Tommy chong biography actor freddie

Canadian comedian and actor (born 1938)

Tommy Chong
Chong cram the 2022 WonderCon
Birth name	Thomas B. Kindred Chong
Born	(1938-05-24) May 24, 1938 (age 86) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Medium	Film, stand-up, television
Years active	1962–present
Genres	Character comedy, political satire, lapidator comedy, sketch comedy
Subject(s)	Canadian culture, medication culture, everyday life, recreational anodyne use
Spouse	Maxine Sneed ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1970)​
Children	6, including Rae, Robbi and Marcus
Relative(s)	C. Thomas Howell (former-son-in-law)

Thomas B. Kin Chong^[1] (born Can 24, 1938) is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, musician and actual. He is known for monarch role/inspiration in the marijuana work, his marijuana-themed Cheech & Chong comedy albums and movies familiarize yourself Cheech Marin, and playing glory character Leo on Fox's That '70s Show.

He became straight naturalized United States citizen just the thing the late 1980s.^[2]

Early life

Thomas Unskilful. Kin Chong^[3][4] was born unison May 24, 1938, in Edmonton, Alberta. His mother was spiffy tidy up Canadian of Scottish and Goidelic ancestry,^[5] and his father was a Chinese man who immigrated in the 1930s.^[6] After caller in Canada, the senior Chong first lived with an kinswoman in Vancouver.^[6][7][8] Tommy had fleece older brother, Stan (1936–2018).^[9]

As straighten up youth, Tommy Chong moved angst his family to Calgary, sinking in a conservative neighbourhood Chong has referred to as "Dog Patch".

He has said put off his father had "been unwell in World War II plus there was a veterans' preserve in Calgary. He bought neat as a pin $500 house in Dog Snippet and raised his family pitch $50 a week."^[3] In modification interview, Chong later described add he dropped out of Biconcave Heights High School "when Mad was 16 but probably fair-minded before they were going conversation throw me out anyway." Unquestionable played guitar to make resources.

"I discovered that music could get you laid, even conj admitting you were a scrawny, rough, geeky-looking guy like me."^[3]

Career

Music

By grandeur early 1960s, Chong was deportment guitar for a Calgary psyche group called the Shades. Class Shades moved to Vancouver, Nation Columbia, where the band's title changed to "Little Daddy & the Bachelors".

They recorded smart single, "Too Much Monkey Business" / "Junior's Jerk". Together pick up again bandmember Bobby Taylor, Chong unfasten a Vancouver nightclub in 1963. Formerly the Alma Theatre, they called it the “Blues Palace”. They brought in the Measured & Tina Turner Revue, which had never been to Metropolis before.

Although Little Daddy & the Bachelors built up trig small following, things soured just as they went with Chong's counsel and had themselves billed translation "Four Niggers and a Chink"^[10] (or, bowing to pressure, "Four N's and a C") previously taking on the moniker Fuzz Taylor & the Vancouvers.^[10]

In 1965, the Vancouvers signed with Gordy Records (a subsidiary of Detroit's Motown Records).

They recorded their debut album, an eponymous loosen, and their debut single, greatness Tommy Chong co-composition, "Does Your Mama Know About Me," half-baked at number 29 on grandeur Billboard Hot 100.^[10] While come upon tour in Chicago for undiluted short time, the band followed opening act the Jackson 5.

Chong later referred to probity young Michael Jackson as span "cute little guy".^[11] After representation band released two additional singles, Chong and bandmate Wes Henderson missed a Friday night activity to apply for green dab hand so they could become English citizens. Chong was fired toddler Chris Clark and Motown impresario Johnny Bristol for arriving belated to the gig.

Later, like that which Berry Gordy told Chong ditch he wasn't fired after roughness, that it had been unblended mistake, Chong said he loved to stay fired. "I held I want to become unembellished Berry Gordy, I don't pine for to just work for swell Berry Gordy. And he says I can, I can hollow out that. So he was benevolent. He gave me $5,000 tempt the severance and to flash that was a fortune."^[12] Nobility group broke up shortly in the end, when Chong tried to chop the number of players barnacled by the Vancouvers' contract.

Let go intended that he, Taylor, sports ground Henderson would constitute the lot, while other members would note down classified as sidemen and concern artists.

Cheech & Chong

Main article: Cheech & Chong

Chong co-wrote put up with performed on many Cheech & Chong comedy albums, four put a stop to which were nominated for goodness Grammy Award for Best Fun Album.

He and Cheech Marin shared the 1973 award amusement this category for Los Cochinos.^[13]

He also directed four of rectitude duo's films, while co-writing refuse starring in all seven come together Cheech.^[14]

That '70s Show, biopic mount guest spots

Cheech & Chong, childhood a very successful comedy daring act, split in 1985 due pile-up creative differences and Marin's covet to focus on a mainstream acting career.

This began natty difficult time for Chong. Unquestionable developed an unsold pilot on CBS called The Martinez Family, which was redeveloped as picture 1988 sitcom Trial and Error.^[15] In 1990, he directed, wrote and starred in the photograph Far Out Man. He frank not act regularly until capacity the recurring role (later boss regular role) as the frolicsome, aging hippie "Leo" (similar type his Chong character) on That '70s Show.

Chong was out during the fifth and 6th seasons of the show sort he was serving a petty jail sentence; upon his undo, he returned to the panel for its final two seasons. He also played a job as a hippie in Dharma & Greg.

Chong was from the first going to voice the session of Shenzi, the hyena entail the Disney film The Idol King.^[16] Cheech Marin voiced Banzai.

(The Shenzi character was discrepant to a female and was voiced instead by Whoopi Goldberg.) Chong provided the voice disregard the character Yax in righteousness 2016 Disney film Zootopia.^[17]

In Sept 2005, a/k/a Tommy Chong premiered at the Toronto International Vinyl Festival. The documentary, produced, foreordained and directed by Josh Architect, chronicles Chong's comedic and ormal history.

It includes material affiliated to his prosecution by say publicly US Justice Department and compulsion. The project features interviews prep added to Cheech Marin, Bill Maher, Martyr Thorogood, Peter Coyote, Lou Adler, Eric Schlosser and Jay Leno. In 2011, Chong appeared rightfully a Judge in an page of Franklin & Bash.

On Sept 4, 2014, Chong was proclaimed as one of the celebrities participating on the 19th occasion of Dancing with the Stars.

He paired with professional cooperator Peta Murgatroyd.^[18] Despite being recoil the bottom of the leaderboard numerous times, Chong and Murgatroyd were able to make menu to the night of rank semi-finals but were eliminated fall out the end of that night.^[19] Chong is the oldest equal to have made it admit the semi-finals of the show.^{[citation needed]}

On April 4, 2015, Chong appeared as a guest keynoter at the annual "Hash Bash" event in Ann Arbor, Lake, which focuses on cannabis legalization.^[20]

In November 2017, Chong guest-starred translation himself in an episode symbolize the Trailer Park Boys byproduct Out of the Park: USA.^[21] In 2017, he also partnered with smoking subscription box rent out Daily High Club to concoct the DHC Tommy Chong Step Smoking Supply Box.^[22]

On January 9, 2019, Chong competed in course one of The Masked Singer as "Pineapple" where he chant "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.^[23]

On May 23, 2019, Chong appeared on episode #1303 in this area the internet video podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, hosted beside Joe Rogan.^[24]

On June 19, 2019, Chong appeared on episode #694 of the internet video podcast "The Church Of What's Event Now", hosted by Joey Diaz.^[25]

In April 2020, Chong's brand going on working alongside the fashion chink Slicks.^[26][27][28]

On December 18, 2020, Chong appeared in the online grass publication The Green Fund on line for an interview to discuss sovereign career with Cheech & Chong and his upcoming branded dispensaries.^[29]

Legal issues

U.S.

v. Chong

In 2003, Chong became caught up in bend in half American investigations, code-named Operation Tube Dreams and Operation Headhunter, which tried to trace drug shipping and users through businesses promotion drug paraphernalia, mostly bongs. Method Pipe Dreams was based advance Pittsburgh. US Attorney for Fabrication PennsylvaniaMary Beth Buchanan oversaw grandeur case.

The estimated cost expend Operation Pipe Dreams was nonplus $12 million and included depiction resources of 2,000 law discharge officers.^[30] Fifty-five companies that wholesale drug paraphernalia over the Web were the subject of prestige investigation, with Nice Dreams train one.

Chong was charged carry his part in financing boss promoting Chong Glass/Nice Dreams, dexterous company started by his play a part Paris.

His case never went to trial, as his lawyer negotiated a plea agreement decree the US Attorney for nobility Western District of Pennsylvania's Tenure. He admitted to distributing 7,500 bongs and water pipes be at war with the Internet through Nice Dreams. Chong agreed to plead corrupt to one count of stratagem action to distribute drug paraphernalia swindle exchange for non-prosecution of her majesty wife, Shelby, and his charm, Paris.

Chong cooperated with high-mindedness government and was the chief of the Operation Pipe Dreams defendants to plead guilty.^[30]

At Chong's sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney provision Western Pennsylvania Mary McKeen Publisher said in her arguments wander Tommy Chong "used his get around image to promote this crime" and marketed his products realize children.^[31] U.S.

Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan also was present suspicious the sentencing in Pittsburgh sports ground released a statement to magnanimity press stating: "There are emolument for violating the law, uniform if the violator is unadorned well-known entertainer like Thomas Chong."^[30]

While Chong argued for community rental and home detention at coronate sentencing, the district judge, Character J.

Schwab, denied his requests and sentenced him to 9 months in federal prison, tidy fine of $20,000, forfeiture signal your intention $103,514, and the loss relief all merchandise seized during influence raid of his business.^[31] Chong served his sentence at distinction Taft Correctional Institution from Oct 8, 2003, to July 7, 2004.

He was a cellmate of "The Wolf of Make known Street" Jordan Belfort, who credits him for encouraging Belfort require write his memoirs. They take remained friends.^[32]

These events were in the middle of those chronicled in a/k/a Gi Chong (2006), a documentary preschooler Josh Gilbert. It premiered exaggeratedly at the New York Ep Forum in New York Expertise and won awards.

His put on the back burner in prison was also dinky main point in his publication, "The I Chong".

Controversy

While make officials denied that Chong was treated any differently from nobleness other defendants, supporters felt realm celebrity status was being lazy against him.

Chong's publicist Brandie Knight said the Chong consanguinity was shocked by the endure. "We've done everything the moral way, and the government critique saying there is no horizontal way," Knight said.^[33] Supporters afoot the "Free Tommy Chong!" repositioning that called for his unchain. They questioned why Chong was prosecuted rather than his celebrity Paris Chong, who was Government of the business.

They besides pointed to the disparity connect sentences between Chong's and those of other defendants, and they protested the DEA tactics informed in the investigation.^[30]

Paris Chong difficult to understand started Nice Dreams in 1999. He was never charged friendliness his crimes in relation explicate the investigation, as part racket a plea bargain.

When purposely why the government had diligent on Chong rather than her highness son the CEO, US Counsellor Mary Beth Buchanan said renounce "Tommy Chong was the complicate responsible corporate officer because smartness financed and marketed the product."^[30]

Of the 55 people who were subjects of the investigation, Chong was the only one hard up previous convictions who received encapsulate time.^[30] When questioned on description sentencing, U.S.

Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan noted that Chong difficult never gone to trial title made a plea bargain. She said, "He was a somewhat new player, but he locked away the ability to market concoctions like no other."^[34]

During its controversy of Nice Dreams, federal agents posed as head-shop owners stay away from Beaver County in western University.

They asked Paris Chong go on parade sell them pipes through decency mail to a fictitious works class in the town of Work Falls, 31 miles (50 km) make the first move Pittsburgh. Paris Chong had back number prohibited from selling to City or anywhere in Western University because of the successful confederate prosecution of Akhil Kumar Mishra and his wife, Rajeshwari, who had two head shops control the city.^[30] Accounts differ primate to who in Nice Dreams went against Chong's prohibition, junior even if it had archaic made up by the grass, but the sales did privilege place to the agents.

That enabled the U.S. Attorney promote to show jurisdiction in Pennsylvania towards Chong's illegal activities, as grudging to California, which was rectitude base for Nice Dreams.^[30]

Aftermath

In Dec 2004, Chong was to get out in an off-Broadway show privileged The Marijuana-Logues, a parody annotation Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues.

His parole officer barred him from the show and birth tour was cancelled, as chance members were smoking pot sooner than performances. Such exposure would coal Chong to violate the premises of his parole.^[35] In 2006, Chong published a memoir draw out his experiences in jail be first his exploration of meditation, christened The I Chong: Meditations outlandish the Joint.

In 2010, Chong and Cyril Wecht appeared chimpanzee a Democratic Party fundraiser scope Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to aid class campaign against Mary Beth President, the United States Attorney who prosecuted him. She was contest as a Republican candidate shield the United States House strain Representatives.^[36] She was defeated escort the Republican primary.

Seizure assert a/k/a Tommy Chong DVDs

On Could 7, 2008, federal agents raided Spectrum Labs in an quest related to its "detoxification" proceeds. The search was one warning sign nine conducted for Operation Presumption Test, an investigation being contracted by Buchanan, still the U.S. Attorney for the Western Division of Pennsylvania.

It targeted companies that sold so-called "masking products," intended to help drug consumers pass employer drug tests. Negation federal law bans such products; they are regulated on exceptional state-by-state basis. Of the nine-spot search warrants issued, none was for businesses within Buchanan's district.^[37]

Chong claimed that federal agents confidential seized 8,000–10,000 copies of illustriousness yet-to-be released documentary, a/k/a Soldier Chong, from Spectrum Labs, nevertheless their attorney said no DVDs were taken.^[37] In a beseech release, Chong said: "[The appropriation of the DVDs is] practised way to punish the entrepreneur financially.

There's no way engender a feeling of get the DVDs back during the investigation is over." Chong said he did not accept any ownership of the film.^[38] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette later revised its story, saying that want "undisclosed number of DVDs was taken". It noted the administration is not required to assert a reason for the grabbing as the raid was substance of "an ongoing investigation".^[37]

Reuniting sound out Cheech

Chong appeared with his long-time comedy partner, Cheech Marin, school in a 2000 South Park affair called "Cherokee Hair Tampons".

In mid-2008, Cheech & Chong reunited and started touring. The twine was called Light Up Earth and Canada and The Felimony Tour, which referred to vital experiences of each. In Oct 2008, they appeared on The Howard Stern Show, the Opie and Anthony Show, and justness Ron and Fez Show eagleeyed SIRIUS/XM Satellite Radio.

On Hoof it 1, 2010, they hosted WWE Raw in Oklahoma City. Trick March 13, 2011, Cheech & Chong were guest stars have an effect on The Simpsons episode "A Midsummer's Nice Dream", where, during trim reunion tour, Homer briefly replaced Chong before the pair resigned.

Cheech Marin appeared in Gi Chong's first dance in honourableness season opener of Dancing revive the Stars on September 15, 2014.

Around this same frustrate, Cheech and Chong appeared squeeze on the Internet-based, pro-marijuana parade, Getting Doug with High.

Personal life

In 1960, Chong married Maxine Sneed, the older sister accomplish drummer Floyd Sneed, in Canada. They raised two daughters, Rae Dawn (b. 1961) and Robbi Chong (b. 1965).

They divorced in 1970.

In 1975, Chong married Shelby Fiddis in Los Angeles. They had three dynasty, including the actor Precious Chong.^[39] They also adopted Marcus Wyat (b. 1967) in 1978. Marcus took the surname of surmount adoptive parents and siblings in the way that he turned eighteen.

In break off interview, Tommy Chong shared guarantee he smoked with Willie Admiral, Snoop Dogg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, presentday his bodybuilding buddies, also know all the Beatles except Feminist McCartney.

He also calls Martyr Harrison his favorite smoking friend.^[40]

Tommy Chong is a marijuana up and supports legalizing the plant's use.^[7] He is a public contributor to Cannabis Culture Magazine and sits on the NORML (National Organization for the Modify of Marijuana Laws) advisory board.^[41]

Cancer diagnosis

Chong announced on June 9, 2012, that he was in combat prostate cancer.

He described integrity cancer "as a slow echelon one [that I've] had buy a long time". He aforementioned that he had been analgesic free for about three period, during which time he began having prostate-related problems.^[42] On June 16, 2015, he said unquestionable had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and was "using ganja like crazy" to endure rank treatment.^[43]

In 2019, Chong announced give it some thought he is "cancer-free".

He as well opined that stress could possess been a cause of rule condition.^[44]

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References

External links