Outrageous, fast-talking Chris Tucker left Atlanta (where his classmates called him Little Eddie Murphy) and tore up the L.A. comedy circuit soon after arriving in town. His stand-up work on "Russell Simmons' Def Comedy All-Star Jam" (1992, HBO) led to his first feature role, Johnny Booze, in "House Party 3" (1994). Since starring opposite Ice Cube in the surprise hit "Friday" (1995), Tucker has experienced a rise has been nothing less than meteoric. He delivered a memorable death scene in "Dead Presidents" (1995), overdosing on heroin as he watched a vintage "Soul Train" telecast, but all his performances were merely a warm-up for his break-out, star-making turn in Luc Besson's futuristic "The Fifth Element" (1997). As flamboyant 23rd-century talk-show host Ruby Rhod (a cross between Prince and Michael Jackson with a cone-shaped blond "do" that would make Dennis Rodman proud), Tucker stole the show from Bruce Willis with his truly "out-there" performance. He next starred opposite Charlie Sheen as a small-time Murphyesque hustler in "Money Talks" (1997), for which he also served as executive producer. Quentin Tarantino tapped him for a supporting role in "Jackie Brown" (1997) and Tucker teamed with Hong Kong star Jackie Chan for the action comedy "Rush Hour". The buddy-flick hit big, spawning the even more successful 2001 summer tentpole "Rush Hour 2," with a third sequel in the works.
Copyright © Baseline 2006.