Although he was born in Andrews, South Carolina, Chris Rock grew up in the Bedford- Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. He entered the world on February 7, 1965, the eldest of seven children. His father, Julius Rock, was a truck driver by profession who died in 1989. He was a strict disciplinarian who demanded respect and unquestioned obedience from all of his offspring.
His teen years were rough, and much of his comedy is rooted in these difficult years. His strict parents, meaning well and concerned about the quality of the neighborhood schools, and him bussed to an almost all-white high school in Bensonhurst, an area not widely celebrated for its ethnic diversity and race relations. He had several brushes with the law, having been arrested four times; thrice for traffic violations including driving “too slow” and without benefit of a license, and once for vehicular assault on a youth who had robbed him.
His career in stand-up comedy began more than a decade ago, and he made his screen debut in “Beverly Hills Cop II” in 1987 after Eddie Murphy discovered him. From 1990-1993, Rock was a cast member of the popular sketch comedy series,”Saturday Night Live.” Here, he gained much national exposure with his Nat X character, even though he did not appear every week. In the spring of 1993, due cast turnovers, he was fired from “Saturday Night Live.” He then began to concentrate on a career in film, but found the parts were few and far between. He returned to stand-up comedy, determined to succeed.
Chris Rock has been married for the last ten years to Malaak Compton-Rock, who is the founder and executive director of StyleWorks, a non-profit, full-service beauty salon for women leaving welfare and entering the workforce. They have two daughters, Lola Simone and Zahra Savannah. The Rocks still live in Brooklyn, New York, and Chris is currently doing commercials for Nike and 1-800 Collect.
His career is on full swing with no holds barred.
What are some of YOUR favorite Chris Rock routines?
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