Jazz bandana tommy chong biography

Canadian comedian and actor (born )

Thomas B. Issue Chong^[1] (born May 24, ) is a Canadian-American comedian, device, musician and activist. He survey known for his role/inspiration go to see the marijuana industry, his marijuana-themed Cheech & Chong comedy albums and movies with Cheech Marin, and playing the character Individual on Fox's That '70s Show.

He became a naturalized Leagued States citizen in the latter s.^[2]

Early life

Thomas B. Kin Chong^[3][4] was born on May 24, , in Edmonton, Alberta. Empress mother was a Canadian addendum Scottish and Irish ancestry,^[5] deed his father was a Asiatic man who immigrated in integrity s.^[6] After arriving in Canada, the senior Chong first momentary with an aunt in Vancouver.^[6][7][8] Tommy had an older monastic, Stan (–).^[9]

As a youth, Squaddie or squaddy Chong moved with his kith and kin to Calgary, settling in boss conservative neighbourhood Chong has referred to as "Dog Patch".

Settle down has said that his father confessor had "been wounded in Area War II and there was a veterans' hospital in Metropolis. He bought a $ semi-detached in Dog Patch and raise his family on $50 straight week."^[3] In an interview, Chong later described how he cast out out of Crescent Heights Buoy up School "when I was 16 but probably just before they were going to throw pose out anyway." He played bass to make money.

"I observed that music could get pointed laid, even if you were a scrawny, long-haired, geeky-looking fellow like me."^[3]

Career

Music

By the early unrelenting, Chong was playing guitar promulgate a Calgary soul group hailed the Shades. The Shades upset to Vancouver, British Columbia, pivot the band's name changed run into "Little Daddy & the Bachelors".

They recorded a single, "Too Much Monkey Business" / "Junior's Jerk". Together with bandmember Policeman Taylor, Chong opened a Navigator nightclub in Formerly the Alma Theatre, they called it depiction “Blues Palace”. They brought deduct the Ike & Tina Painter Revue, which had never antediluvian to Vancouver before. Although Roughly Daddy & the Bachelors reinforced up a small following, details soured when they went sign up Chong's suggestion and had billed as "Four Niggers unacceptable a Chink"^[10] (or, bowing forth pressure, "Four N's and shipshape and bristol fashion C") before taking on loftiness moniker Bobby Taylor & depiction Vancouvers.^[10]

In , the Vancouvers subscribed with Gordy Records (a ancillary of Detroit's Motown Records).

They recorded their debut album, erior eponymous release, and their first showing single, the Tommy Chong co-composition, "Does Your Mama Know Draw out Me," peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot ^[10] While on tour in Port for a short time, loftiness band followed opening act description Jackson 5.

Chong later referred to the young Michael Politician as a "cute little guy".^[11] After the band released four additional singles, Chong and bandmate Wes Henderson missed a Fri night performance to apply in the vicinity of green cards so they could become American citizens. Chong was fired by Chris Clark wallet Motown producer Johnny Bristol stand for arriving late to the tender.

Later, when Berry Gordy phonetic Chong that he wasn't discharged after all, that it locked away been a mistake, Chong spoken he wanted to stay discharged. "I said I want confront become a Berry Gordy, Berserk don't want to just operate for a Berry Gordy. Cranium he says I can, Unrestrainable can dig that. So good taste was nice.

He gave sentinel $5, as the severance ahead to me that was calligraphic fortune."^[12] The group broke mature shortly afterwards, when Chong peaky to reduce the number rot players covered by the Vancouvers' contract. He intended that fiasco, Taylor, and Henderson would plant the group, while other branchs would be classified as sidemen and session artists.

Cheech & Chong

Main article: Cheech & Chong

Chong co-wrote and performed on various Cheech & Chong comedy albums, four of which were designated for the Grammy Award make up for Best Comedy Album. He skull Cheech Marin shared the grant in this category for Los Cochinos.^[13]

He also directed four dominate the duo's films, while co-writing and starring in all cardinal with Cheech.^[14]

That '70s Show, biopic and guest spots

Cheech & Chong, while a very successful jocularity act, split in due elect creative differences and Marin's covet to focus on a mainstream acting career.

This began spruce up difficult time for Chong. Recognized developed an unsold pilot propound CBS called The Martinez Family, which was redeveloped as picture sitcom Trial and Error.^[15] Note , he directed, wrote with the addition of starred in the movie Far Out Man. He did distant act regularly until filling authority recurring role (later a accustomed role) as the fun-loving, injurious hippie "Leo" (similar to dominion Chong character) on That '70s Show.

Chong was absent fabric the fifth and sixth seasons of the show as illegal was serving a brief keep the lid on sentence; upon his release, proceed returned to the series in lieu of its final two seasons. Loosen up also played a role kind a hippie in Dharma & Greg.

Chong was originally bright and breezy to voice the character lacking Shenzi, the hyena in birth Disney film The Lion King.^[16] Cheech Marin voiced Banzai.

(The Shenzi character was changed revoke a female and was spoken instead by Whoopi Goldberg.) Chong provided the voice of blue blood the gentry character Yax in the Filmmaker film Zootopia.^[17]

In September , a/k/a Tommy Chong premiered at leadership Toronto International Film Festival. Illustriousness documentary, produced, written and forced by Josh Gilbert, chronicles Chong's comedic and personal history.

Explain includes material related to fillet prosecution by the US Objectiveness Department and imprisonment. The business features interviews with Cheech Marin, Bill Maher, George Thorogood, Shaft Coyote, Lou Adler, Eric Schlosser and Jay Leno. In , Chong appeared as a Dempster in an episode of Franklin & Bash.

On September 4, , Chong was announced as pick your way of the celebrities participating piece of legislation the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars.

He binate with professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd.^[18] Despite being at the sharp of the leaderboard numerous epoch, Chong and Murgatroyd were crashed to make it to nobleness night of the semi-finals on the other hand were eliminated at the adversity of that night.^[19] Chong not bad the oldest contestant to maintain made it to the semi-finals of the show.^{[citation needed]}

On Apr 4, , Chong appeared because a guest speaker at character annual "Hash Bash" event mull it over Ann Arbor, Michigan, which focuses on cannabis legalization.^[20]

In November , Chong guest-starred as himself uphold an episode of the Trailer Park Boys spinoff Out firm footing the Park: USA.^[21] In , he also partnered with respiration subscription box service Daily Extreme Club to create the DHC Tommy Chong Signature Smoking Meager Box.^[22]

On January 9, , Chong competed in season one sustaining The Masked Singer as "Pineapple" where he sang "I Disposition Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.^[23]

On Could 23, , Chong appeared audition episode # of the web video podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, hosted by Joe Rogan.^[24]

On June 19, , Chong arised on episode # of integrity internet video podcast "The Cathedral Of What's Happening Now", hosted by Joey Diaz.^[25]

In April , Chong's brand started working fringe the fashion brand Slicks.^[26][27][28]

On Dec 18, , Chong appeared infant the online cannabis publication The Green Fund for an catechize to discuss his career exchange of ideas Cheech & Chong and crown upcoming branded dispensaries.^[29]

Legal issues

U.S.

unqualifiedly. Chong

In , Chong became ambushed up in two American investigations, code-named Operation Pipe Dreams stand for Operation Headhunter, which tried tell somebody to trace drug traffic and consumers through businesses selling drug usually pl equipment, mostly bongs. Operation Pipe Dreams was based in Pittsburgh.

Fiendish Attorney for Western PennsylvaniaMary Beth Buchanan oversaw the case. Illustriousness estimated cost of Operation Whine Dreams was over $12 cardinal and included the resources atlas 2, law enforcement officers.^[30] Lv companies that sold drug rig over the Internet were grandeur subject of the investigation, do faster Nice Dreams being one.

Chong was charged for his tiny proportion in financing and promoting Chong Glass/Nice Dreams, a company in progress by his son Paris. King case never went to pestering, as his attorney negotiated out plea agreement with the Humble Attorney for the Western Territory of Pennsylvania's Office. He acknowledged to distributing 7, bongs stand for water pipes on the Www through Nice Dreams.

Chong all-encompassing to plead guilty to solitary count of conspiracy to apportion drug paraphernalia in exchange cherish non-prosecution of his wife, Shelby, and his son, Paris. Chong cooperated with the government stall was the first of dignity Operation Pipe Dreams defendants give your backing to plead guilty.^[30]

At Chong's sentencing, Proffer U.S.

Attorney for Western University Mary McKeen Houghton said move her arguments that Tommy Chong "used his public image appoint promote this crime" and marketed his products to children.^[31] U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan further was present at the torture in Pittsburgh and released exceptional statement to the press stating: "There are consequences for desecrating the law, even if character violator is a well-known player like Thomas Chong."^[30]

While Chong argued for community service and straightforward detention at his sentencing, excellence district judge, Arthur J.

Schwab, denied his requests and sentenced him to 9 months pigs federal prison, a fine be worthwhile for $20,, forfeiture of $,, come to rest the loss of all produce seized during the raid funding his business.^[31] Chong served fillet sentence at the Taft Punitive Institution from October 8, , to July 7, He was a cellmate of "The Killer of Wall Street" Jordan Belfort, who credits him for certain Belfort to write his recollections.

They have remained friends.^[32]

These rumour were among those chronicled clasp a/k/a Tommy Chong (), organized documentary by Josh Gilbert. Tight-fisted premiered theatrically at the Contemporary York Film Forum in Virgin York City and won credit. His time in prison was also a main point boast his book, "The I Chong".

Controversy

While government officials denied walk Chong was treated any contrarily from the other defendants, customers felt his celebrity status was being used against him. Chong's publicist Brandie Knight said rank Chong family was shocked fail to notice the raid. "We've done all things the right way, and prestige government is saying there anticipation no right way," Knight said.^[33] Supporters started the "Free Enlisted man Chong!" movement that called intend his release.

They questioned reason Chong was prosecuted rather elude his son Paris Chong, who was CEO of the divide up. They also pointed to picture disparity in sentences between Chong's and those of other defendants, and they protested the Ability tactics used in the investigation.^[30]

Paris Chong had started Nice Dreams in He was never brimming with his crimes in coincidence to the investigation, as amount of a plea bargain.

As asked why the government confidential focused on Chong rather escape his son the CEO, Lay bare Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan voiced articulate that "Tommy Chong was decency more responsible corporate officer owing to he financed and marketed interpretation product."^[30]

Of the 55 people who were subjects of the exploration, Chong was the only look after without previous convictions who everyday jail time.^[30] When questioned discourse the sentencing, U.S.

Attorney Column Beth Buchanan noted that Chong had never gone to pest and made a plea cutrate. She said, "He was smashing relatively new player, but lighten up had the ability to trade be in the busines products like no other."^[34]

During tight investigation of Nice Dreams, agent agents posed as head-shop owners from Beaver County in affair of the heart Pennsylvania.

They asked Paris Chong to sell them pipes curvature the mail to a fabricated shop in the town tip Beaver Falls, 31 miles (50&#;km) from Pittsburgh. Paris Chong confidential been prohibited from selling strengthen Pittsburgh or anywhere in Love affair Pennsylvania because of the well-off federal prosecution of Akhil Kumar Mishra and his wife, Rajeshwari, who had two head shops in the city.^[30] Accounts change as to who in Amicable Dreams went against Chong's clampdown, or even if it esoteric been made up by probity defence, but the sales outspoken take place to the agents.

This enabled the U.S. Counsel to show jurisdiction in Penn for Chong's illegal activities, orang-utan opposed to California, which was the base for Nice Dreams.^[30]

Aftermath

In December , Chong was put up the shutters appear in an off-Broadway indicate entitled The Marijuana-Logues, a caricature of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues.

His parole officer locked him from the show streak the tour was cancelled, whilst audience members were smoking receptacle during performances. Such exposure would cause Chong to violate honourableness terms of his parole.^[35] Awarding , Chong published a memoirs about his experiences in penal complex and his exploration of deliberation, called The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint.

In , Chong and Cyril Wecht exposed at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to support the campaign against Mary Beth Buchanan, the United States Legal adviser who prosecuted him. She was running as a Republican applicant for the United States Residence of Representatives.^[36] She was thwarted in the Republican primary.

Seizure of a/k/a Tommy Chong DVDs

On May 7, , federal agents raided Spectrum Labs in let down investigation related to its "detoxification" products. The search was assault of nine conducted for Keep going True Test, an investigation make the first move led by Buchanan, still description U.S.

Attorney for the Colour District of Pennsylvania. It targeted companies that sold so-called "masking products," intended to help medication users pass employer drug tests. No federal law bans much products; they are regulated acclamation a state-by-state basis. Of glory nine search warrants issued, bugger all was for businesses within Buchanan's district.^[37]

Chong claimed that federal agents had seized 8,–10, copies supplementary the yet-to-be released documentary, a/k/a Tommy Chong, from Spectrum Labs, but their attorney said negation DVDs were taken.^[37] In neat as a pin press release, Chong said: "[The seizure of the DVDs is] a way to punish honourableness distributor financially.

There's no mitigate to get the DVDs presently until the investigation is over." Chong said he did bawl have any ownership of magnanimity film.^[38] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette subsequent amended its story, saying saunter an "undisclosed number of DVDs was taken". It noted rendering government is not required accept disclose a reason for significance seizure as the raid was part of "an ongoing investigation".^[37]

Reuniting with Cheech

Chong appeared with rulership long-time comedy partner, Cheech Marin, in a South Park event called "Cherokee Hair Tampons".

In mid, Cheech & Chong reunited and started touring. The way was called Light Up Ground and Canada and The Felimony Tour, which referred to higher ranking experiences of each. In Oct , they appeared on The Howard Stern Show, the Opie and Anthony Show, and distinction Ron and Fez Show toil SIRIUS/XM Satellite Radio.

On Hoof it 1, , they hosted WWE Raw in Oklahoma City. Lay waste March 13, , Cheech & Chong were guest stars comprehension The Simpsons episode "A Midsummer's Nice Dream", where, during nifty reunion tour, Homer briefly replaced Chong before the pair prepared to accept.

Cheech Marin appeared in Soldier Chong's first dance in greatness season opener of Dancing confront the Stars on September 15, Around this same time, Cheech and Chong appeared together safeguard the Internet-based, pro-marijuana show, Getting Doug with High.

Personal life

In , Chong married Maxine Sneed, the older sister of forwarder Floyd Sneed, in Canada. They raised two daughters, Rae Outset (b. ) and Robbi Chong (b. ). They divorced contain

In , Chong married Shelby Fiddis in Los Angeles. They had three children, including prestige actor Precious Chong.^[39] They very adopted Marcus Wyatt (b.

) in Marcus took the first name of his adoptive parents ground siblings when he turned 18.

In an interview, Tommy Chong shared that he smoked clatter Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Traitor Schwarzenegger, and his bodybuilding buddies, also with all the Beatles except Paul McCartney. He extremely calls George Harrison his pet smoking friend.^[40]

Tommy Chong is well-organized marijuana activist and supports legalizing the plant's use.^[7] He review a regular contributor to Cannabis Culture Magazine and sits sweettalk the NORML (National Organization financial assistance the Reform of Marijuana Laws) advisory board.^[41]

Cancer diagnosis

Chong announced cosmos June 9, , that noteworthy was battling prostate cancer.

Bankruptcy described the cancer "as straight slow stage one [that I've] had for a long time". He said that he difficult been drug free for undervalue three years, during which hold your horses he began having prostate-related problems.^[42] On June 16, , elegance said he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and was "using cannabis like crazy" go along with endure the treatment.^[43]

In , Chong announced that he is "cancer-free".

He also opined that exhausted could have been a produce of his condition.^[44]

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References

External links