Richard Anthony"Cheech"Marin(born July 13, 1946) is an American comedian, actor, musician, and activist. He gained recognition as part of the comedy actCheech & Chongduring the 1970s and early 1980s withTommy Chong,and asDon Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez, onNash Bridges.He has also voiced characters in severalDisneyfilms, includingOliver & Company,The Lion King,The Lion King 1½,theCarsfranchise,Coco,andBeverly Hills Chihuahua.

Cheech Marin
Marin at the 2022WonderCon
Birth nameRichard Anthony Marin
Born(1946-07-13)July 13, 1946(age 78)[1]
Los Angeles,California,U.S.
MediumFilm,stand-up,television[2]
Alma materCalifornia State University, Northridge(AB)
Years active1971–present
GenresCharacter comedy,musical comedy,political satire,sketch comedy,stoner comedy
Subject(s)Latin American culture,drug culture,everyday life,recreational drug use
Spouse
Darlene Morley
(m.1975;div.1984)
Patti Heid
(m.1986;div.2009)
Natasha Rubin
(m.2009)
Children3
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • musician
  • activist

Marin's trademark is his characters' strongChicanoaccents.[3][4]

Early life

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Marin was born on July 13, 1946, inSouth Los Angeles,California,toMexicanparents Elsa (néeMeza;1923–2010), a secretary, and Oscar Marin (1922–2015), a police officer for theLAPDandUS Navyveteran ofWorld War II.[5]Marin was born with acleft lip,which was surgically repaired. Marin identifies asChicano;he speaks someSpanishand often uses it in his movies.[3][4]

Marin's nickname "Cheech" is short for "chicharrón",friedpork rind,which is a popular snack and ingredient inLatin American cuisine.[6]In a 2017 NPR interview, Marin attributed the nickname to his uncle: "I came home from the hospital, I was like a couple of days old or something, my uncle came over and he looked in the crib and he said [in Spanish], 'Ay, parece un chicharrón.' Looks like a little chicharrón, you know?"[7]

In 1955, Marin and his family moved toGranada Hills, California,and he attended primary school at St. John Baptist de la Salle Catholic School. Marin then went to high school atBishop Alemany High School,during which he started to attend folk music events at theAsh GroveonMelrose Avenueas a teenager. Afterwards, he studied atCalifornia State University, Northridge(then known as San Fernando Valley State College), where he was a member ofPhi Sigma Kappa.[8]During his second semester at CSUN, he worked almost full-time at Nordskog Industries inVan Nuys,while enrolled more than full-time as a college student. It was also during this time that he was socially introduced to marijuana through his fraternity, a key feature in his later film career, in addition to becoming acquainted withTimothy Learyat aStudents for a Democratic Societycampus event, who would become a lifelong friend. Soon after graduating CSUN as an English major in 1968, he auditioned to sing forFrank Zappa's band,The Mothers of Invention.Not being offered the gig during his audition, a day later Marin moved toVancouver,British Columbia,in order toevade the draftduring theVietnam War.[9]Marin met his future comedic partner,Tommy Chong,inCalgary,Alberta.[10]

Career

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Comedy albums and films

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As a part of the highly successful comedy duoCheech & Chong,Marin participated in a number of comedy albums and feature film comedies in the 1970s and 1980s. Tommy Chong directed four of their films while co-writing and starring in all seven with Marin.

Cheech Marin andTommy Chong,1979

Later films and television work

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After Cheech & Chong disbanded in 1985, Marin starred in a number of films as a solo actor, most notablyBorn in East L.A.,which was also his directorial debut,The Shrimp on the Barbie,Tin Cup,andOnce Upon a Time in Mexico.He made a cameo appearance as a dockworker inGhostbusters II.In 2004, he made his second appearance as a policeman, as "Officer Salino" in the film adaptation of John Grisham's holiday novelSkipping Christmas,under the titleChristmas with the Kranks,starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. In 2009, Marin appeared as an auto mechanic inRace to Witch Mountain.In 2017, he played the voice of a Corrections Officer in thePixarfilmCoco.

Marin appeared in the Fox sitcomMarried... with Childrenas the voice of the Bundys'Briarddog, Buck; he voiced the character in three episodes:Look Who's Barking,Change for a BuckandAssault and Batteries.He made the transition to full-time television work when he co-starred on the short-livedThe Golden Girlsspin-offThe Golden Palace(1992–1993), and later withDon Johnson,Jaime P. Gomez,andYasmine Bleethin the police showNash Bridges(1996–2001), in which they played San Francisco police-detective partners. A movie of this series was rebooted in 2021.[11]In recent years he has been active in playing supporting roles in films and performingvoice oversfor animated features. After appearing in a supporting role inJudging Amy,playing an independently wealthylandscape designer,Marin starred in the CBS sitcomRob,withRob Schneider.

Marin is a frequent collaborator of the directorRobert Rodriguez,who has worked with Marin seven times; the last two installments of theMexicotrilogy,theSpy Kidstrilogy,From Dusk Till DawnandMachete.He provided his voice for severalDisneyanimated films, most notably Tito theChihuahuainOliver & Company(1988),BanzaithehyenainThe Lion King(1994), Ramone inCars(2006) and its sequelsCars 2(2011) andCars 3(2017). He also voiced Manuel in Disney'slive-action-animatedcomedy filmBeverly Hills Chihuahua(2008). Marin also played Pancho inThe Cisco Kid(1994), and reprised the Banzai role in the video gameKingdom Hearts II.

Marin encouraging people to wear masks during theCOVID-19 pandemicas part of the Government of California's "Your Actions Save Lives" campaign in 2020.

Cheech appears in several episodes of AMC'sLodge 49as El Confidente, a member of Lodge 55 in Mexico.[12][13]

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Marin has released two best-selling albums in the children's music genre,My Name is Cheech, the School Bus Driver(1992) andMy Name is Cheech, The School Bus Driver "Coast to Coast"(1997). Both albums were released bilingually. In July 2007, the bookCheech the School Bus Driverwas released, written by Marin, illustrated by Orlando L. Ramirez, and published byHarperCollins.

In 2005, Marin lent his voice to the animated children's seriesDora the Explorer.[14]He appeared in the episode "A Crown for King Juan el Bobo" as the Puerto Rican folk heroJuan Bobo.[15]

Additional television appearances

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In late 2006, Marin participated inSimon Cowell'sCelebrity Duets,having sung withPeter Frampton,Randy Travis,Clint Black,Aaron Neville,andAl Jarreau.He was the fourth to be eliminated.

Marin had a recurring role in the hit television seriesLost,playing David Reyes,Hurley's father.

He was a co-host forWWE Rawon March 1, 2010, with his comedy partnerTommy Chong,inOklahoma City.

Marin also sings on the hidden track "Earache My Eye"onKorn's albumFollow the Leader.It is a cover of an original song by Cheech and Chong. The song is performed by a fictional singer named Alice Bowie, played by Marin, whose appearance consists of a tutu, a Disney mouse ear hat, nipple tassels, an eye mask and dress socks. This character is featured on the cover of Cheech and Chong's Wedding Album and the end of the duo's first film, Up In Smoke.

In 2009, he appeared in theHallmark ChannelmovieExpecting a Miracle.

On March 18, 2010, Marin beat journalistAnderson Cooperand actressAisha TyleronCelebrity Jeopardy!'s Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational. Cooper admitted he was "crushed" by Marin.[16]Marin also won his semifinal round early May but lost in the May 6–7 final toMichael McKean.He had previously won the firstCelebrity Jeopardy!tournament in 1992.[17]

In January 2012, he was one of eight celebrities participating in theFood Networkreality seriesRachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.He was eliminated in the third week of the competition.[18]

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry

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Marin is an avid collector of Chicano art and started his collection in the 1980s. Two national touring exhibitions have featured works from his private collection. He feels that it's important to "use his celebrity status to call attention to what he saw as an under-appreciated and under-represented style of art".[19]In collaboration with the city ofRiverside, California,and theRiverside Art Museum,Marin establishedThe Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry,in the City of Riverside, which opened June 18, 2022. Marin will be donating his collection of over 700 pieces of Chicano art, the largest collection of such art in the world.[20]The center will provide a location for the presentation and study of Chicano art, and is expected to draw international attention.[21][22]

Other interests

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He is an avid golfer, although he initially disliked the sport until he co-starred[23]in the golf-themed comedyTin Cup.Marin also practices horse archery on a special course built on his private land.

On April 19, 2018, Cheech (as part of GLE Brands Inc) signed an agreement with Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corporation (CSE: CANN) to have exclusive rights to use cannabis and cannabis-related products utilizing the Private Stash brand throughout Canada for a period of 2 years, with the agreement automatically renewing for an additional year upon achieving various milestones.

In 2019, he was featured inThe Little Mermaid: An Immersive Live-to-Film Concert Experienceplaying the role ofChef Louisat theHollywood Bowl.

Personal life

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Marin was married in 1975 to Darlene Morley, who co-producedCheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothersand also played minor roles in earlier Cheech & Chong films under the name Rikki Marin. The couple had one child anddivorcedin 1984. Marin married artist Patti Heid in 1986; they had two children and have since divorced. Marin married his longtime girlfriend, Russian pianist Natasha Marin, on August 8, 2009, in a sunset ceremony at their home.

Marin resides inMalibu, California.[24]He is a fan of both theLos Angeles Rams[25]of the NFL, and theLos Angeles Dodgersof the MLB.[26]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 Up in Smoke Pedro de Pacas
1980 Cheech and Chong's Next Movie Cheech/Dwayne "Red" Mendoza
1981 Nice Dreams Cheech
1982 Things Are Tough All Over Cheech/Mr.Slyman/Narrator
1983 Still Smokin' Cheech
Yellowbeard El Segundo
1984 Cannonball Run II Tire Store Employee
Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers Corsican Brother
1985 Get Out of My Room Cheech/Ian Rotten
After Hours Neil
1986 Charlie Barnett's Terms of Enrollment Elvis Friend & Fan
Echo Park Sid
1987 Born in East L.A. Rudy Robles Also director and writer
Fatal Beauty Bartender
1988 Mickey's 60th Birthday Disney Janitor
Oliver & Company Tito the Chihuahua (voice)
1989 Ghostbusters II Dock Supervisor
Rude Awakening Jesus Monteya
Troop Beverly Hills Himself
1990 Far Out Man Cheech
The Shrimp on the Barbie Carlos Munoz
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme Carnival Barker
1992 Ferngully: The Last Rainforest Stump (voice)
1994 Charlie's Ghost Story Coronado
The Magic of the Golden Bear: Goldy III Master Borgia
A Million to Juan Shell Shock
The Lion King Banzai(voice)
1995 Desperado Short Bartender
1996 From Dusk till Dawn Border Guard/Chet Pussy/Carlos
The Great White Hype Julio Escobar
Tin Cup Romeo Posar
1998 Paulie Ignacio
1999 The Nuttiest Nutcracker Mac (voice) Direct-to-video
2000 See You in My Dreams Estaban
Luminarias Jesus
Picking Up the Pieces Mayor Machado
2001 Spy Kids Felix Gumm The Fake Uncle
2002 Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams Cameo
Pinocchio The Fox (voice)
2003 Masked and Anonymous Prospero
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Felix Gumm The Fake Uncle Cameo
Once Upon a Time in Mexico Belini
Good Boy! The Henchmen (voice)
2004 The Lion King 1½ Banzai (voice) Direct-to-video
Christmas with the Kranks Officer Salino
2005 Sian Ka'an Unknown role (voice)
Fall Down a School Erick Matthew, 202, 26, 57, 211 Bus Motorists (voices)
Underclassman Captain Victor Delgado
2006 Cars Ramone(voice)
Mater and the Ghostlight Ramone (voice) Short film
2007 The Union: The Business Behind Getting High Himself
Grindhouse Padre Benicio Del Toro
2008 Beverly Hills Chihuahua Manuel (voice)
2009 Race to Witch Mountain Eddie Cortez The Auto Mechanic
2010 The Perfect Game Padre Esteban
Tales from Earthsea Hare (voice) US version only
Machete Padre Benicio Del Toro Cheech also makes an appearance as the Padre in the (then) fictitiousMachetetrailer for the 2007Grindhousedouble feature. The trailer appears in the DVD for thePlanet Terrorportion ofGrindhouse.
2011 Cars 2 Ramone (voice)
Hoodwinked 2: Hood vs. Evil Mad Hog (voice)
2012 El Santos vs. La Tetona Mendoza Narrator, El Charro (voices) (Spanish-language Mexican animated film)[27]
Tad, The Lost Explorer Freddy (voice) US English dub
2013 Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie Cheech/Pedro de Pacas (voice)
2014 The Book of Life Pancho Rodriguez (voice)
2016 El Americano: The Movie Martin (voice) [28]
Dark Harvest Ricardo[29]
2017 Cars 3 Ramone (voice) [30]
Coco Corrections Officer (voice)
2019 The Cheech: An American Icon's Crusade for the Chicano Art Movement Himself A documentary covering Marin's lifelong advocacy for Chicano art, and his efforts to developThe Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture and Industry.
2020 The War with Grandpa Danny
2022 Angry Neighbors Hector Voice only
Shotgun Wedding Robert
2023 Champions Julio
The Long Game Pollo

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Tracey Ullman Show Azai 1 episode
1990 Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme Carnival Barker
1991 Great Performances El Cosmico 1 episode
1991–94 Married... with Children Buck's Voice 3 episodes
1992 Ring of the Musketeers[de] Burt Aramis
1992–93 The Golden Palace Chuy Castillos 24 episodes
1993 Tales from the Crypt Dr. Beneloy Episode: "Half-Way Horrible"
1994 The Cisco Kid Pancho
Dream On Waiter 1 episode
Sesame Street Genie Episode 3259
1995 Santo Bugito Lencho the Flea Unknown episodes
The Courtyard Angel Steiner
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Alberto (voice) Episode: "Hansel and Gretel"
1996 Latino Laugh Festival Host
1996–98 Tracey Takes On... Carlos 2 episodes
1996–2001 Nash Bridges Inspector Joe Dominguez Main cast; 120 episodes
2000 Funny Flubs & Screw-Ups V Host
The 26th Annual People's Choice Awards Host
Resurrection Blvd. Hector Archuletta
South Park Carlos Ramirez (voice) Episode: "Cherokee Hair Tampons"
2003 The Ortegas Henny Ortega Unaired TV series
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales Himself
George Lopez Lalo Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Honey"
2004–05 Judging Amy Ignacio Messina 20 episodes
2005 Dora the Explorer KingJuan el Bobo(voice) Episode: "A Crown for King Juan el Bobo"
2007 Storm Hawks Cyclonian Pilot
2007–09 Lost David Reyes 3 episodes
2008 Mind of Mencia Gay man's father
2008 Grey's Anatomy Otis Episode: "Where the Wild Things Are"
2009 MADtv Himself
2009 Outnumbered Television film[31]
2009 Expecting a Miracle Father Arturo Television film
2010 WWE Raw Himself (Guest Host)
2011 Off the Map Papa
The Simpsons Himself (voice) Episode: "A Midsummer's Nice Dream"
Lopez Tonight Himself
2012 American Dad! Horatio (voice) Episode: "Stanny Tendergrass"
Psych Deacon Jones
Rob Fernando
Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off Himself (celebrity contestant)
2014 Anger Management Hector
2015 Jane the Virgin Edward
2017 Disjointed Cheech Episode: "The Worst"
2017–20 Elena of Avalor Quita Moz (voice)
2018 Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy Condor De Bogota
2018–19 Lodge 49 El Confidente
2020 Broke Don Dominguez Episode: "The Test"
2021 Maya and the Three Hura / Can / Teca (voice) 5 episodes
Bubble Guppies Fogzilla (Voice) Episode: "Fogzilla!"
Nash Bridges Joe Dominguez Television film
2022 Home Economics Roberto Episodes: "Round-Trip Ticket SAN-OAK, $234", "Wedding Bouquet, $125"
Cars on the Road Ramone (voice) Episode: "Dino Park"
2023 Lopez vs Lopez Carlos Recurring Cast
The Legend of Vox Machina Trinket (voice) Episode: "The Fey Realm"
The Muppets Mayhem Himself Episode: "Track 4: The Times They Are A-Changing"
2024 Primos Pop Ramirez (voice) Recurring role
TBA The Eric Andre Show Himself (guest) Upcoming episode

Video games

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Theme park attractions

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Discography

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Books

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  • Marin, Cheech; Hassan, John (2017).Cheech Is Not My Real Name...But Don't Call Me Chong!.New York: Grand Central Publishing.ISBN9781455592340.OCLC974034992.

See also

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References

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  1. ^Dominguez, Robert (April 16, 1998)."Cheech Is Taking The High Road".Daily News.New York, NY. p. 49.RetrievedJanuary 21,2021.
  2. ^Marin, Richard (October 19, 2019)."The Call".The Moth.
  3. ^ab"What is a Chicano?".Cheech Marin.May 3, 2012.
  4. ^ab"Sophisticated and Naive: A Conversation with Cheech Marin | The Bend Magazine".thebendmag.January 11, 2018.
  5. ^Wedlan, Candace A. (May 10, 1999)."Whatever Works / CHEECH MARIN; A Comic Axed by His Own Club".Los Angeles Times.Southern California Living section, PART-E, page 1.Archivedfrom the original on March 14, 2017.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.(subscription required)
  6. ^"The Comedy Couch – Cheech Marin Interview".The Comedy Couch. July 10, 2006.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
  7. ^"Cheech Marin On How His Famed Comic Collaboration Was Like Chicano Art".National Public Radio - Morning Edition. March 13, 2017.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
  8. ^"Alum" Cheech "Marin and CSUN's Harry Gamboa Featured in French Art Exhibit".CSUN Today.June 30, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 28,2020.
  9. ^Marin, Cheech (2009).Greasy Love Songs(Media notes). Frank Zappa.Zappa Records.
  10. ^Volmers, Eric (January 24, 2016)."Tommy Chong Talks Comedy, Pot, Politics and His Days as aCalgary HeraldPaperboy ".Calgary Herald.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
  11. ^Starr, Michael (November 23, 2021)."Don Johnson back after 20 years for 'Nash Bridges' reunion movie".New York Post.Archived fromthe originalon November 29, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  12. ^Lodge 49
  13. ^Sepinwall, Alan(August 9, 2019)."'Lodge 49' Season 2 Review: And Now Our Moment of Zen ".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon May 7, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  14. ^Nickelodeon. IMDb,A Crown for King Bobo.Aired October 23, 2005ArchivedMarch 14, 2014, at theWayback MachineRetrieved May 29, 2013
  15. ^IMDb, A Crown for King BoboRetrieved May 29, 2013.
  16. ^Steve Krakauer (March 19, 2010)."Another CNN Anchor Fails At Celebrity Jeopardy".Archived fromthe originalon May 25, 2010.
  17. ^"Cheech Marin DonatesJeopardy!Winnings to Charity ".Looktothestars.org. May 9, 2010.RetrievedNovember 5,2015.
  18. ^"Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-Off: New Show Premieres This Winter".Blog.foodnetwork. July 29, 2011.RetrievedNovember 5,2015.
  19. ^Allen, Mike (April 21, 2013)."In collection, W&L talk, Cheech Marin champions Chicano art".The Roanoke Times.RetrievedFebruary 26,2015.
  20. ^Biography (ed.)."Cheech Marin Biography".The Biography website.A&E Television Networks. Archived fromthe originalon July 7, 2020.RetrievedJuly 13,2020.
  21. ^Miranda, Carolina A.(May 1, 2017)."Cheech Marin teams up with city of Riverside and Riverside Art Museum to develop Chicano art center".Los Angeles Times.Archived fromthe originalon June 9, 2020.RetrievedJune 9,2020.
  22. ^"Bank of America Invests $750,000 to Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art".Inland Empire Community News.December 22, 2019.RetrievedJune 10,2020.
  23. ^"Tin Cup".cheechmarin.August 6, 1996.RetrievedNovember 18,2020.
  24. ^"Limelight Listing – Cheech Marin's Malibu home".SFGate.June 3, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 6,2011.
  25. ^"Los Angeles Rams Release Strangely Awesome NFL Draft Hype Video Featuring Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Diplo & Cheech".April 25, 2023.
  26. ^"CHEECH MARIN: BASEBALL GURU".August 5, 2008.
  27. ^AnimaWeb."Personajes".Santos vs. Tetona. Archived fromthe originalon November 20, 2012.RetrievedNovember 5,2015.
  28. ^Hopewell, John (May 20, 2014)."'El Americano 3D' Kicks Off Pre-Sales at Cannes (EXCLUSIVE) ".Variety (magazine).RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  29. ^"Dark Harvest".IMDb.
  30. ^"Sneak peek: 'Cars 3' zooms ahead with new character Cruz Ramirez".USA Today.
  31. ^Andreeva, Nellie (December 6, 2010)."Cheech Marin To Co-Star In 'Outnumbered' And Harry Hamlin To Recur On 'Army Wives'".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedJuly 7,2017.
  32. ^"Richard" Cheech "Marin".GRAMMY.November 19, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 28,2020.
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