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Thomas B. Kin Chong (born May 24, 1938) is a Canadian and American comedian, actor, musician and activist. He is known for his role/inspiration in the marijuana industry, his marijuana-themed Cheech & Chong comedy albums and movies with Cheech Marin, and playing the character Leo on Fox's That '70s Show. He became a naturalized United States citizen in the late 1980s.
As a youth, Tommy Chong moved with his family to Calgary, settling in a conservative neighbourhood Chong has referred to as "Dog Patch". He has said that his father had "been wounded in World War II and there was a veterans' hospital in Calgary. He bought a $500 house in Dog Patch and raised his family on $50 a week." In an interview, Chong later described how he dropped out of Crescent Heights High School "when I was 16 but probably just before they were going to throw me out anyway." He played guitar to make money. "I discovered that music could get you laid, even if you were a scrawny, long-haired, geeky-looking guy like me."
In 1965, the Vancouvers signed with Gordy Records (a subsidiary of Detroit's Motown Records). They recorded their debut album, an eponymous release, and their debut single, the Tommy Chong co-composition, "Does Your Mama Know About Me," peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. While on tour in Chicago for a short time, the band followed opening act the Jackson 5. Chong later referred to the young Michael Jackson as a "cute little guy". After the band released two additional singles, Chong and bandmate Wes Henderson missed a Friday night performance to apply for green cards so they could become American citizens. Chong was fired by Chris Clark and Motown producer Johnny Bristol for arriving late to the gig. Later, when Berry Gordy told Chong that he wasn't fired after all, that it had been a mistake, Chong said he wanted to stay fired. "I said I want to become a Berry Gordy, I don't want to just work for a Berry Gordy. And he says I can, I can dig that. So he was nice. He gave me $5,000 as the severance and to me that was a fortune." The group broke up shortly afterwards, when Chong tried to reduce the number of players covered by the Vancouvers' contract. He intended that he, Taylor, and Henderson would constitute the group, while other members would be classified as sidemen and session artists.
Chong opened another nightclub in Vancouver's Chinatown in 1966 with his brother Stan called the Shanghai Junk Cabaret. The club defied local stripping laws that necessitated that Stripper wear pasties, which led to the club having their liquor license revoked in 1967. Chong often performed as part of Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers while dancers performed in the club.
He also directed four of the duo's films, while co-writing and starring in all seven with Cheech.
Chong was originally going to voice the character of Shenzi, the hyena in the Disney film The Lion King. Cheech Marin voiced Banzai. (The Shenzi character was changed to a female and was voiced instead by Whoopi Goldberg.) Chong provided the voice of the character Yax in the 2016 Disney film Zootopia.
In September 2005, a/k/a Tommy Chong premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The documentary, produced, written and directed by Josh Gilbert, chronicles Chong's comedic and personal history. It includes material related to his prosecution by the US Justice Department and imprisonment. The project features interviews with Cheech Marin, Bill Maher, George Thorogood, Peter Coyote, Lou Adler, Eric Schlosser and Jay Leno. In 2011, Chong appeared as a Judge in an episode of Franklin & Bash.
On September 4, 2014, Chong was announced as one of the celebrities participating on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. He paired with professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd. Despite being at the bottom of the leaderboard numerous times, Chong and Murgatroyd were able to make it to the night of the semi-finals but were eliminated at the end of that night. Chong is the oldest contestant to have made it to the semi-finals of the show.
On April 4, 2015, Chong appeared as a guest speaker at the annual "Hash Bash" event in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which focuses on cannabis legalization.
In November 2017, Chong guest-starred as himself in an episode of the Trailer Park Boys spinoff Out of the Park: USA. In 2017, he also partnered with smoking subscription box service Daily High Club to create the DHC Tommy Chong Signature Smoking Supply Box.
On January 9, 2019, Chong competed in season one of The Masked Singer as "Pineapple" where he sang "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.
On May 23, 2019, Chong appeared on episode #1303 of the internet video podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, hosted by Joe Rogan.
On June 19, 2019, Chong appeared on episode #694 of the internet video podcast "The Church Of What's Happening Now", hosted by Joey Diaz.Archived at Ghostarchive and the
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Wayback Machine:
In April 2020, Chong's brand started working alongside the fashion brand Slicks.
On December 18, 2020, Chong appeared in the online cannabis publication The Green Fund for an interview to discuss his career with Cheech & Chong and his upcoming branded dispensaries.
Chong was charged for his part in financing and promoting Chong Glass/Nice Dreams, a company started by his son Paris. His case never went to trial, as his attorney negotiated a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania's Office. He admitted to distributing 7,500 bongs and water pipes on the Internet through Nice Dreams. Chong agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute drug paraphernalia in exchange for non-prosecution of his wife, Shelby, and his son, Paris. Chong cooperated with the government and was the first of the Operation Pipe Dreams defendants to plead guilty.
At Chong's sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney for Western Pennsylvania Mary McKeen Houghton said in her arguments that Tommy Chong "used his public image to promote this crime" and marketed his products to children. U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan also was present at the sentencing in Pittsburgh and released a statement to the press stating: "There are consequences for violating the law, even if the violator is a well-known entertainer like Thomas Chong."
While Chong argued for community service and home detention at his sentencing, the district judge, Arthur J. Schwab, denied his requests and sentenced him to 9 months in federal prison, a fine of $20,000, forfeiture of $103,514, and the loss of all merchandise seized during the raid of his business. Chong served his sentence at the Taft Correctional Institution from October 8, 2003, to July 7, 2004. He was a cellmate of "The Wolf of Wall Street" Jordan Belfort, who credits him for encouraging Belfort to write his memoirs. They have remained friends.
These events were among those chronicled in a/k/a Tommy Chong (2006), a documentary by Josh Gilbert. It premiered theatrically at the New York Film Forum in New York City and won awards. His time in prison was also a main point in his book, "The I Chong".
Paris Chong had started Nice Dreams in 1999. He was never charged with his alleged crimes in relation to the investigation, as part of a plea bargain. When asked why the government had focused on Chong rather than his son the CEO, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said that "Tommy Chong was the more responsible corporate officer because he financed and marketed the product."
Of the 55 people who were subjects of the investigation, Chong was the only one without previous convictions who received jail time. When questioned on the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan noted that Chong had never gone to trial and made a plea bargain. She said, "He was a relatively new player, but he had the ability to market products like no other."
During its investigation of Nice Dreams, federal agents posed as head-shop owners from Beaver County in western Pennsylvania. They asked Paris Chong to sell them pipes through the mail to a fictitious shop in the town of Beaver Falls, from Pittsburgh. Paris Chong had been prohibited from selling to Pittsburgh or anywhere in Western Pennsylvania because of the successful federal prosecution of Akhil Kumar Mishra and his wife, Rajeshwari, who had two head shops in the city. Accounts differ as to who in Nice Dreams went against Chong's prohibition, or even if it had been made up by the defense, but the sales did take place to the agents. This enabled the U.S. Attorney to show jurisdiction in Pennsylvania for Chong's illegal activities, as opposed to California, which was the base for Nice Dreams.
In 2010, Chong and Cyril Wecht appeared at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to aid the campaign against Mary Beth Buchanan, the United States Attorney who prosecuted him. She was running as a Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives. She was defeated in the Republican primary.
Chong claimed that federal agents had seized 8,000–10,000 copies of the yet-to-be released documentary, a/k/a Tommy Chong, from Spectrum Labs, but their attorney said no DVDs were taken. In a press release, Chong said: "The a way to punish the distributor financially. There's no way to get the DVDs back until the investigation is over." Chong said he did not have any ownership of the film. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette later amended its story, saying that an "undisclosed number of DVDs was taken". It noted the government is not required to disclose a reason for the seizure as the raid was part of "an ongoing investigation".
In mid-2008, Cheech & Chong reunited and started touring. The tour was called Light Up America and Canada and The Felimony Tour, which referred to major experiences of each. In October 2008, they appeared on The Howard Stern Show, the Opie and Anthony Show, and the Ron and Fez Show on SIRIUS/XM Satellite Radio. On March 1, 2010, they hosted WWE Raw in Oklahoma City. On March 13, 2011, Cheech & Chong were guest stars on The Simpsons episode "A Midsummer's Nice Dream", where, during a reunion tour, Homer briefly replaced Chong before the pair reconciled.
Cheech Marin appeared in Tommy Chong's first dance in the season opener of Dancing with the Stars on September 15, 2014. Around this same time, Cheech and Chong appeared together on the Internet-based, pro-marijuana show, Getting Doug with High.
In 1975, Chong married Shelby Chong in Los Angeles. They had three children, including the actor Precious Chong. Meghan Housley, "Precious Chong Pushes Boundaries" Bunch, May 7, 2011, accessed December 8, 2013 They also adopted Marcus Chong (b. 1967) in 1978. Marcus took the surname of his adoptive parents and siblings when he turned eighteen.
In an interview, Tommy Chong shared that he smoked with Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his bodybuilding buddies, and with all the Beatles except Paul McCartney. He also calls George Harrison his favorite smoking friend. Igor Dunaevsky, "Interview with Tommy Chong. Part#1" AskGrowers, December 3, 2020, Retrieved August 17, 2021
Tommy Chong is a marijuana activist and supports legalizing the plant's use. He is a regular contributor to Cannabis Culture Magazine and sits on the NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) advisory board.
In 2019, Chong announced that he is "cancer-free". He also opined that stress could have been a cause of his condition.
| 1978 | Up in Smoke | Anthony "Man" Stoner | Also writer, director |
| 1980 | Cheech & Chong's Next Movie | Chong | |
| 1981 | Nice Dreams | ||
| 1982 | It Came from Hollywood | Himself | |
| Things Are Tough All Over | Chong / Prince Habib | Also writer | |
| 1983 | Still Smokin' | Chong | Also writer, director |
| Yellowbeard | El Nebuloso | ||
| 1984 | Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers | Lucian Corsican | Also writer, director |
| 1985 | Get Out of My Room | The Man | |
| After Hours | Pepe | ||
| 1989 | Tripwire | Merle Shine | |
| 1990 | Far Out Man | Far Out Man | Also writer director |
| 1992 | Life After Sex | Awkward Naked Guy | |
| Root | Voice acting | ||
| 1995 | National Lampoon's Senior Trip | Red | |
| 1997 | McHale's Navy | Armando / Ernesto | |
| 1998 | Half Baked | Squirrel Master | |
| 2001 | The Wash | Dee's Connection | |
| 2002 | High Times' Potluck | Himself | |
| 2003 | Best Buds | Tommy Chong / Carlos | |
| Pauly Shore Is Dead | Himself | ||
| 2005 | Secret Agent 420 | QP | |
| 2006 | Evil Bong | Jimbo Leary | |
| 2007 | Himself | ||
| 2008 | Deputy Tom | Original title: Chinaman's Chance | |
| a/k/a Tommy Chong | Himself | DVD release | |
| 2010 | Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This | Himself | Documentary film |
| 2011 | Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil | Stone | Voice role |
| 2013 | Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie | Chong | Voice role; also writer |
| 2014 | The Fluffy Movie | Video store clerk | |
| 2016 | Zootopia | Yax | Voice role |
| 2017 | It's Gawd! | Gawd | |
| 2018 | Railroad to Hell: A Chinaman's Chance | Deputy Tom | |
| 2019 | Color Out of Space | Ezra | |
| Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | Alfred | ||
| 2025 | Zootopia 2 | Yax | Voice role |
| 1986 | Playboy Comedy Roast for Tommy Chong | Himself | |
| Miami Vice | T.R. "Jumbo" Collins | Episode: "Trust Fund Pirates" | |
| 1994 | The George Carlin Show | Rhodes | Episode: "George Runs Into an Old Friend" |
| 1997 | Nash Bridges | Barry Chen | Episode: "Wild Card" |
| Sliders | Van Elsinger | Episode: "Stoker" | |
| 1999 | Dharma & Greg | Carl | Episode: "Tie-Dying the Knot" |
| 1999–2002, 2005–2006 | That 70s Show | Leo Chingkwake | 65 Episodes |
| 2000 | South Park | Chief Running Pinto | Episode: "Cherokee Hair Tampons" |
| 2007 | George Lopez | Mr. Gutierez | Episode: "George Joins the Neighborhood Wha-tcha and Raises the Vigil-ante" |
| 2008 | Code Monkeys | Laird Boony | Episode: "The Secret of 4-20" |
| 2009 | MADtv | Himself | |
| Tosh.0 | Episode: "Drunk Dunk" | ||
| 2010 | WWE Raw | ||
| 2011 | The Simpsons | Episode: "A Midsummer's Nice Dream" | |
| Franklin and Bash | Judge Tommy Harper | Episode: "The Bangover" | |
| 2014 | Raising Hope | Hubert Wilson | Episode: "The One Where They Get High" |
| The Millers | Ganja Pete | Episode: "Bahama Mama" | |
| Dancing with the Stars | Himself/Contestant | ||
| 2015 | Uncle Grandpa | Bottom Bag | Episode: "Bottom Bag" |
| 2017 | Anthony Stoner/Himself | Episode: "Los Angeles 1" | |
| 2019 | The Masked Singer | Pineapple/Himself | |
| 2023–2024 | That '90s Show | Leo Chingkwake | Recurring Role; 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Lopez vs Lopez | Bryan | season 2 episode 5 "let it go" |
| 2024 | Chong | Playable character in multiplayer modes |
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