Biography
Who is Cheech Marin?
Early life and real name
Richard Anthony Marin was born in South Los Angeles. His parents were Oscar, a police officer, and Elsa, a secretary. He had a cleft lip that surgeons fixed. He identifies as Chicano and speaks Spanish.
His nickname came from his uncle. The word chicharrón means fried pork rind. His uncle said the baby looked like one. He attended schools in South Central and later Granada Hills.
Rise to fame with Tommy Chong
After college, Cheech auditioned for the band The Mothers of Invention. He did not get the job. He moved to Calgary to avoid the Vietnam War draft. While recovering from a skiing accident, he heard a song by Tommy Chong.
He eventually met Chong in Vancouver. They formed the duo Cheech & Chong. This act became very popular during the 1970s and early 1980s. They released several comedy albums and seven films.
Film and television roles
After the duo split in 1985, Cheech Marin starred in solo projects. He directed and acted in Born in East L.A. He appeared in Tin Cup and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. He also had a small role in Ghostbusters II.
He worked on several TV series. He played Inspector Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges. He was also in The Golden Palace and the sitcom Rob. He voiced the dog Buck on Married... With Children.
Voice acting and children's work
He provided voices for many Disney movies. He played Tito in Oliver & Company and Banzai in The Lion King. He voiced Ramone in the Cars series. He also played Manuel in Beverly Hills Chihuahua.
He created bilingual children's music. He released two albums called My Name is Cheech, the School Bus Driver. He also wrote a book with the same title in 2007.
Art collection and interests
Cheech Marin collects Chicano art. He started this hobby in the 1980s. He wanted to highlight a style of art that people ignored. He owns over 700 pieces.
He opened The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry in Riverside, California. It opened on June 18, 2022. He is donating his entire collection to the center.
Birthday and age
Cheech Marin was born on July 13, 1946, which makes Cheech 80 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Cheech shares the date with 30 other famous people.
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