Rock, Chris (1966– )

US comedian and actor. He has been acclaimed for his raw humour and irreverent manner. As well as his film appearances, he hosted his own television comedy programmes and produced award-winning comedy shows. His TV appearances include the US comedy series Saturday Night Live (1990–93) and The Chris Rock Show (1997– ), and his films include Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), Nurse Betty (2000), and Head of State (2003).

Rock made his film debut in US actor Eddie Murphy's Beverly Hills Cop II (1987). His other films include I'm Gonna Get You Sucka (1988), New Jack City (1991), Sgt Bilko (1996), Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), Dogma (1999), and Bad Company (2002). Other television appearances include In Living Color (1993) and Bring in the Pain (1996, for which he received two Emmy Awards). His comedy albums include Born Suspect (1991), Roll with the New (1997), and Bigger and Blacker (1999).

Rock was born in Georgetown, South Carolina, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He started performing stand-up comedy at New York clubs during his teens. His comic material was influenced by his early experiences of racism as a black student in a school attended almost completely by white pupils. He was discovered by Eddie Murphy when Rock was 18 years old.