One of the most
popular African
American comedians of the late 1990s, TV
star turned screen
actor Jamie Foxx first became known for his many roles on
Keenen Ivory Wayans' long-running comedy variety
show In Living Color. Since then,
Foxx has played both raucous and sensitive nice-guy roles in a number of films, and earned particular
acclaim for his portrayal of a talented but egotistical quarterback in
Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday.
Born Eric Bishop in the small town of Terrell, Texas, on December 13, 1967, Foxx was raised by his grandparents after his parents separated. He enjoyed a happy upbringing, going to church every day with his grandparents and excelling at everything from academics to music to football. During his teen years he had his first taste of the entertainment business as his church's choir director and music director, and also started his own R&B band. FOXX studied music while a student at the U.S. International University in San Diego; it was during his college days that he got his start as a stand-up comedian. Attending a comedy club One night with some friends, he was encouraged to take the stage and perform some impersonations, which proved incredibly popular with the audience. Foxx's enthusiastic reception led to his decision to move to L.A. and pursue a comedy career. At the age of 22 he was hired for Charles Dutton's sitcom Roc, and he subsequently landed a recurring role on In Living Color.
Foxx was ultimately given his own show in 1996; that same year, he appeared in a supporting role in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, which cast him as a friend of Ben Chaplin. He was also featured in the boxing satire The Great White Hype, and the following year he got star billing opposite fellow comedian Tommy Davidson in the poorly received comedy Booty Call. After playing a DJ in Ice Cube's The Players Club (1998), FOXX earned some of his best reviews to date for his role in Any Given Sunday (1999). He subsequently returned to straight comedy, starring in Antoine Fuqua's crime comedy Bait as an ex-con trying to mend his ways, and as a man caught in a convenience stored robbery in Held Up.
--Rebecca Flint, All Movie Guide
