Chris Tucker
Biography
Christopher "Chris" Tucker, born August 31 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American male actor and comedian. He is the youngest son of Mary Louise and Norris Tucker and was raised in Decatur, Georgia. After graduating from Columbia High School he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue comedy and film work. Tucker began appearing frequently on Def Comedy Jam in 1992 and made his cinematic debut in House Party 3. He achieved broader recognition playing Smokey in the 1995 film Friday alongside Ice Cube, and later portrayed Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour trilogy. In 1997 he co‑starred with Charlie Sheen in Money Talks. His acting credits total forty‑three according to TMDB.
Career overview
Christopher “Chris” Tucker, born on August 31 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American actor and comedian. He is the youngest son of Mary Louise and Norris Tucker and was raised in Decatur, Georgia. After completing his education at Columbia High School, Tucker relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy and film. His early work included frequent performances on the television series Def Comedy Jam in 1992, which helped him gain exposure in the comedy circuit.
Tucker made his cinematic debut with a role in House Party 3. The following year, he appeared in the 1995 comedy Friday, starring opposite rapper Ice Cube, a performance that increased his visibility in the film industry. He continued to build his film résumé with a co‑starring role alongside Charlie Sheen in the 1997 action comedy Money Talks. Tucker later achieved widespread recognition for his portrayal of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour trilogy, a series that solidified his status as a leading comedic actor. He is also well known for playing the character Smokey in Friday. Throughout his career, Tucker has been noted for his energetic comedic style and his contributions to both television and film comedy.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- aka Charlie Sheen (2025) as Self
- Air (2023) as Howard White
- Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy (2022) as Self
- Jackie Chan: Building an Icon (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020) as Himself (archive footage)
- Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016) as Albert
- Chris Tucker: Live (2015) as Himself
- Chris Tucker: Live (2015) Writer
- The 10 Faces of Michael Jackson (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- The Arsenio Hall Show (2013) as Self
- Silver Linings Playbook (2012) as Danny McDaniels
- Q: The Man (2009) as Self
- Rush Hour 3 (2007) as James Carter
- Making Rush Hour 3 (2007) as Self
- Live 8 (2005) as Self
- Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast (2005) as Self - Presenter
- America Beyond the Color Line (2004) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Rush Hour 2 (2001) as James Carter
- Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (2001) as Self
- Def Comedy Jam: All Stars 2 (2001) as Chris Tucker
- Diary (2000) as Self
- Def Comedy Jam, Vol. 7 (2000)
- Mark Twain Prize (1999) as Self
- A Piece of the Action: Behind the Scenes of Rush Hour (1999) as Self
- Rush Hour (1998) as Carter
- The Fifth Element (1997) as Ruby Rhod
- Jackie Brown (1997) as Beaumont Livingston
- Money Talks (1997) as Franklin Hatchett
- Money Talks (1997) Executive Producer
- Friday (1995) as Smokey
- Panther (1995) as Bodyguard
- Dead Presidents (1995) as Skip
- House Party 3 (1994) as Johnny Booze
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- The Meteor Man (1993) as MC in Mall (uncredited)
- The Meteor Man (1993) as Mall MC
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992) as Rapper
- Roseanne (1988)
- Today (1952) as Self
- Rush Hour 4 as Carter
- Jackie Chan: Down to Earth as Self