Cheech Marin

Cheech Marin Headshot

Actor • Musician • Activist • Comedian • Writer

Birth Name: Richard Anthony Marin

Birth Date: July 13, 1946

Age: 78 years old

Birth Place: Los Angeles, California

A popular comedian who made the successful transition to dramatic actor, Cheech Marin earned his greatest fame as one-half of the stoned comedy duo, Cheech and Chong. Rising out of the counterculture of the late 1960s, Cheech and Chong went on to become one of the top comedy teams of the 1970s and early 1980s, thanks to their cheeky humor centered on a never-ending quest to score good marijuana. Cheech and Chong hit their stride with a string of hit comedy albums, including the top-selling Big Bambu (1972) and the Grammy-winning Los Cochinos (1973). They translated their album success into the hit movie, "Up in Smoke" (1978), which spawned five sequels and earned new fans with each successive generation.

Marin went his own way with "Born in East L.A." (1987) and eventually segued over to television drama with a scene-stealing run on "Nash Bridges" (CBS, 1996-2001). He also had a highly successful second career as a voiceover actor with performances in "The Lion King" (1994) and "Cars" (2006), while serving as director Robert Rodriguez's go-to character actor in such films as "From Dusk Till Dawn" (1996), "Spy Kids" (2003), and "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" (2003). By 2008, after years of speculation, Marin reunited with Tommy Chong for a sold-out tour, proving that both actors were still enormously attractive to a generation born decades after they made their first impact on popular culture.

Born on July 13, 1946 in Los Angeles, Marin was raised in nearby Granada Hills by his father, Oscar, an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, and his mother, Elsa, a secretary. Marin displayed both his artistic merit and athletic prowess as a child, performing in several bands and even on albums while also boxing competitively in local police leagues. Later in life, he attended California State University, Northridge, where he majored in English literature, only to leave eight credits shy of his degree in order to dodge the Vietnam War draft and flee to Canada. Marin settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, which later proved to be a fateful decision, because it was there that he met future comedy partner, former nightclub owner Tommy Chong, while performing with the troupe City Works.

The two began performing improvisational skits that combined music, comedy, and - in the beginning - nude women who performed at Chong's own strip club. Forming "Cheech and Chong" at the end of the decade, the duo's act derived from the free-love, drug-using counterculture that surrounded them, resulting in what may have been the first official brand of stoner humor.

Marin was able to return to the United States after being classified 4-F for an old skiing injury, which allowed him to avoid the draft. Meanwhile, Cheech and Chong graduated from nightclubs in Toronto and Los Angeles to become the opening act for major rock bands like the Allman Brothers Band and the Rolling Stones. They released their first in a series of hugely popular comedy albums, Cheech and Chong (1971), which featured one of their most famous skits, "Dave." The duo followed up with Big Bambu (1972), which boasted an album cover that resembled a Bambu rolling papers package and became the largest-selling comedy album of all time, a distinction held for many years.

Next up was Los Cochinos (1973), a Grammy-winning album that included another popular skit, "Basketball Jones," which featured musicians George Harrison, Carole King, and Billy Preston. Throughout this time, Marin - who was entirely Mexican-American - and Chong - who was half-Chinese, half Scottish-Irish Canadian - underscored their lowbrow humor that consisted of an overriding concern with the acquisition and consumption of marijuana, complete with sly commentaries on racial stereotypes and overbearing authority.

Following two more albums, Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album (1974) and Sleeping Beauty (1976), Cheech and Chong made a fluid transition to films with the hit comedy "Up in Smoke" (1978). Budgeted at a modest $2 million, the movie grossed $47.5 million domestically, making it both the highest-grossing comedy and the most profitable film released that year. Chock full of classic vignettes tied together with a simple quest to find a bag of weed - including the now-fabled van made entirely out of marijuana - "Up in Smoke" went on to earn more than $100 million worldwide and became a classic revered by generations to follow. The surprising success of their first film venture led to five sequels of varying success and comedic quality, though none matched the vitality and impact of the original.

Though there was some of the old magic in "Cheech and Chong's Next Movie" (1980) and "Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams" (1981), the zap was long gone by the time they made "Cheech and Chong's The Corsican Brothers" (1984), which lacked the crude stoner humor that made them famous in the first place.

Branching out fully on his own after taking baby steps with small parts in "After Hours" (1985) and "Echo Park" (1985), Marin made his feature directing debut with "Born in East L.A." (1987), which was inspired by his music video parody of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." video two years earlier. In the film, he starred as an East L.A. repairman who is caught in an INS raid without his wallet, which leads to him being deported to Mexico even though he cannot even speak Spanish. Despite lukewarm reviews, the movie earned respectable business.

After going against type and playing a singing East Indian shop owner for a sketch on "The Tracey Ullman Show" (Fox, 1987-1990), he made his first venture into voiceover work with the animated feature "Oliver & Company" (1988). Though he failed to get his pilot for "The Cheech Show" (NBC, 1988) on air, Marin provided the voice of Buck the Dog on several episodes of Fox's "Married. . . With Children" (Fox, 1986-1997) and landed a recurring role as the recently divorced Mexican chef Chuy Castillos on the sitcom spin-off, "The Golden Palace" (CBS, 1992-93).

Marin made the segue to television drama playing Lieutenant Joe Dominguez, who is called out of retirement to partner with Don Johnson's titular detective "Nash Bridges" (CBS, 1996-2001). While maintaining his regular status throughout the show's six-season run, Marin continued his voiceover work by reuniting with Chong to portray the riotous Beetle Boys in "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992). He followed up by teaming with Whoopi Goldberg and Jim Cummings to voice hyenas in the Disney animated blockbuster "The Lion King" (1994). Widely seen in the small, but indelible character role as a bartender in Robert Rodriguez's "Desperado" (1995), Marin again collaborated with the young Chicano filmmaker to play three roles - a border guard, a strip club doorman populated by vampires, and a criminal contact - in the vampire action comedy "From Dusk Till Dawn" (1996).

That same busy year, he played a sleazy boxing promoter in "The Great White Hype" (1996) and provided sturdy support to pro-golfers Kevin Costner and Don Johnson in the sports drama "Tin Cup" (1996). He also appeared in "Paulie" (1998), starring Gena Rowlands and Tony Shalhoub.

Following appearances in two smaller films, "Picking Up the Pieces" (2000) and "Resurrection Blvd." (2000), Marin was cast as Uncle Felix Gumm in Robert Rodriguez's successful "Spy Kids" (2000), a role he reprised for "Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams" (2002) and "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over" (2003). He worked with Rodriguez once again in "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" (2003), playing a talkative bartender who helps a rogue CIA agent (Johnny Depp) track down El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas).

After being one of many celebrities to pass in and out of the messy ensemble dramedy centered around Bob Dylan, "Masked & Anonymous" (2003), Marin went back to voice work on "Goody Boy!" (2003) and the straight-to-video release, "The Lion King 1 1/2" (2004). He followed by playing a dumb beat cop in the miserable "Christmas with the Kranks" (2004), starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. In "The Underclassman" (2005), Marin underplayed his role as a police captain who tries to give a loose cannon cop (Nick Cannon) helpful advice despite routine screw-ups.

Following an episode of "Judging Amy" (CBS, 1999-2005), Marin voiced Ramone in the Pixar animated hit, "Cars" (2006) and Manuel in "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (2008). Most significantly at this time, Marin had a recurring role as the father of Hugo "Hurley" Reyes on the popular series "Lost" (ABC, 2004-2010). Despite his varied success over the years, there was always talk of a "Cheech and Chong" reunion, which gained momentum following the nine-month incarceration of Tommy Chong for selling bongs over the Internet.

Finally in July 2008, after two years of speculation and false starts, the duo reunited and hit the road for their "Cheech and Chong Light Up America/Canada" tour. The tour was a huge hit, particularly among a new generation of college students, and found its way Down Under for a leg in Australia. In 2009 and 2010, when the legalization of marijuana began picking up steam, Cheech and Chong found themselves hitting the cable news circuit promoting the idea through their comedy and a new song called "Get It Legal."

Credits

The Long GameStream

Actor
Pollo
Movie
2024
82%

PRIME: Shotgun Wedding

Actor
Robert Rivera
Show
2023

On Demand: Shotgun Wedding

Actor
Robert Rivera
Show
2023

ChampionsStream

Actor
Julio
Movie
2023
59%

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip

Actor
Gil
Movie
2023

Lopez vs LopezStream

Guest Star
Carlos
Series
2022

Generation Gap

Guest
Game Show
2022

Cheech Marin's Chicano Art Tour

Self
Show
2022

Eye on America

Guest
Show
2022

Shotgun WeddingStream

Actor
Robert Rivera
Movie
2022
44%

Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain

Self
Movie
2022

Angry Neighbors

Actor
Hector
Movie
2022

Maya and the ThreeStream

Voice
God of Wind & Storm
Miniseries
2021
100%

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

Nash BridgesStream

Actor
Joe Dominguez
Movie
2021

BrokeStream

Guest Star
Don Dominguez
Series
2020
67%

The War with GrandpaStream

Actor
Danny
Movie
2020
29%

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo

Self
Movie
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

Rob Riggle's Ski Master AcademyStream

Guest Star
Series
2018

Lodge 49Stream

Guest Star
Series
2018
93%

Snoop Dogg Presents The Joker's WildStream

Guest
Game Show
2017

Daily Blast Live

Guest
Show
2017

STEVE on Watch

Guest
Talk
2017

The History of ComedyStream

Self
Docuseries
2017

Cars 3Stream

Voice
Ramone
Movie
2017
69%

CocoStream

Voice
Corrections Officer
Movie
2017
97%

Elena of AvalorStream

Guest Voice
Quita Moz
Series
2016

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
News
2016

El Americano: The Movie

Voice
Martin
Movie
2016

Good Fortune

Self
Movie
2016

Dark Harvest

Actor
Ricardo
Movie
2016

The Latin Explosion: A New America

Narrator
Show
2015

Jane The VirginStream

Guest Star
Series
2014
100%

The Book of Life

Voice
Pancho Rodriguez
Movie
2014

I Get That a Lot

Actor
Show
2013

Anderson Live

Guest
Show
2012

George Lopez: It's Not Me, It's You

Actor
Show
2012

Anger ManagementStream

Guest Star
Hector
Series
2012

RobStream

Actor
Fernando
Series
2012
11%

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-Off

Contestant
Show
2012

El Santos vs. la T... Mendoza

Voice
El Narrador/El Charro
Movie
2012

Tad, the Lost Explorer

Voice
Freddy
Movie
2012

Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie

Screenwriter
Movie
2012

Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie

Voice
Himself
Movie
2012

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

Off the Map

Guest Star
Papa Ucumari
Show
2011

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil

Voice
Mad Hog
Movie
2011

Cars 2Stream

Voice
Ramone
Movie
2011
40%

Lafflink Presents: The Platinum Comedy Series

Actor
Show
2010

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This

Actor
Self/Various
Movie
2010

Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This

Producer
Movie
2010

Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This

Writer
Movie
2010

MacheteStream

Actor
Padre
Movie
2010
70%

In the House With Peter Bart & Peter Guber

Guest
Show
2009

Lopez Tonight

Guest
Show
2009

American Latino Presents: Laugh Out Loud

Guest Star
Show
2009

Unscripted

Guest
Show
2009

Race to Witch MountainStream

Actor
Eddie
Movie
2009
42%

Expecting a Miracle

Actor
Father Arturo
Movie
2009

My Generation

Guest
Show
2008

Free Radio

Guest Star
Show
2008

La Plaza -- Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One

Guest
Show
2008

Beverly Hills ChihuahuaStream

Voice
Manuel
Movie
2008
40%

The Perfect GameStream

Actor
Padre Esteban
Movie
2008
58%

The Great Music Caper

Voice
Movie
2008

Uncle P

Actor
Movie
2007

Talkshow With Spike Feresten

Guest
Show
2006

PsychStream

Guest Star
Series
2006
89%

CarsStream

Voice
Ramone
Movie
2006
75%

Tales From Earthsea

Voice
Hare
Movie
2006

Mater and the Ghostlight

Voice
Ramone
Movie
2006

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Horatio
Series
2005

UnderclassmanStream

Actor
Captain Victor Delgado
Movie
2005
6%

American Latino TV

Guest
Show
2004

LatiNation

Guest
Show
2004

LostStream

Guest Star
David Reyes
Series
2004
86%

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

The Lion King 1 1/2

Voice
Banzai
Movie
2004

Christmas with the KranksStream

Actor
Officer Salino
Movie
2004
5%

The Ortegas

Actor
Henry Ortega
Show
2003

Once Upon a Time in MexicoStream

Actor
Belini
Movie
2003
66%

Spy Kids 3-D: Game OverStream

Actor
Uncle Felix
Movie
2003
45%

Good Boy!

Voice
The Henchman
Movie
2003

Masked and Anonymous

Actor
Prospero
Movie
2003

This So-Called Disaster

Actor
Caesar
Movie
2003

George LopezStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

See You In My Dreams

Actor
Esteban
Movie
2002

Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost DreamsStream

Actor
Felix Gumm
Movie
2002
75%

The Original Latin Kings of Comedy

Self
Movie
2002

Spy KidsStream

Actor
Felix Gumm
Movie
2001
93%

The Brothers Garcia

Guest Star
Show
2000

Picking Up the Pieces

Actor
Mayor Machado
Movie
2000

Judging Amy

Guest Star
Series
1999

Luminarias

Actor
Jesus
Movie
1999

The Venice Project

Self
Movie
1999

The Nuttiest Nutcracker

Voice
Mac
Movie
1999

PaulieStream

Actor
Ignacio
Movie
1998
62%

South ParkStream

Guest Voice
Carlos Ramirez
Series
1997
80%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Classic AlbumsStream

Self
Series
1997

Nash BridgesStream

Actor
Insp. Joe Dominguez
Series
1996

From Dusk Till DawnStream

Actor
Border Guard/Chet Pussy/Carlos
Movie
1996
63%

The Great White HypeStream

Actor
Julio Escobar
Movie
1996
42%

Tin Cup

Actor
Romeo Posar
Movie
1996

Twas the Night Before Bumpy

Voice
Juaquin Gusanito Sin Manos
Show
1995

MADtvStream

Guest
Series
1995
43%

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildStream

Voice
Series
1995

DesperadoStream

Actor
Short Bartender
Movie
1995

The Courtyard

Actor
Angel Steiner
Movie
1995

The Cisco KidStream

Actor
Pancho
Movie
1994

Ring of the Musketeers

Actor
Burt Aramis
Movie
1994

A Million to Juan

Actor
Shell Shock
Movie
1994

The Lion KingStream

Voice
Banzai the Hyena
Movie
1994
93%

The Magic of the Golden Bear: Goldy III

Actor
Master Borgia
Movie
1994

Charlie's Ghost

Actor
Coronado
Movie
1994

The Golden PalaceStream

Actor
Series
1992
78%

FernGully: The Last RainforestStream

Voice
Stump
Movie
1992
67%

La Pastorela

Actor
Movie
1991

El Pretendiente Impostor

Actor
Movie
1990

Far Out Man

Self
Movie
1990

The Shrimp on the Barbie

Actor
Carlos
Movie
1990

Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme

Actor
Movie
1990

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Cheech
Series
1989
85%

Tales From the Crypt

Actor
Series
1989
82%

Ghostbusters IIStream

Actor
Dock Supervisor
Movie
1989
55%

Rude Awakening

Actor
Jesus Montea
Movie
1989

Rude Awakening

Casting
Movie
1989

Un Difícil Despertar

Actor
Movie
1989

Oliver & CompanyStream

Voice
Tito
Movie
1988
53%

Married ... With ChildrenStream

Guest Voice
Buck
Series
1987

Born in East L.A.

Actor
Rudy
Movie
1987

Born in East L.A.

Director
Movie
1987

Born in East L.A.

Writer
Movie
1987

Fatal BeautyStream

Actor
Bartender
Movie
1987
20%

After HoursStream

Actor
Neil
Movie
1985
89%

Echo Park

Actor
Syd
Movie
1985

Jeopardy!Stream

Contestant
Game Show
1984

Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers

Actor
Corsican Brother
Movie
1984

Cheech & Chong Still Smokin'Stream

Actor
Cheech
Movie
1983
10%

Cheech & Chong Still Smokin'Stream

Screenwriter
Movie
1983
10%

Yellowbeard

Actor
El Segundo
Movie
1983

Cheech et Chong -- Frères de la Révolution

Actor
Movie
1983

Things Are Tough All OverStream

Actor
Cheech/Mr. Slyman
Movie
1982

It Came From Hollywood

Actor
Movie
1982

Cheech & Chong's Nice DreamsStream

Actor
Cheech
Movie
1981
43%

Cheech & Chong's Nice DreamsStream

Original Music
Movie
1981
43%

Cheech & Chong's Nice DreamsStream

Writer
Movie
1981
43%

Cheech & Chong's Next Movie

Actor
Cheech/Dwayne "Red" Mendoza
Movie
1980

Cheech & Chong's Next Movie

Screenwriter
Movie
1980

Up In SmokeStream

Actor
Pedro De Pacas
Movie
1978
47%

Up In SmokeStream

Screenwriter
Movie
1978
47%

Sesame StreetStream

Guest Star
Series
1969

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutCheech Marin