BIRTHDAY 07/03/1980 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Birth Name: Kevin Darnell Hart
PROFESSIONS Actor, producer, musician, writer, comedian
BIOGRAPHY
Kevin Hart is one of America’s most popular comedians, but he didn’t reach such a lofty status overnight. Using humor to get through a tough inner-city childhood, he later paid his dues in comedy clubs. After being cast by Judd Apatow for a few episodes of his short-lived cult-favorite TV show “Undeclaref” (Fox, 2001-02), Hart began to pick up career momentum, with small parts in films such as the horror spoof “Scary Movie 3” (2003) soon giving way to bigger roles in feature comedies, including the unabashedly campy “Soul Plane” (2004). Turning up in more Apatow productions and other parody flicks (2008’s “Superhero Movie“), Hart finally had a breakout performance in the hit ensemble romantic comedy “Think Like a Man” (2012). By this point, thanks largely to his legion of viral-video fans, his stand-up-comedy career followed suit, with his “Laugh at My Pain” tour and concert film proving to be a huge success that made him an undeniably bankable name.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Hart was brought up by his mother, due to his father’s drug addiction and frequent incarceration. Opting to direct his frustrations into comedy, Hart developed a stand-up routine that played up his life as a young short-statured African-American man. Though it took awhile to find receptive audiences, he slowly developed a following and also managed to win some screen parts, notably appearing in a brief run on the collegiate sitcom “Undeclared.” This brought him into the fold of producer/writer/director Judd Apatow, who cast him in various later projects, including “The 40 Year Old Virgin” (2005). Spoof movies factored heavily into Hart’s early film career, with roles in two “Scary Movie” sequels, among others, while “Soul Plane” provided him with a bigger part as the hapless airline-founding lead, Nashawn.
In 2009, Hart’s concert film “I’m a Little Grown Man” was an unexpected hit, although he was still relegated to small parts in feature comedies such as “Death at a Funeral” (2010) and “Little Fockers” (2010). After the runaway success of his next comedy special, “Laugh at My Pain” (2011), Hart continued his acting ascent, with a memorable supporting role in the offbeat dramedy “The Five-Year Engagement” (2012), and a show-stealing turn as the divorced Cedric in the well-received comedy “Think Like a Man” (2012). Following his own mockumentary series, “Real Husbands of Hollywood” (BET, 2013- ), and an appearance in the apocalyptic comedy “This Is the End” (2013), Hart had a victory lap of sorts with the release of yet another concert performance, a tour documentary entitled “Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain” (2013), that affirmed his major-player credibility.
– 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.
– It was announced in October 2013 that ABC will be making a 30 minute pilot based on Hart’s stand-up act. Hart does not plan to star in the sitcom, but does plan on having a recurring role.
– Kevin and Torrei Hart filed for divorce in February 2010, citing irreconcilable differences. Hart requested joint custody of their two children, daughter Heaven and son Hendrix. The divorce was finalized in November 2011.
– 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.
– On August 18, 2014, Hart proposed to model Eniko Parrish. Their wedding is planned for August 8, 2016.
– On April 14, 2013, Hart was arrested 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’ probation after pleading no contest to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol
– On February 22, 2014, he won 2 NAACP Image Awards including, Entertainer of the Year and Best Actor in a Comedy Series
MILESTONES
2001, Co-starred with Jason Segel on a never-aired sitcom titled “North Hollywood,” written and directed by Judd Apatow
2002, Made TV debut on “Comic Groove” (Comedy Central)
2002, Feature film debut, “Paper Soldiers”
2002, Appeared on Fox’s short-lived comedy “Undeclared,” created by Apatow
2004, Played supporting role opposite Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston in “Along Came Polly”
2005, Cast in “The 40 Year Old Virgin,” directed by Apatow and starring Steve Carell
2009, Made executive producing debut with the stand-up special “Kevin Hart: I’m a Grown Little Man”
2010, Delivered ratings hit with the Comedy Central special “Kevin Hart: Seriously Funny”
2010, Cast alongside Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence in “Death at a Funeral”
2012, Co-starred in the hit romantic comedy “Think Like a Man”
2013, Created and starred in the mockumentary show “Real Husbands of Hollywood”
2013, Released another high-profile comedy film, “Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain”
2013 Appeared as himself in “This is the End”
2013 Portrayed Dante Slate, Jr. in “Grudge Match”
2014 Cast as Ben Barber in “Ride Along”
2014 Played Bernie in “About Last Night”
2014 Portrayed Cedric in “Think Like a Man Too”
2014 Played OG Pretty Lil’ Thug, an uncredited role, in “School Dance”
2014 Cast as Charles in “Top Five”
2015 “The Wedding Ringer”, Jimmy
2015 “Get Hard”, Darnell Lewis
2016 “Ride Along 2”, Ben Barber
2016 “Central Intelligence
FAMILY
Father: Henry Witherspoon, a cocaine addict, was in and out of jail throughout most of Kevin’s childhood.
Hart’s relationship with his father improved after the latter recovered from his addiction.
Mother: Nancy Hart, raised Kevin and his brother as a single parent. Hart talks about his mother in his stand-
up routine, portraying her as a loving, yet intimidating woman. In 2006, she died from cancer
Brother: Robert
Daughter Heaven Lee Hart, Born in 2005; mother, Torrei Hart
Son: Hendrix Hart, Born Oct. 8, 2007; mother Torrei Hart
COMPANIONS
Companion: Eniko Parrish, model, engaged as of August 18, 2014; wedding is planned for August 8, 2016
Wife: Torrei Hart, Married May 22, 2003; separated Feb. 5, 2010; Hart filed for divorce in January 2011
EDUCATION New York Community College
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (2016)
Released Release date: July 8, 2016
Genre: Animation, comedy, family Running time: 90 minutes
Production Company: Illumination Entertainment Distributor: Universal Pictures
Director: Chris Renaud
Writers: Ken Daurio, Brian Lynch, Cinco Paul
Producer: Christopher Meledandri
Cast: Louie C.K./Max (voice), Eric Stonestreet/Duke (voice), Lake Bell/Chloe (voice),
Kevin Hart/Snowball (voice)
Notes: Louis C.K. and Kevin Hart’s first animated film.
– Jenny Slate and Louis C.K. previously appeared on Parks and Recreation.
– The song the white poodle was playing on the stereo after its owner had left was “Bounce” by System of a Down.
– This will be Steve Coogan’s third animated movie. The other two are Despicable Me 2 and Minion.
– This will be Albert Brook’s fourth animated movie. The other three are Finding Nemo, The Simpsons Movie and Finding Dory.
– This is Kevin Hart’s second time playing a villain associated with a bunny. He last played a villain named “Big Bunny” in “Fools Gold.”
– The license plate of the New York City Animal Control truck says “GOTCHA 2”.
– Eric Stonestreet’s first animated film
– Seth Meyers appeared in a car commercial promoting the movie released in April, with his dog Frisbee.
– On the back of the bus Snowball is riding in the trailer there is a poster for the film Sing an upcoming Illumination entertainment film also coming out in 2016.
– Images reveal pictures of the minions, with a sign and dog in the background of a house
– The song in the trailer is downtown
– This is Jenny Slate’s second animated film. She previously voiced Bellwether in Disney’s Zootopia.
– The boy who owns the guinea pig has a toy Minion on his bedside table.
KEVIN HART: WHAT NOW? (2016)
Post-production Release Oct. 14, 2016
Genre: Documentary, comedy
Summary: Comedian Kevin Hart performs in front of a crowd of 50,000 people at Philadelphia’s outdoor
venue, Lincoln Financial Field.
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Director: Leslie Small Writer: Kevin Hart
Producers: Jeff Clanagan, Blake Morrison, Valerie Bleth Sharp, Pookey Wigington
Cast: Kevin Hart/Himself, Dennis Keiffer/Man in Black Suit #2, Richardson Jones
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Notes:
This is Kevin Hart’s first international tour
Hart revealed that this would be his last stand up special to be released. He announced this on the internet radio podcast Sway’s Universe. He believes that once reaching the height of selling out an NFL stadium, there is no where higher for him to go and wants to end his stand up specials at the peak of his career.
The biggest stand-up comedy tour EVER spanning 151 shows including USA and Australia.
CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS (2017)
Production unknown Release date: June 2, 2017
Genre: animation, comedy
Summary: Two mischievous kids hypnotize their mean high school principal and turn him into their comic
book creation, the kind-hearted and elastic-banded Captain Underpants.
Production Company: DreamWorks Animation Distributor: 20th Century Fox Films
Director: David Soren (rumored) Writers: Dav Pilkey/Book, Nicholas Stoller/Screenplay
Cast: Kevin Hart/George Beard (voice), Thomas Middleditch/Harold Hutchins (voice), Nick Kroll/Professor
Poopypants (voice)
Notes:
- This will be Dreamworks thirty-first film adaption, it’s first being the Shrek series
- David Soren replaced Rob Letterman.
- This will be the third animated movie starring Nick Kroll. His first movie is Sausage Party and his second will be Sing.
- When this movie is in theaters, this will be the second animated movie starring Thomas Middleditch. His first animated movie is Henchmen.
- This will be the second time Kevin Hart is a voice in an animated movie. His first time will be in The Secret Life of Pets.
- This will be DreamWorks first superhero movie since Megamind.
