Kevin Hart


Kevin Darnell Hart is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and producer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hart began his career by winning several amateur comedy competitions at clubs throughout New England, culminating in his first real break in 2001 when he was cast by Judd Apatow for a recurring role on the TV series Undeclared. The series lasted only one season, but he soon landed other roles in films such as Paper Soldiers, Scary Movie 3, Soul Plane, In the Mix, and Little Fockers.
Hart's comedic reputation continued to grow with the release of his first stand-up album I'm a Grown Little Man, and performances in the films Think Like a Man, Grudge Match, Ride Along and its sequel Ride Along 2, About Last Night, Get Hard, Central Intelligence, The Secret Life of Pets, ', ', and Night School.
He also released four more comedy albums, Seriously Funny in 2010, Laugh at My Pain in 2011, ' in 2013, and ' in 2016. In 2015, Time Magazine named Hart one of the 100 most influential people in the world on the annual Time 100 list. He starred as himself in the lead role of Real Husbands of Hollywood.

Early life

Hart was born on July 6, 1979 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a single-parent household by his mother Nancy Hart, who was a systems analyst for the Office of Student Registration and Financial Services at University of Pennsylvania. He has one older brother named Robert. His father, Henry Witherspoon, was a cocaine addict who was in and out of jail throughout most of Kevin's childhood, and Kevin used humor as a way to cope with his troubled family life. He is a Christian. After graduating from George Washington High School, Hart briefly attended the Community College of Philadelphia and moved to New York City. He then moved to Brockton, Massachusetts, and found work as a shoe salesman. He began pursuing a career in stand-up comedy after performing at an amateur night at a club in Philadelphia.

Career

Stand-up

Hart's first gig was at The Laff House in Philadelphia under the name of Lil Kev, which did not go well. His career suffered a slow start, as he was booed off stage several times, once even having a piece of chicken thrown at him. After those initial unsuccessful shows, Hart began entering comedy competitions throughout Massachusetts and audience receptions of his performances eventually improved.
It took time for Hart to develop a unique comedic style. After an early period of attempting to imitate comedians like Chris Tucker, he found his own rhythm by delving into his insecurities and life experiences. "Because of what I do, it has to be an open book," he has said. "But right now this is a book that is being written."
Hart's comedy tours began in 2009 with his act titled ', followed by Seriously Funny in 2010, Laugh at My Pain in 2011, and ' in 2013, the later two of which were also released as features in movie theaters. Hart grossed over $15 million from "Laugh at My Pain", making it one of the year's top-selling comedy tours. Hart also has a game available through iTunes called "Little Jumpman". His Facebook page, Twitter account, and YouTube channel are all connected to and accessible through this app. Most overseas fans of Hart discovered him on YouTube, as well.
On April 9, 2015, Hart embarked on a comedy world tour titled the What Now? Tour at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, which concluded on August 7, 2016, at the Columbus Civic Center in Columbus, Georgia. On July 16, 2015, Universal Pictures announced that , a stand-up comedy film featuring a performance of Kevin Hart's What Now? Tour, would be theatrically released in the United States on October 14, 2016. The show was filmed live on August 30, 2015, in front of 53,000 people, at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field.

Film and television roles

Hart came to prominence from his guest appearance in Undeclared. He made his film debut in the film Paper Soldiers. Hart then gained further recognition from his other films such as the Scary Movie franchise, Soul Plane, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Death at a Funeral, and Little Fockers. He turned down a role in the 2008 film Tropic Thunder because the character is gay, citing his own "insecurities".
He played Doug in the film The Five-Year Engagement and appeared in Think Like a Man which was a box office success. He also appeared in the sequel. He had a cameo as himself in This Is the End. In 2013, Hart played a boxing promoter in Grudge Match and appeared in Exit Strategy as Mannequin Head Man. He also appeared in 35 and Ticking.
In 2014, Hart starred as Ben in Ride Along, opposite Ice Cube. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, but was a major box office success. Hart returned in the sequel, Ride Along 2, which was released on January 15, 2016.
In 2013, Hart co-created Real Husbands of Hollywood with Chris Spencer. The show follows Hart along with other married celebrities within the series including: Boris Kodjoe, Nelly, Duane Martin, J.B. Smoove, Nick Cannon, and Robin Thicke. Thicke didn't return for the second season due to his music career, though Hart has stated that the door is open for Thicke to return. The series is intentionally filmed in a style similar to Bravo's The Real Housewives. Episodes often hinge on the "real" Kevin Hart's desperately unsuccessful attempts to climb Hollywood's celebrity social ladder, and the character's barely-hidden jealousy of his more successful celebrity friends. A sneak peek was shown as a segment during the 2012 BET Awards and the official promo was released in October 2012.
In 2015, Hart starred in the films Get Hard with Will Ferrell and The Wedding Ringer. In 2016, he starred in the movies Central Intelligence, with Dwayne Johnson, and the animated The Secret Life of Pets. In 2017, he starred in the movies ', in a voice role, and ' with Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and retaming again with Johnson.
In 2018, he produced his first film under his production company HartBeat Productions, Night School. In October 2018, it was announced that through his production company, he has signed a first-look deal with Nickelodeon. Under the deal, Hart and his HartBeat Productions banner will develop and produce live-action, scripted kids content for the network. Hart also has a first-look film deal with Universal Studios.
In 2019, Hart's film The Upside, his first headlining role in a drama, was theatrically released. It also starred Bryan Cranston and Nicole Kidman. Hart also reprised his role of Snowball in the sequel The Secret Life of Pets 2.

Upcoming projects

Hart will next appear in Fatherhood, a drama about a man whose wife dies shortly after childbirth, leaving him to raise their daughter on his own. It will be released on January 8, 2021.
As of October 2016, Hart was set to portray Santa Claus in Dashing Through the Snow, a planned 2017 Disney Christmas-themed film. In October 2018, it was reported that Chris Rock will direct Hart in a movie based on an original idea by the both of them. The film will be written by Black-ish writer Yamara Taylor and the film will revolve around a stay at home dad who raises the kids while his star CEO wife serves as the breadwinner. The man finds himself in emotional and public turmoil when his wife kicks him to the curb, and they engage in a bitter divorce and custody battle. In 2019, Hart signed on to star in and produce Monopoly, Black Friday, an untitled international romantic comedy, Extreme Job, and Scrooged.
and German rapper Albert Trovato in Berlin, Germany, June 2016

Hosting

In addition to acting, Hart has also hosted various ceremonies. Hart first hosted the 2011 BET Awards. Hart then hosted the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. His longtime friend Judd Apatow, the director who gave him his first big on-screen break in the TV series Undeclared, was the one who recommended him for the gig. Hart hoped that this will project him further into a side career as an emcee, stating, "Hopefully after MTV, of course we're talking Emmys, Oscars, whatever." He has hosted three episodes of Saturday Night Live. In 2015, Hart hosted the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber. In 2016, Hart co-hosted the 2016 MTV Movie Awards with Dwayne Johnson.
Kevin Hart has also hosted on HQ Trivia and gave away $100,000 to 1 person with Scott Rogowsky on September 26, 2018 which had 699K players.
On December 4, 2018, Hart was announced as the host of the 91st Academy Awards, but on December 6 he stepped down as host in response to public criticism of several homophobic tweets from 2010 and 2011. Hart characterized the protest as non-constructive and stated "If you don’t believe people change, grow as they get older, I don’t know what to tell you". On December 7, he tweeted an apology to the LGBTQ community following criticism that he did not issue one the previous day. On January 3, 2019, Hart announced he was going to reconsider stepping down as host, after openly lesbian comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who has hosted the Academy Awards multiple times, expressed support for Hart to do so and said she telephoned the Academy to ask if Hart would be able to reverse his decision if he wished and, according to DeGeneres, the Academy said he would be able to do so. On January 8, after a backlash for what was perceived as his insincere apology, Kevin Hart announced that he wouldn't be hosting the Academy Awards. The ceremony was held without a host that year.

Music

As Chocolate Droppa, his alias, he signed to Motown Records and released , the soundtrack to his stand-up. He released the singles "Push It On Me" featuring Trey Songz and "Baller Alert" with Migos & T.I.

Modeling

In 2017, Kevin Hart and Tommy John appeared in an underwear commercial for Macy's.

Influences

Hart has cited as comedy inspirations Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor, Patrice O'Neal, and Keith Robinson.

Personal life

Family relationships

Hart's relationship with his father improved after the latter recovered from his addiction. Hart said, "My dad said I was supposed to be on drugs. I was like, 'Dad, shut up', but then I thought about it, and it was stupid, but it made sense. He was saying that basically he was my example to never go down that road."
Hart also talks about his mother in his stand-up routine, portraying her as a loving, yet intimidating woman. She died from cancer in 2007.

Marriages

Kevin and Torrei Hart filed for divorce in February 2010, citing irreconcilable differences. Hart requested joint custody of their two children, daughter Heaven Leigh, born March 22, 2005, and son Hendrix, born in 2007.
The divorce was finalized in November 2011.
On August 18, 2014, Hart proposed to Eniko Parrish. They married on August 13, 2016, near Santa Barbara, California.
Their son Kenzo Kash was born on November 21, 2017.
On December 15, 2017, Hart publicly admitted to having cheated on his wife while she was pregnant with their son.
They are expecting a girl in summer of 2020.

Earnings

Hart earned an estimated $32.5 million in 2017.

Legal troubles

Hart was charged on April 14, 2013 on suspicion of drunk driving after his black Mercedes nearly collided with a tanker truck on a Southern California freeway. Hart failed a field sobriety test and was booked for misdemeanor DUI. On August 5, 2013, Hart was sentenced to three years of probation after pleading no contest to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Car accident

On September 1, 2019, Hart was a passenger in a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda that went off Mulholland Highway and rolled down an embankment near Calabasas, California. He and the driver reportedly suffered "major back injuries" and were taken to separate hospitals. Hart was released from the hospital ten days later, and continued recovery at a rehabilitation facility.

Tours

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
2002Paper SoldiersShawn
2003Scary Movie 3CJ
2003Death of a DynastyP-Diddy / Cop 1 / Dance Coach / Hyper Rapper /
H. Lector
2004Along Came PollyVic
2004Soul PlaneNashawn Wade
2005The 40-Year-Old VirginSmart Tech Customer
2005In the MixBusta
2006Scary Movie 4CJ
2006The Last StandF Stop / G Spot
2007Epic MovieSilas
2008Fool's GoldBigg Bunny
2008Superhero MovieTrey
2008Extreme MovieBarry
2008Meet DaveNumber 17
2008Drillbit TaylorPawn Shop Dealer
2009Not Easily BrokenTree
2010Something Like a BusinessJoJo
2010Death at a FuneralBrian
2010Little FockersNurse Louis
201135 and TickingCleavon
2011'Himself
2011Let GoKris Styles
2012The Five-Year EngagementDoug
2012Think Like a ManCedric
2012Exit StrategyMannequin Head Man
2013This Is the EndHimself
2013'Himself
2013Grudge MatchDante Slate Jr.
2014Ride AlongBen Barber
2014About Last NightBernie
2014Think Like a Man TooCedric
2014School DanceOG Pretty Lil' ThugUncredited
2014Top FiveCharles
2015The Wedding RingerJimmy Callahan/Bic Mitchum
2015Get HardDarnell Lewis
2016Ride Along 2Ben Barber
2016Central IntelligenceCalvin Joyner
2016The Secret Life of PetsSnowball
2016'Himself
2017'George Beard Also songwriter for "Saturday"
2017The UpsideDell Scott
2017'Franklin "Mouse" Finbar
2018Night SchoolTeddy WalkerAlso producer and writer
2019The Secret Life of Pets 2Snowball
2019Hobbs & ShawDinkleyUncredited
2019'Franklin "Mouse" Finbar
2021FatherhoodMatt LogelinPost-production; Also producer

Television

YearFilmRoleNotes
2002–2003UndeclaredLuke3 episodes
2004The Big HouseKevin6 episodes
2004Comedy Central PresentsHimself
2005BarbershopJames Ricky3 episodes
2005–2006Jake In ProgressNugget Dawson2 episodes
2006Help Me Help YouKevinEpisode: "Raging Bill"
2006Love, Inc.James2 episodes
2007All of UsGregEpisode: "The B-R-E-A-K-U-P"
2007Wild 'n OutVarious21 episodes
2009Party DownDro GrizzleEpisode: "Taylor Stiltskin Sweet Sixteen"
2009Kröd Mändoon and The Flaming Sword of FireZezelryck6 episodes
2009'Himself
2010Kevin Hart: Seriously FunnyHimself
2011–2012Modern FamilyAndre2 episodes
2011BET Awards 2011Himself / Host
2012WorkaholicsKevinEpisode: "To Kill a Chupacabraj"
20122012 MTV Video Music AwardsHimself / Host
2013–2016Real Husbands of HollywoodHimself60 episodes; Also co-creator, writer, executive producer
2013Second Generation WayansHimselfEpisode: "The Arrival"
2013–2017Saturday Night LiveHimself / Host3 episodes
2015Comedy Central Roast of Justin BieberHimself / Host
2016Lip Sync BattleHimselfEpisode: "Olivia Munn vs. Kevin Hart"
20162016 MTV Movie AwardsHimself / Co-host
2018'Himself / Host10 episodes; Also executive producer
2019Kevin Hart's Guide to Black HistoryHimself
2019Kevin Hart: IrresponsibleHimself
2019–presentKevin Hart's Laugh Out LoudHimself / Host
2019–presentKevin Hart: Don't F**k this upHimself
2020Jeopardy! The Greatest of All TimeHimself - Video Clue Presenter1 episode

Music videos

Awards and nominations