Christopher Julius Rock III (born February 7, 1965) is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted by Comedy Central as the fifth greatest stand-up comedian of all time.

Early life

Rock was born in Andrews, South Carolina. Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. A few years later, they relocated and settled in the working-class area of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. His mother, Rosalie (née Tingman), was a teacher and social worker with the mentally handicapped; his father, Julius Rock, was a former truck driver and newspaper deliveryman. Julius died in 1988 after ulcer surgery. His younger brothers Tony and Kenny are also in the entertainment business. His older brother, Charles, died in 2006 due to a long struggle with alcoholism. Rock has said that he was influenced by the performing style of his paternal grandfather, Allen Rock, a preacher.

Early career

Rock began doing stand-up comedy in 1985 in New York City's Catch a Rising Star. He slowly rose up the ranks of the comedy circuit in addition to earning bit roles in the film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and the TV series Miami Vice. Upon seeing his act at a nightclub, Eddie Murphy befriended and mentored the aspiring comic. Murphy gave Rock his first film role in Beverly Hills Cop II.

Saturday Night Live

Rock became a cast member of the popular sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live in 1990. He and other new cast members Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and David Spade became known as the Bad Boys of SNL. In 1991, he released his first comedy album Born Suspect and won acclaim for his dramatic role as a crack addict in the film New Jack City. His tenure on SNL gave Rock national exposure.

Recurring characters on SNL

• Nat X, militant African-American host of "The Dark Side."
• Onski, co-host of the Yo! MTV Raps parody, "I'm Chillin'" (B. Fats, Onski's fellow host, was played by Chris Farley).
• Kevin Stubbs, game show contestant on "Sabra Price is Right" and "The Bensonhurst Dating Game."
• Buster Jenkins, bow-tied senior citizen, exposing racism during a crime and on "Weekend Update."
• Young Pop, a sailor who saves the day with barbecued meat on "Tales From The Barbecue."

Celebrity impersonations on SNL

• Idi Amin
• Todd Bridges
• Luther Campbell
• Flavor Flav
• Whoopi Goldberg
• Arsenio Hall
• M.C. Hammer
• Michael Jackson
• Eddie Murphy
• Nipsey Russell
• Long Dong Silver
• Jaleel White

Standup success