Chris Rock, born on February 7, 1965, is an American comedian, actor, and filmmaker who rose to fame in the 1980s with sharp stand-up on race, sex, and everyday life. He’s earned three Grammys for Best Comedy Album, four Emmys, a Golden Globe nod, and top spots on Comedy Central (#5) and Rolling Stone’s (#5) all-time stand-up lists.
Before fame
Chris was bullied by white classmates in high school, which made him drop out, got his GED, and flipped burgers at fast-food joints. In the ’80s, he honed his comedy at New York City’s Catch a Rising Star, where he met Eddie Murphy, and landed a small part in Beverly Hills Cop II (1987).
Trivia
Post-Saturday Night Live, he popped up in six episodes of In Living Color from 1993 to 1994.
Family life
Chris married Malaak Compton-Rock in 1996; they had daughters Lola Simone and Zahra Savannah before he filed for divorce in 2014. He dated actress Megalyn Echikunwoke from 2016 to 2020. His brothers Tony, Kenny, and Jordan are also in entertainment. In 2022, he briefly dated Lake Bell before splitting. His mom was Rosalie Rock.