Chris Tucker
Christopher "Chris" Tucker (born August 31, 1971) is an American actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour trilogy and Smokey in the 1995 film Friday. Tucker was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the youngest son of Mary Louise and Norris Tucker. Tucker was raised in Decatur, Georgia. After graduating from Columbia High School, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy and movies. In 1992, Tucker was a frequent performer on Def Comedy Jam. He made his cinematic debut in House Party 3, and gained greater film recognition alongside rapper Ice Cube in the 1995 film Friday. In 1997, he co-starred with Charlie Sheen in Money Talks, and alongside Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element. Tucker did not reprise his role of Smokey in Next Friday (2000) because he had become a born-again Christian after filming Money Talks (1997).He later starred in the 1998 martial arts action comedy Rush Hour and its sequels, Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3, in which he played James Carter, an abrasive wise-cracking detective. Tucker is good friends with fellow Rush Hour star Jackie Chan, and was also close friends with the late singer Michael Jackson, introducing and dancing with him at his 30th Anniversary Special, appearing in Jackson's video "You Rock My World" from his 2001 album Invincible and attending Jackson's memorial service. A friend of Bill Clinton, Tucker has traveled with the former President overseas, though he endorsed Barack Obama rather than Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primaries. On February 13, 2009, Tucker participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend's Celebrity Game.
Acting
Movie
Silver Linings Playbook
as Danny McDaniels
2012
Movie
The Fifth Element
as Ruby Rhod
1997
Movie
Jackie Brown
as Beaumont Livingston
1997
Movie
Rush Hour
as Carter
1998
Movie
Rush Hour 2
as James Carter
2001
Movie
Rush Hour 3
as James Carter
2007
Movie
Air
as Howard White
2023
Movie
Friday
as Smokey
1995
Movie
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
as Albert
2016
TV
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
as Himself (archive footage)
2020
Movie
Money Talks
as Franklin Hatchett
1997
TV
Roseanne
1988
Movie
Dead Presidents
as Skip
1995
TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self - Guest
2003
Movie
The Meteor Man
as MC in Mall (uncredited)
1993
Movie
The Meteor Man
as Mall MC
1993
TV
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
as Self
2003
TV
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
as Self - Guest
1993
TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
as Self
2014
Movie
Chris Tucker: Live
as Himself
2015
TV
The Kelly Clarkson Show
as Self
2019
Movie
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
as Self
2001
Movie
House Party 3
as Johnny Booze
1994
TV
aka Charlie Sheen
as Self
2025