Tommy Chong

Photo of Tommy Chong

Biography

One-half of the popular counterculture comedy duo Cheech and Chong, Tommy Chong was a stand-up comic, actor and director whose stage and screen persona - a deeply narcotized but philosophical stoner, usually named "Man" - was the yin to Richard Marin's talkative, omnivorous "Cheech" in a series of Grammy-winning comedy albums and films. A native of Canada, Chong emerged from that country's rock music scene, but found success on the comedy …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, Music

Born

May 24, 1938

Career Milestones

Became a member of Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers

Co-founded The Shades, a rhythm and blues band

Formed City Works, an improvisational group that performed at his brother's Vancouver nightclub

Met Richard 'Cheech' Marin (who moved to Canada to avoid the draft) when Marin joined City Works

1968

Co-wrote "Does Your Mama Know About Me"

1968

Left the Vancouvers to perform improv work with Marin

1969

Formed the comedy duo Cheech and Chong; began playing Canadian and U.S. nightclubs; opened for rock bands (date approximate)

1971

Recorded comedy album Cheech & Chong; nominated for the 1971 Grammy for Best Comedy Recording

1978

Feature debut as co-screenwriter, songwriter and actor (with Marin), "Up in Smoke"; was also uncredited as director

1980

Feature directorial debut, "Cheech & Chong's Next Movie"; also acted and scripted with Marin

1983

Lived in Paris with wife Shelby

1985

Acted and performed a song for the Showtime cable TV special "Cheech and Chong Get Out of My Room"

1985

Reunited with Marin for a small but pivotal part in Martin Scorsese's "After Hours"

1986

Guest starred on the popular cop show "Miami Vice" (NBC)

1986

Producing debut, served as executive producer on the unsold sitcom pilot "The Family Martinez," starring Robert Beltran; also scripted

1988

Served as executive producer on short-lived CBS sitcom "Trial and Error"

1990

Wrote, directed, and starred in the comedy "Far Out Man"

1991

Began solo career with one-man comedy act

1999

Landed recurring role as Leo, a stoner on the Fox sitcom "That 70's Show"; promoted to series regular during 2000-2001 season

2003

Sentenced to nine months in federal prison and fined $20,000 for selling bongs and other drug paraphernalia over the Internet

2004

Performed live in "The Marijuana-Logues" at the Actors Playhouse in New York

2006

Co-starred in the stoner horror-comedy "Evil Bong"

2006

Featured in the documentary "a/k/a Tommy Chong"

2008

Reunited with Marin on a comedy tour

2010

Co-starred with Marin in the documentary based on their reunion tour "Hey Watch This"

Awards

1973

Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording