ON THE COVER : Chris Rock

Christopher Julius Rock III known by stage name Chris Rock is a comedian, actor and director. He was born on February 7, 1965 in Andrews, South Carolina. He is the eldest son of Julius Rock, a truck driver, and Rose Rock, a teacher. When Chris Rock was a toddler, his family relocated to Brooklyn, New York. He spent the remainder of his childhood in Brooklyn’s notoriously tough Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbourhood. He attended a nearly all-white public school and, as a result, was subjected to discrimination at an early age. Rock’s early bouts with racism greatly influenced his comedic material. Chris is most noted for his raw humour and has no qualms about making fun of all sexes and races. His uninhibited nature has earned him respect and praise from both white and African American communities. At age 18, he was discovered by Eddie Murphy at New York’s Comedy Strip. A small role in Murphy’s Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) was Chris Rock’s film debut. In 1990, he followed the footsteps of his idol, Eddie Murphy, by joining the cast of Saturday Night Live. A year later, he released his first comedy album, Born Suspect. 1996 marked a turning point in the star’s career. His talents were recognized by HBO, and the cable network produced a comedy special titled Bring in the Pain starring him. The comedian won two Emmy Awards and wide critical acclaim for the show. In 1997, he began hosting his own television show on the HBO Network, The Chris Rock Show, which earned him two Cable ACE awards. In 1996, Chris Rock married Malaak Compton, a public relations executive. They have two daughters: Lola Simone and Zahra Savannah. Both Time and Entertainment Weekly have declared Chris Rock “the funniest man in America.” He hosted the MTV Video Music Awards for the first time in 1997. In 2005 he hosted the Academy Awards. His brother, Tony, is also a popular stand-up comedian and actor. Ends