Kevin Darnell Hart (born July 6, 1979) is an American comedian and actor. The accolades he has received include nominations for fourPrimetime Emmy Awards.
After winning several stand-up comedy competitions, Hart had his first breakthrough whenJudd Apatow cast him in a recurring role on the TV seriesUndeclared (2001). Hart's comedic reputation continued to grow with the release of his first stand-up albumI'm a Grown Little Man (2009). He has since released four more comedy albums:Seriously Funny (2010),Laugh at My Pain (2011),Let Me Explain (2013), andWhat Now? (2016).
Kevin Darnell Hart[2] was born inPhiladelphia on July 6, 1979,[3] to Nancy Hart (died 2007)[4] and Henry Robert Witherspoon (died 2022).[3][5] He has an older brother named Robert.[2] He was raised in asingle-parent household by his mother, who worked as a systems analyst for the Office of Student Registration and Financial Services at theUniversity of Pennsylvania.[2] His father was acocaine addict who was in and out of jail throughout most of Hart's childhood, prompting Hart to use humor as a way to cope with his troubled family life.[3] His relationship with his father improved after his father recovered from his addiction.[4] He would also later talk about his mother in his stand-up routine, portraying her as a loving yet intimidating woman.[6]
Hart's first stand-up performance took place at The Laff House in his native Philadelphia under the name of Lil Kev, which did not go well.[4][14] His career suffered a slow start and he was booed offstage several times, once even having a piece of chicken thrown at him.[15] After those initial unsuccessful shows, he began entering comedy competitions throughoutMassachusetts, with audience receptions eventually improving.[12] It took time for Hart to develop a unique comedic style. After an early period of attempting to imitate comedians likeChris Tucker, he found his own rhythm by delving into his insecurities and life experiences. He said, "Because of what I do, it has to be an open book. But right now this is a book that is being written."[15]
Hart's comedy tours began in 2009 with his act titledI'm a Grown Little Man, followed bySeriously Funny in 2010,Laugh at My Pain in 2011, andLet Me Explain in 2013, the last two of which were also released as features in movie theaters.[4] Hart grossed over $15 million from "Laugh at My Pain", making it one of the year's top-selling comedy tours.[16] Hart also has a game app available throughiTunes called "Little Jumpman". HisFacebook page,Twitter account, andYouTube channel are all connected to and accessible through this app.[14] Most overseas fans of Hart discovered him on YouTube, as well.[17]
In 2014, Hart starred as Ben inRide Along, oppositeIce Cube.[23] The film received generally negative reviews from critics, but was a major box office success.[24][25] Hart returned in the sequel,Ride Along 2, which was released in 2016.[26][27]
In 2013, Hart co-createdReal Husbands of Hollywood withChris Spencer.[28] The show follows Hart along with other married celebrities (each playing a comical fictionalized version of themselves) within the series including:Boris Kodjoe,Nelly,Duane Martin,J.B. Smoove,Nick Cannon andRobin Thicke. Thicke did not return for the second season due to his music career, though Hart has stated that the door is open for him to return.[29] The series is filmed in a style similar toBravo'sThe Real Housewives. Episodes often hinge on the "real" Hart's desperately unsuccessful attempts to climb Hollywood's celebrity social ladder (which always backfire in humiliating ways), and the character's barely-hidden envy of his more successful celebrity friends. A sneak peek was shown as a segment during the2012 BET Awards and the officialpromo was released in October 2012.[30]
In 2018, he produced his first film under his production company HartBeat Productions,Night School.[36] In October 2018, his production company announced that he signed afirst-look deal withNickelodeon. Under the deal, Hart and his HartBeat Productions banner will develop and produce live-action, scripted kids content for the network. Hart also has a first-look film deal withUniversal Studios.[37]
In 2021, Hart starred inFatherhood, adrama about a man whose wife dies shortly after childbirth, leaving him to raise their daughter on his own.[39] It premiered onNetflix on June 18, 2021.[40]
In July 2020, his seriesDie Hart premiered onQuibi on July 20 and had a strong first weekend. In March 2023,Roku and Hart's multi-platform comedy brandLaugh Out Loud debuted the series' second season onThe Roku Channel. In addition to returning to his starring role, Hart executive produced the second season; Laugh Out Loud CEO and Hart's longtime business partner, Jeff Clanagan, served as a producer on the project.[41]
In 2022, Hart starred alongsideMark Wahlberg in the comedy film,Me Time. The movie shows how Sonny (Hart) experiences a wild journey with his friend after finding a much-longed-for free weekend.[44]
In 2019, Hart signed on to star in and produceMonopoly.[48] As of June 2023[update],Monopoly is still in development.[49]
Laugh Out Loud Productions
In 2017, Hart foundedLaugh Out Loud (LOL),[50] a global media and production company to provide opportunities for top comedic talent of all ethnicities worldwide.[51] Originally partnered withLionsgate,[52] Hart became majority owner in 2019 after buying out most of Lionsgate's stake. LOL spans the full range of media channels, including digital, audio, linear and experiential, with four divisions: LOL Network, LOL Studios, LOL Audio and LOL X![53]
Known for content such asCold As Balls,What the Fit,Die Hart, and more, LOL has amassed more than 1 billion video views across its digital platforms,[58] and has worked with brand partners such asAT&T,Headspace,Lyft,Old Spice,P&G, andViacom.[41]
LOL and production company Hartbeat Productions merged in April 2022, creating Hartbeat, which includes Hartbeat Studios, Hartbeat Media and Hartbeat Pulse.[59]
On December 4, 2018, Hart was announced as the host of the2019 Academy Awards. Two days later, however, he withdrew from hosting duties in the wake of backlash against him over severalhomophobic tweets he had posted between 2010 and 2011.[67][68][69][70] He characterized the protest as unconstructive and argued, "If you don't believe people change, grow as they get older, I don't know what to tell you". On December 7, he tweeted an apology to theLGBTQ community following criticism for not issuing one the previous day.[71] On January 3, 2019, Hart stated that he was going to reconsider stepping down as host, after openly lesbian comedianEllen DeGeneres, who has hosted the Academy Awards multiple times, expressed support for him to do so and said she had contacted the Academy to ask if Hart would be able to reverse his decision if he wished and, according to DeGeneres, they said he would be able to do so.[72] On January 8, following backlash for what was perceived as an insincere apology by critics, Hart confirmed that he would not be hosting the Academy Awards.[73] That year's ceremony was ultimately held without a host.
In September 2020, executives from theMuscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announced plans to relaunch theirannual MDA telethon and make Hart its new host, taking over duties that had been held from 1966 to 2010 by comedian and former National MDA ChairmanJerry Lewis.[74] EntitledThe MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon, the two-hour telethon was held on October 24, 2020, and was seen exclusively through participatingsocial media platforms.[75]
In August 2022, Hart debuted avegan restaurant, Hart House, to compete withfast-food chains by "offering flavorful plant-based alternatives".[80][81] The restaurant opened inLos Angeles, California, about a mile fromLos Angeles International Airport (LAX), with a simple menu ofveggie burgers andChick'n products.[80][81] The restaurant's offerings are claimed to be "entirely free of cholesterol, antibiotics, hormones, artificial colors, preservatives,high-fructose corn syrup, or trans fats", and inspired by Hart's own "health nut" lifestyle.[81]
Hart married Torrei Skipper[87] in 2003, and they filed for divorce in 2010 after citing irreconcilable differences.[88] Hart requested joint custody of their two children, a daughter born in 2005 and a son born in 2007.[89][90] The divorce was finalized in November 2011.[91]
On August 18, 2014, Hart became engaged to Eniko Parrish.[92] They were married nearSanta Barbara, California, on August 13, 2016.[93] Their first child was born on November 21, 2017.[94] A month later, he publicly admitted to having cheated on her while she was pregnant with their son.[95] They reconciled and had a second child together, a daughter born on September 29, 2020.[96]
An avid poker player since around 2010, Hart has entered major tournaments such as theWorld Series of Poker, cashing in one event for $4,783 in 2014. He also plays cash games, like the ones organized byPokerStars, and became their Brand Ambassador in 2017. As such, he was featured in PokerStars ad campaigns and promotional content, alongsideUsain Bolt.[97] As of September 2020, he has earned $47,828 in live tournament cashes.[98]
Hart is a practicing Christian and has talked openly about his faith.[99]
Injuries
On September 1, 2019, Hart was a passenger in a1970 Plymouth Barracuda that went offMulholland Highway and rolled down an embankment nearCalabasas, California. He and the driver reportedly suffered "major back injuries" and were taken to separate hospitals.[100] Hart was released from the hospital 10 days later, and continued recovery at a rehabilitation facility.[101]
On August 23, 2023, Hart ran a 40-yard race with formerNational Football League running backStevan Ridley, and tore his lower abductors on his abdomen. He required a wheelchair as part of his recovery and said afterward he is the "dumbest man alive" and "the age 40 is real", recommending no one attempt to race like he did.[102]
Legal issue
On April 14, 2013, Hart was charged on suspicion ofdrunk driving after his vehicle nearly collided with a tanker truck on aSouthern California freeway. He failed a field sobriety test and was booked for misdemeanordriving under the influence.[103] On August 5, he was sentenced to three years ofprobation after pleadingno contest to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol.[104]
Height
Kevin Hart's height has been a subject of public curiosity and varying reports, with sources listing him anywhere between 5'2" and 5'5". In an April 2024 interview on60 Minutes, Hart clarified his actual height, stating, "I'm 5-foot-5, like with a shoe on, like a sneaker. Now, if I put a boot on, I can get to 5'5" and a half."[105] This clarification came after discrepancies in media reports, such asGQ listing him at 5'5" and theLos Angeles Times at 5'4".[106] Hart often incorporates humor about his stature into his stand-up routines.