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As an actor, director, writer, musician, art collector and humanitarian, he's a man who has enough talent, humor, and intelligence to do just about anything. As a multi-generational star - or as Cheech jests, "People know me from the womb to the tomb," - he attracts fans through his comedy and films, as well as his children's' projects. To this day, ‘Cheech and Chong' films are the number one weekend video rentals.
These past few years are finding a whole new audience through Cheech's Chicano art collection, which is one of the largest in the world. Cheech's vision of Chicano art and expression are being brought to life in a blockbuster museum exhibit duo collectively entitled, Chicano. Cheech's own personal Chicano art collection, forms the core Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge. Bulfinch Press published a coffee table book featuring highlights of Cheech's art collection and exhibition.
Currently, Cheech has a recurring role on the CBS television series Judging Amy, and he recently completed production on the Miramax film Underclassman, starring Nick Cannon and Roselyn Sanchez. This past year, Cheech played a role in the Revolution Studios' comedy film titled Christmas with the Kranks, starring Tim Allen.
Also in the works for Cheech is an addition to the well-known Cheech and Chong franchise (New Line), with the script being penned by the duo of Cheech and Tommy Chong. Cheech also co-starred in the Robert Rodriguez films Spy Kids 3 with Antonio Banderas, and in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, starring Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek.
In the past, Cheech co-starred in Tin Cup where he played caddy and best buddy to Kevin Costner. Cheech co-starred in the Dream Works Pictures modern-day fable Paulie with Tony Shalhoub. He has also starred opposite Samuel Jackson, Jeff Goldblum and Damon Wayans in The Great White Hype and opposite George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino for Robert Rodriguez in From Dusk till Dawn as well as Rodriguez's Desperado alongside Antonio Banderas. In addition, Cheech co-starred with Don Johnson in the CBS one-hour drama television series Nash Bridges, currently in syndication.
Cheech was the recipient of the 2000 Creative Achievement Award from the Imagen Foundation. In addition, he received the 1999 National Council of La Raza/Kraft Foods ALMA Community Service Award for his work on behalf of the Latino community.
With his entry into the "kids set," Cheech's 'littlest' fans only know him because of his work in children's music and animation. He became known to an international children's audience when he provided the voice of 'Banzai,' one of the dastardly hyenas in The Lion King, as well as the streetwise Chihuahua in Disney's Oliver and Company. Cheech's voice was heard as ‘Lencho the Flea' on the CBS show, Santo Bugito. Cheech is also featured in the video game Blazing Dragons from Crystal Dynamics.
Due to his phenomenal success of his first bilingual children's album, My Name is Cheech, the School Bus Driver, he will release a second record My Name is Cheech, the School Bus Driver "Coast to Coast". According to Cheech, "The music speaks directly to kids in an intelligent way-they're fun, but educational." In fact, the record impressed the Los Angeles Unified School District that they are using one of his songs to teach kids about how to mix and use colors. The second album will feature a bus trip from Los Angeles to Miami, and through a combination of Latin rhythms, the music will address such issues as using rewards and lessons on how to get along.
Cheech was born in South Central L.A. and raised in Granada Hills, a suburb of the San Fernando Valley. He has always loved music. "As a little kid, I was a singer and recorded albums. I was always in bands - you name it, I sang it - R&B, jazz, funk, I did it all," he says. After attending Cal State Northridge to study English, he left eight credits short of a degree to "pursue pottery and avoid the draft."
Moving to Vancouver, British Columbia as a political refugee, Cheech soon met Tommy Chong who owned a topless club. He worked there for nine months combining music and improvisational comedy. "It was great-you could call it modern day burlesque," he quips.
Eventually Cheech and Chong teamed up and moved back to Los Angeles. They performed their stand-up/music act at clubs all over L.A. until they were discovered at ‘The Troubador' by music industry magnate Lou Adler. "The rest," as Cheech says, "is history."
Cheech and Chong were a critically acclaimed duo for 15 years, but have worked separately for the past ten years. They teamed together for eight feature films: the first, Up in Smoke, was the highest grossing comedy of 1978, topping $100 million at the box office. That followed with Cheech and Chong's Next Movie, Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams, Things are Tough All Over, Cheech and Chong: Still Smoking, and Cheech and Chong: The Corsican Brothers. They also made guest appearances on Yellowbeard and Martin Scorsese's After Hours.
After splitting with Chong, Cheech wrote, directed, and starred in Universal's hit comedy, Born in East L.A. Other film and television credits include Cisco Kid, Rude Awakening, Fatal Beauty, and Shrimp on the Barbie.
As for the future, Cheech hopes to continue acting, writing, and directing. He also desires to become more involved in animation projects. "I love animation because it is such a pure form of acting, created just by the voice," he says. When he is not working, Cheech devotes a great deal of time to such organizations as the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, El Rescate and the Inner City Arts Council.
If all of the above is not enough for one person, Cheech also has a line of three gourmet hot sauces on the market that are in the words of Cheech - ‘Whatappenin!'
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