Tommy Chong

Date of Birth: May 24, 1938

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Biography

Tommy Chong, born Thomas B. Kin Chong, is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, musician, and cannabis rights activist. He gained fame as part of the iconic comedy duo Cheech & Chong, alongside Cheech Marin. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Chong began his career in music before transitioning to comedy. The duo’s films in the 1970s and 1980s, such as “Up in Smoke,” “Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie,” and “Nice Dreams,” became cult classics and established them as prominent figures in stoner culture. Chong’s career spans over six decades, during which he has also appeared in various TV shows and films, including a recurring role in the sitcom “That ’70s Show” as the lovable hippie, Leo. In addition to his entertainment career, Chong is a vocal advocate for cannabis legalization and has faced legal issues related to his activism, including a nine-month prison sentence in 2003 for selling bongs online.

5 Interesting Facts about Tommy Chong

1. Chong’s father was a Chinese immigrant, and his mother was of Scotch-Irish and French descent.

2. He was a member of a band called “The Shades,” which later became “Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers,” and they had a hit with the song “Does Your Mama Know About Me.”

3. Chong became a U.S. citizen in the late 1980s.

4. He has survived prostate cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2012, and rectal cancer, diagnosed in 2015.

5. Tommy Chong competed on the 19th season of “Dancing with the Stars” and made it to the semifinals.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Tommy Chong

1. “I never did smoke that much pot; never in public. I only had a joint or two every now and then.”

2. “I was a hippie when hippies were cool. I was a beatnik when beatniks were cool.”

3. “The thing about the marijuana industry is it’s a billion-dollar industry. It’s a worldwide industry. It’s a commodity.”

4. “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.”

5. “I don’t think marijuana should be illegal. It should be legal, but it should be a controlled substance, like alcohol.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Tommy Chong is estimated to be around $20 million.

Children

Tommy Chong has six children: Rae Dawn Chong and Robbi Chong from his first marriage to Maxine Sneed, and Paris, Gilbran, and Marcus from his second marriage to Shelby Fiddis. He also has an adopted son, Precious Chong.