Mark Curry (actor)
Encyclopedia
Mark G. Curry is an American
actor
and comedian
. He is best known as the star of the ABC
sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
, and as one of the various hosts of the syndicated series It's Showtime at the Apollo
.
. He attended St. Joseph Notre Dame High School
in Alameda, California
and California State University, East Bay
in Hayward, CA.
, alongside Martin Lawrence
.
Curry's first major role was on television series Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
, where he played the lead role of Mark Cooper, an NBA player-turned-substitute teacher/gym coach.
Curry appeared two episodes of The Jamie Foxx Show
as an eccentric driving instructor. In addition, he also had guest starring roles on television series Living Single
(1994) and Martin
(1997), and minor roles in the films Switchback
and Armageddon.
In 2000, Curry also had a recurring role on The Drew Carey Show
as Drew
's boss at Winfred-Louder. He appeared in six episodes. In an April Fools' episode of The Drew Carey Show, Drew refers to Mr. Soulard as Mr. Cooper, the joke being that Curry played both roles
He was the host of Comedy Central
's Don't Forget Your Toothbrush
in 2000 and had minor roles in For Your Love
, (which starred Hangin' with Mr. Cooper co-star, Holly Robinson Peete). A Man Is Mostly Water (also 2000). In 2001 had a minor role in the Disney Channel Original Movie Motocrossed
. Later in the year, Curry played one of the leads in another Disney Channel Original Movie, The Poof Point
.
Curry had guest starring roles in Less Than Perfect
and Fat Actress
(2002) and was the host of the PAX-TV show "Animal Tails" (2003). In 2004, he appeared on "Celebrity Mole Yucatan
". He came in second place to Dennis Rodman
.
On November 30, 2008, Mark performed a stand-up comedy routine on The Comedy Festival Laffapalooza Special, hosted by Tracy Morgan
.
He appeared in the 2002 song Oakland Raiders
by Oakland rap
group Luniz
. Delivering a humorous monologue as the song faded out, Curry asserted his status as a pimp
and stated his fondness for big dank.
Played guitar for a band called Nougat Tuesday for 11 years before making a permanent transition to acting.
interview posted on CNN.com on February 17, 2007, Curry considered suicide after waking from a three-day, medically-induced coma, reportedly hoarding pain medication. After talking with comedian friends who made him laugh, such as Sinbad and Bill Cosby
, he decided against suicide. He went on The Montel Williams Show
to discuss this issue.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. He is best known as the star of the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from 1992 to 1997, starring Mark Curry and Holly Robinson. The show took place in Curry's hometown of Oakland, California. Hangin' with Mr. Cooper was produced by Jeff Franklin Productions, in association with...
, and as one of the various hosts of the syndicated series It's Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast on September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008 with 1093 episodes, and is produced by the Apollo Theater...
.
Early life and education
Curry was born in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. He attended St. Joseph Notre Dame High School
St. Joseph Notre Dame High School
St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, California is a coeducational Roman Catholic high school. It is one of the few Catholic high schools in the world to possess an on-campus minor basilica, the Basilica of St. Joseph, Alameda. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and...
in Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
and California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay is a public university located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The university, as part of the 23-campus California State University system, offers over 100 areas of study...
in Hayward, CA.
Career
Curry's first role was in the film Talkin' Dirty After DarkTalkin' Dirty After Dark
Talkin' Dirty After Dark is a comedy film starring Martin Lawrence. The film was directed by Topper Carew, who also wrote the film. Carew also directed, created, and produced Lawrence's TV show, Martin...
, alongside Martin Lawrence
Martin Lawrence
Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an American actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and stand up comedian. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor, most notably the films Bad Boys, Blue Streak, and Big Momma's House...
.
Curry's first major role was on television series Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from 1992 to 1997, starring Mark Curry and Holly Robinson. The show took place in Curry's hometown of Oakland, California. Hangin' with Mr. Cooper was produced by Jeff Franklin Productions, in association with...
, where he played the lead role of Mark Cooper, an NBA player-turned-substitute teacher/gym coach.
Curry appeared two episodes of The Jamie Foxx Show
The Jamie Foxx Show
The Jamie Foxx Show is an American television sitcom that aired on the WB Network from August 28, 1996 to January 14, 2001. The series starred Jamie Foxx, Garcelle Beauvais, Christopher B. Duncan, Ellia English, and Garrett Morris.-Synopsis:...
as an eccentric driving instructor. In addition, he also had guest starring roles on television series Living Single
Living Single
Living Single is an American television sitcom which aired for five seasons on the Fox network from August 29, 1993 to January 1, 1998. The show centered on the lives of six friends who share personal and professional experiences while living in a Brooklyn brownstone.Throughout its run, Living...
(1994) and Martin
Martin (TV series)
Martin is an American sitcom produced by HBO Independent Productions that aired for five seasons, from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997 on Fox...
(1997), and minor roles in the films Switchback
Switchback (film)
Switchback is a 1997 thriller starring Dennis Quaid, Danny Glover, Jared Leto, Ted Levine, William Fichtner and R. Lee Ermey, set in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado, and Amarillo, Texas, USA. It was directed by Jeb Stuart.-Plot:...
and Armageddon.
In 2000, Curry also had a recurring role on The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
as Drew
Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey is an American actor, singer, comedian, photographer, sports executive, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as...
's boss at Winfred-Louder. He appeared in six episodes. In an April Fools' episode of The Drew Carey Show, Drew refers to Mr. Soulard as Mr. Cooper, the joke being that Curry played both roles
He was the host of Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's Don't Forget Your Toothbrush
Don't Forget Your Toothbrush
Don't Forget Your Toothbrush is a Saturday night light entertainment show originally broadcast in the United Kingdom in 1994, and has also been adapted in Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and Portugal...
in 2000 and had minor roles in For Your Love
For Your Love (TV series)
For Your Love is an American sitcom that premiered on March 17, 1998 on NBC. It was canceled after six episodes, but was picked up by The WB Network. It ran there for four years before its 2002 cancellation.-Synopsis:...
, (which starred Hangin' with Mr. Cooper co-star, Holly Robinson Peete). A Man Is Mostly Water (also 2000). In 2001 had a minor role in the Disney Channel Original Movie Motocrossed
Motocrossed
Motocrossed! is a 2001 Disney Channel Original Movie , about a girl named Andrea Carson who loves motocross, despite the fact that her father finds her unsuited for the sport, being that she is "just a girl"...
. Later in the year, Curry played one of the leads in another Disney Channel Original Movie, The Poof Point
The Poof Point
The Poof Point is a Disney Channel Original Movie. This movie is based on the children's novel "The Poof Point" by Ellen Weiss, M. Friedman.- Plot :...
.
Curry had guest starring roles in Less Than Perfect
Less Than Perfect
Less Than Perfect is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from October 1, 2002, to June 6, 2006. The show was about a young female office employee and her co-workers...
and Fat Actress
Fat Actress
Fat Actress is an American sitcom television series starring Kirstie Alley. It aired on Showtime in the United States in the spring of 2005, on Movie Central in Western Canada, The Movie Network in Eastern Canada, FX in the UK, Network Ten in Australia and VOX and Das Vierte in Germany...
(2002) and was the host of the PAX-TV show "Animal Tails" (2003). In 2004, he appeared on "Celebrity Mole Yucatan
The Mole (U.S. Season 4)
Celebrity Mole: Yucatan was the fourth overall season of the American version of The Mole and aired from January 7 to February 18, 2004. It was filmed on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, and based primarily at the Occidental Grand Flamenco Xcaret Resort...
". He came in second place to Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
.
On November 30, 2008, Mark performed a stand-up comedy routine on The Comedy Festival Laffapalooza Special, hosted by Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan is an American comedian who is best known for his eight seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and currently known for playing the role of Tracy Jordan on the NBC series 30 Rock.-Early life:...
.
Music
Curry was featured in Too Short's music video "I Ain't Trippin'", and is also featured in Bow Wow's "Take You Home" video as a father trying to get his daughter a doll of the rapper.He appeared in the 2002 song Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
by Oakland rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
group Luniz
Luniz
The Luniz were an American platinum-selling rap duo from Oakland, California, formed by the rappers Yukmouth and Numskull. They released an internationally successful hit in 1995 entitled "I Got 5 on It", two versions of which appeared on their album Operation Stackola...
. Delivering a humorous monologue as the song faded out, Curry asserted his status as a pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
and stated his fondness for big dank.
Played guitar for a band called Nougat Tuesday for 11 years before making a permanent transition to acting.
Personal life
On April 17, 2006, an aerosol can that had fallen behind Curry's water heater exploded and Curry, who was doing laundry at the time, was burned on over 20% of his body, including his arm, back and side. He spent many months recuperating at his home. According to an Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
interview posted on CNN.com on February 17, 2007, Curry considered suicide after waking from a three-day, medically-induced coma, reportedly hoarding pain medication. After talking with comedian friends who made him laugh, such as Sinbad and Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
, he decided against suicide. He went on The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Montel Williams. On January 30, 2008 it was announced that The Montel Williams Show would stop production on new episodes at the end of the 2007-2008 television season after seventeen years...
to discuss this issue.