribute to the movie "Coming to America."

Personal Life and Recovery

On May 17, 2007, Mark Curry was involved in an accident at home. An aerosol spray can exploded near a water heater. Mark was doing laundry at the time and was burned on over 20% of his body. This included his arm, back, and side. He spent many months recovering at his home.

In 2008, Mark Curry shared his recovery story on The Montel Williams Show. He talked about the challenges he faced. He also mentioned how his friends and fellow comedians, like Sinbad, helped him through this difficult time. His story showed his strength and determination to recover.

Filmography

Film

Television