Tommy Chong
Actor, Comedian, Musician
Previously Aired On: April 12, 2006 - Listen to this Show!
Tommy Chong is a Canadian-born actor and musician who is well-known for his stereotypical portrayals of hippie-era stoners. He is most widely known for his role as Chong in the marijuana-themed Cheech and Chong comedy movies with Cheech Marin. In the late 1980s, Chong became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
In 2003, Chong was one of those targeted by two American investigations code-named Operation Pipe Dreams and Operation Headhunter, which sought out businesses selling drug paraphernalia, mostly marijuana pipes. He was charged for his part in financing and promoting Chong Glass/Nice Dreams, a company started by his son Paris. Chong was sentenced on September 11, 2003, to 9 months in a federal prison, forfeiture of $103,000, and a year of probation.
Tommy’s book, The I Chong: The Tell-all Prison Diaries of a Comedian Behind Bars by Simon and Schuster is due out later in 2006.
