"When people say, 'You care more about money than winning an Oscar,' well, what does an Oscar mean? An Oscar means more work when you win it, and that means more money! I couldn't eat that Oscar. Everybody needs money, baby. That's how we survive, right?"
-- Comedienne and actress Mo'Nique in response to reports that she's not promoting the movie 'Precious' because she's not getting paid. (New York Daily News)
Popular Black Comedians
Mo'Nique
Started Out: Appearing at the downtown Baltimore Comedy Factory Outlet. Big Break: Starred on the hit UPN sitcom 'The Parkers.' Hometown: Baltimore Also Was Seen: In 'Three Can Play That Game,' 'Hair Show' and 'Shadowboxer.' Factoid: Born in 1967, Mo'Nique (real name: Monique Imes) is the author of 'Skinny Women are Evil: Notes of a Big Girl in a Small-Minded World' and the cookbook 'Skinny Cooks Can't Be Trusted.'
George Wallace
Started Out: Doing a completely improvised routine in a New York City comedy club circa 1977. Big Break: Worked as a writer for 'The Redd Foxx Show.' Hometown: Atlanta Also Was Seen: In the movies 'The Ladykillers' and 'Batman Forever.' Factoid: Born in 1952, Wallace owns and operates one of Las Vegas' most popular stand-up comedy shows -- his very own at the legendary Flamingo.
Damon Wayans
Started Out: As a stand-up comic on the syndicated TV show 'Solid Gold.' Big Break: Starred in the hit 1990s sketch comedy show 'In Living Color,' along with family members Keenan Ivory Wayans, Kim Wayans, Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans. Hometown: New York City Also Was Seen: In 'Beverly Hills Cop,' 'Mo Money' and 'Marci X.' Factoid: Born in 1960, Wayans served as the executive producer of '413 Hope St.,' a short-lived drama on the FOX network starring Richard Roundtree and Jesse L. Martin, which premiered in 1997.
Chris Rock
Started Out: Doing stand-up comedy in 1985 in New York City's Catch a Rising Star Comedy Club. Big Break: Was a cast member of the popular sketch comedy series 'Saturday Night Live.' Hometown: New York City Also Was Seen: In the movie 'New Jack City,' where he played a crackhead informant. Factoid: Born in 1965, Rock won a Grammy for best spoken comedy album in 1999 for the project 'Bigger & Blacker.'
Paul Mooney
Started Out: As a writer for the groundbreaking sitcoms 'The Richard Pryor Show' and 'Sanford and Son.' Big Break: Creating the character Homie the Clown for the irreverent sketch comedy show 'In Living Color.' Hometown: Louisiana Also Was Seen: In the movies 'Hollywood Shuffle,' and 'Bamboozled.' Factoid: Born in 1941, Mooney recorded racially charged comedy albums - via Stepsun Records - during the 1990s and gained newfound notoriety as Negrodamus on the hit Comedy Central series 'Chappelle's Show.'
Wanda Sykes
Started Out: Began her stand-up career at a Coors Light Super Talent Showcase in Washington, D.C. Big Break: Played multiple roles on Chris Rock's Emmy Award-winning HBO show. Hometown: Portsmouth, Va. Also Was Seen: In the movies 'Monster-in-Law' and 'Pooty Tang' and on the TV shows 'Wanda At Large,' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and 'The New Adventures of Old Christine.' Factoid: During a Las Vegas gay rights rally in November 2008, Sykes proclaimed she was "proud to be gay."
Whoopi Goldberg
Started Out: In 1984, her one-woman show – directed by Mike Nichols -- became a Broadway hit. Big Break: The Steven Spielberg-directed movie 'The Color Purple,' in which she made her debut and won an Academy Award nomination. Hometown: New York City Also Was Seen: In 'Jumping Jack Flash,' 'Made in America,' 'Sister Act' and 'Ghost,' for which she won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as a colorful and crafty clairvoyant. Factoid: Born in 1955, Goldberg (real name: Caryn Elaine Johnson) became a co-host of ABC's long-running talk show, 'The View,' in 2007.
Dave Chappelle
Started Out: Cutting his teeth on the New York City comedy circuit. Big Break: He co-wrote and starred in the 1998 stoner film 'Half Baked.' Hometown: Washington, D.C. Also Was Seen: In the movies 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights,' 'Blue Streak,' 'The Nutty Professor' and 'Undercover Brother.' Factoid: Born in 1973, Chappelle (real name: David Anand Khari Webber Chappelle) helmed his eponymous Comedy Central show, which was wildly popular until he walked away in the middle of its third season.
Chris Tucker
Started Out: Small parts in TV shows such as 'Roseanne' and 'Hangin' with Mr. Cooper.' Big Break: Playing Ice Cube's sidekick in the 1985 comedy movie 'Friday.' Hometown: Atlanta Also Was Seen: In the movies 'Money Talks,' 'The Fifth Element' and the blockbuster 'Rush Hour' movie franchise. Factoid: Born in 1972, Tucker endorsed Barack Obama rather than Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primaries even though he traveled overseas with President Bill Clinton.
Finesse Mitchell
Started Out: Appeared on BET's 'Comic View' in 1999. Big Break: Was a cast member on 'Saturday Night Live' in 2003. Hometown: Atlanta Also Was Seen: In the movies 'Who's Your Caddy?' 'The Comebacks' and 'Mad Money.' Factoid: Born in 1972, the University of Miami graduate authored the book 'Your Girlfriends Only Know So Much.'
Comments: (44)
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By: whatever on 10/08/2009 9:28AM
well i honestly dont like monique and dont care what she has to say!! shes a bitter hater and i cant stand to hear her voice. you hate skinny b****es??? then why are you trying to be one???
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By: Sonnie on 10/08/2009 5:24PM
For health reasons.
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By: Valentino M. on 10/09/2009 9:17AM
...And the weight loss thing...I knew she would eventually lose weight. That whole ridiculous notion that you can be obese and healthy is within itself untrue. Massive amounts of fat is NOT healthy, so how could she possibly say and try to, to no avail, make me believe that she was healthy, let alone happy. The pressure of Hollywood is too great for anyone who is overweight to stay that way. Not only that, but when one can't ascend a flight of steps without become so winded that a 10- minute breather is needed, one needs to lose weight. The whole "skinny bitch" thing was a farce. Deep inside, she was longing to be one, and it's all coming to fruition.
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By: vee343 on 10/09/2009 3:22PM
LOL...you are so right..you expressed my thoughts exactly...and I'm a big woman and she used to be a favorite of mine...now she just irratate me...her voice and her laugh..and always calling people "babyyyyyy"
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By: SWEETS on 10/09/2009 11:40PM
Health reasons is a good reason to lose weight but....Hating "b--chs and hating "skinny" b--chs is two completely different statements so,im assuming she wouldnt hate "skinny"
b--chs if she was skinny.
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By: mssmissmiss on 10/12/2009 1:57AM
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By: mstab4 on 10/09/2009 6:51AM
I am not a fan of Mo'Nique', I feel like she could have been a team player ,after all she is in the move , some times you have too play the game, and I can't her voice eighter.
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By: DMG on 10/09/2009 7:57AM
TP has brought a lot of light to Black people, actors and thier issues. And when you bring light to people everything is exposed; the good, the bad and what ever else is there. So, it is Monigue's right to tell her true feelings, however she could have voiced her concerns to him. And not to the entire world and settled the matter in private. As I wrote in the beginning light exposes what is their. And I thank TP for bringing light to many issues that Black people and all people deal with.
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By: Valentino M. on 10/09/2009 7:55AM
I think it's silly that she's not promoting the movie. Didn't she know she wasn't being paid from the word "action"? Doesn't she want her fans to see the movie simply because she's in it? What a stupid stance to take Mo'nique. An applauded performance means more money. Whether or not you win an Oscar is yet to be seen, but with that kind of buzz about your work, you should be handing out flyers on street corners for people to see it. Girl, what is wrong with you?! Simply being nominated for an Academy Award means more work, hence more money, Mo'nique, don't be stupid. Furthermore, why would you take the part, then not promote it. Since you don't care about your performance, don't you want Tyler Perry to continue to do well? The movie looks like a great work. Fortunately I don't allow celebrities to make or not make decisions for me, stupid girl. I'm sorry - it just angers me.
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By: monae on 10/09/2009 8:59AM
I agree with you 100%.That was an ignorant statement on her part yes it's more work which means more money which in return you continue to eat as she say.It's not all about her what about the rest of the cast that work just as hard.Everyone has a right to their own opinion but some things are meant to private good luck to her.
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