This Brooklyn-bred comic with the oversize smile was just a teen when he started doing stand-up. Stints on Saturday Night Live and (briefly) In Living Color raised his profile, but it was his HBO specials, eponymous talk show and frequent hosting gigs that turned him into a star. Rock frequently appears on the big screen, and in 2003, he branched out to write, direct and star in Head of State. By 2005, the edgy comedian was so popular that he was invited to host the Oscars. That same year, he debuted Everybody Hates Chris, a family-friendly sitcom loosely based on his upbringing. The show aired for four seasons, and though Rock didn’t star on the show, he took on the roles of co-creator, executive producer and narrator. Rock took on a supporting role in 2012’s What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and voiced the character of Marty the Zebra in the Madagascar movies. Rock wrote, directed and co-starred in 2014’s Top Five. In 2016, Rock rocked the Oscars once again with his awesome opening monologue. The world has reached a verdict: Chris Rock is one of the greatest stand-ups to ever take the stage.
