Christopher Julius Rock III also known as just Chris Rock, was born in Andrews, South Carolina but was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, aka Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Rosalie, was a teacher and social worker for the mentally handicapped and his father, Julius Rock, was a former truck driver and newspaper deliveryman. Julius passed away in 1988 after ulcer surgery. As a kid, Rock was constantly bullied and beaten up by white kids because he was bussed to schools in predominately white neighborhoods of Brooklyn. The bullying got worse as Rock got older and his parents pulled him out of high school. Rock later dropped out of high school altogether but would later earn his GED. After dropping out, Rock worked menial jobs in fast-food restaurants. In 1984, Rock began doing stand-up comedy and quickly rose up the ranks earning a small role in the 1988 parody I’m Gonna Get You Sucka and a bit part on the 1980s hit crime show Miami Vice. Upon seeing Rock’s act at a nightclub, comedian Eddie Murphy befriended Rock, saw his potential and cast him in a small role in Murphy’s 1987 movie Beverly Hills Cop II. In 1990, Rock became a cast member on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live and he and fellow new castmates Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and David Spade became known as the Bad Boys of SNL. Rock left SNL in 1993, but his tenure there had garnered him massive exposure. Since leaving, he has done multiple HBO comedy specials, won three Emmy Awards and starred in numerous successful movies. In honor of his 49th birthday, here is a Top 10 list of Chris Rock movies.
10. Beverly Hills Cop II: This 1987 action comedy had Eddie Murphy reprising his role as Detroit cop Axel Foley, who reunites with Beverly Hills detectives Billy Rosewood, played by Judge Reinhold and John Taggart, played by John Ashton, to stop a robbery/gun-running gang. This was Rock’s first movie role and though it he had only a few lines, he made quite an impression as the dumbfounded valet guy outside of the Playboy mansion. Murphy cast Rock after seeing his stand-up act. So, we have Murphy to thank for the comedic force that is Chris Rock!
9. CB4: This 1993 musical comedy follows a fictional rap group named 'CB4', who are named after the prison block in which the group was allegedly formed (Cell Block 4.) The movie parodied several rap groups of the time and the gangsta rap mentality in general. Halle Berry, the late Eazy-E, Ice-T, Ice Cube and Flavor Flav all made short appearances in the movie. Rock co-starred with Allen Payne, Deezer D, Chris Elliott, fellow SNL cast member, the late Phil Hartman, Isaac Hayes, Tommy Davison and future Newsradio star Khandi Alexander. The movie received mixed reviews from critics.
8. Boomerang: Eddie Murphy also starred in this 1992 romantic comedy with Rock playing yet another small role. Here, Rock played Bony T, a kid who worked at the advertising agency Murphy’s character works at. Rock’s brash portrayal of this low-level employee was just another minor glimpse into his tremendous talent as a comedian.
7. Head of State: This 2003 comedy had Rock playing a candidate for the office of the President of the United States. Rock played Mays Gilliam, an alderman of the 9th Ward in Washington D.C. After being fired from his post and dumped by his girlfriend, Mays is surprisingly chosen as the party candidate for the presidency (after his party's original presidential and vice-presidential nominees die when their two separate planes crash into each other) to run against sitting vice-president. Co-starring the late Bernie Mac, Dylan Baker, Lynn Whitfield, Robin Givens, James Rebhorn and Stephanie March, Rock does a fantastic job of playing those who think they are playing him right back and the laughter never stops!
6. Death at a Funeral: This 2010 black comedy was a remake of the 2007 British film of the same name. The film revolved around the funeral of Rock’s character, Aaron’s, father. Co-starring Peter Dinklage (the only actor returning from the original,) Loretta Devine, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Martin Lawrence, James Marsden, Zoe Saldana and Luke Wilson, hilarity ensues when Dinklage’s character, Frank, reveals to Aaron that his father and him were lovers and threatens to show Aaron’s mother photographic proof unless he’s paid $30,000. The humor just goes sky high as everyone tries to keep the truth from Aaron’s mother. Rock played it both calm and collected and downright hilarious as he tries to keep the funeral going.
5. Grown Ups: This 2010 buddy comedy had Rock surrounded by many of his fellow SNL castmates like Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Colin Quinn, Maya Rudolph, Tim Meadows and Norm Macdonald. Rock played Kurt McKenzie, who reunites with his childhood friends (Sandler, Schneider, Spade and The King of Queens Kevin James) for the funeral of their grade school basketball coach. Everyone brings their wives and children and they all decide to rent a cabin and reminisce and that’s when secrets come out and the hijinks begins! Seeing Rock on-screen with his ex-SNL castmates was a comedic highpoint as the situations they got themselves into were nothing short of outrageous!
4. Down to Earth: This 2001 comedy was the third film adaptation based on Harry Segall's stage play Heaven Can Wait, preceded by 1941’s Here Comes Mr. Jordan and 1978’s Heaven Can Wait. Co-starring Regina King, Frankie Faison, Eugene Levy, Chazz Palminteri, Jennifer Coolidge, Greg Germann and John Cho. Rock played struggling comedian Lance Barton, who is killed before his time so he’s put in the body of a wealthy white businessman, Charles Wellington III, until a more suitable body can be found. Rock’s shenanigans as he retains Barton’s memories and personality, but must pretend to be Wellington because that’s who everyone else sees including Sontee Jenkins (King,) who Barton was distracted by which caused him to be killed by the semi. Rock’s character’s attempts at winning Sontee’s heart as an arrogant rich white guy were endearing and made this one remake fans of Rock loved.
3. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: This 2008 animated family comedy was a sequel to the immensely popular 2005 animated film Madagascar. Rock again voiced the zany Marty, the Zebra. In this installment, Alex, the Lion (voiced again by Ben Stiller, Marty, Gloria, the Hippo (voiced again by Jada Pinkett-Smith) and Melman, the Giraffe (voiced again by Friends alum David Schwimmer, crash land in Africa in their attempt to return to New York and Alex is reunited with his parents. Poignancy and laughter filled the movie as we see Alex reunite with his parents after he was separated from them and taken away by hunters as a cub. Rock, as always, provided the comic-relief with hilarious jokes and off-the-wall antics. This foursome again made animated movie magic with this fun-loving film.
2. Madagascar: This 2005 smash animated family comedy had four Hollywood stars voicing zoo animals from New York’s Central Park Zoo, who somehow end up in the African country of Madagascar. Rock voiced the animated zebra named Marty, who yearned to roam free outside the walls of the zoo. When he escapes, his three friends, Alex, the Lion (Stiller,) Gloria, the Hippo (Pinkett-Smith) and Melman, the giraffe (Friends alum Schwimmer, follow him as he ends up in the faraway land of Madagascar. Moviegoers couldn’t get enough of the wacky spots the four friends ended up in and the movie’s success has spawned two sequels, spin-off TV series and who knows what else?
1. Lethal Weapon 4: Rock joined the hysterical crime comedy duo of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in this 1998 fourth installment of this super popular movie franchise. Directed yet again by Richard Donner, Rock played Detective Lee Butters, who secretly impregnates and marries Murtaugh’s (Glover’s) eldest daughter. Butters joins Riggs (Gibson) and Murtaugh in trying to take down a Chinese drug lord and safeguard an illegal Chinese family, all while also dealing with their numerous personal problems. Co-starring Rene Russo and Joe Pesci again, this installment added gifted martial artist Jet Li, as Wah Sing Ku, a ruthless Chinese Triad, who goes up against Riggs and Murtaugh by threatening their families in order to get what he wants. Rock’s singular wit supplemented the unique comedic stylings of Gibson and Glover. This threesome, of course, saved the day, and Rock was the perfect addition to the end of an era in this culmination of the popular movie franchise.