Biography for
Tommy Chong More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

24 May 1938, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Birth Name

Thomas B. Kin Chong

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Spouse

Shelby Chong	(1975 - present) 3 children
Maxine Sneed	(1960 - 1970) (divorced) 2 children

Trivia

Father, with Shelby Chong of Gilbran Chong, Paris Chong and Precious Chong.

Father, with Maxine Sneed, of Rae Dawn Chong, Robbi Chong. Adopted father of Marcus Chong.

The rumor of his death in the mid-1990s, (spread mainly through the internet) was greatly exaggerated.

Former guitarist of the 1960s interracial sextet, 'Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers'. He also co-wrote the group's biggest hit, "Does Your Mama Know About Me".

Has a stand-up comic act with his wife, Shelby Chong. They frequently perform to sold-out crowds. [2001]

Has two children with first wife Maxine Sneed: daughters Rae Dawn Chong (born in 1961) and Robbi Chong (born in 1965). He also has three children with second wife Shelby Chong: daughter Precious Chong (born in 1968, while he was still married to first wife Maxine), and sons Paris Chong (born in 1974) and Gilbran Chong (born in 1980).

His father is Chinese, mother is Scots-Irish.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 104-105 (article "Cheech and Chong"). New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

True to his comedy image, Tommy and his family ran Nice Dreams Enterprises, an internet company that sells marijuana bongs and pipes. He was arrested in 2003 on federal drug paraphernalia charges and sentenced in September of that year. He will spend 9 months in jail and pay around $120,000 in fines.

The only person of the 55 arrested during the US Drug Enforcement Administration's "Operation Pipe Dreams" to serve time in prison.

Originally considered for the part of Shenzi alongside Cheech Marin in The Lion King (1994). But the directors couldn't get hold of Chong, So the part went to Whoopi Goldberg.

Shared the stage with Producer/Actor Anthony Begonia for an East Meets West event in Little Tokyo.

Has a webcast on youtube under the username citizenchong.

Was considered for the role of Sheriff Leigh Brackett in Halloween (1978).

Former Father-in-law of C. Thomas Howell.

Former brother-in-law of Three Dog Night drummer, Floyd Sneed.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer [June 9, 2012].

Personal Quotes

[on guitarist Gaye Delorme] When people used to see Coltrane play, sax players would run out of the clubs going 'I quit! I'll never play again! I can't take it!. On a quieter scale, that's exactly how Gaye mad me feel. He had a neat little trick. All good musicians do. He said, 'Can I sit in, and do you mind if if I can borrow your guitar?' And then he took the same instrument that I'd been struggling with and make it sound like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, all rolled in one.

I've met a lot of jazz musicians in my day, and they're all funny. Cannonball Adderley was a riot, Miles [Miles Davis] had the most dry sense of humor ever, always had something clever to say. I think what is is is jazz musicians - they're so careful about what notes they play, everything they do is to impress the listener. And that's what comedy is. Comedy is the ultimate truth. Jazz is hitting the notes that that no one else would hit, and comedy is saying words that no one else would say. And Gaye was the master. He was really just a special guy.