Tommy Chong Net Worth

Tommy Chong's Quotes

• [on guitarist Gaye Delorme] When people used to see Coltrane play, sax players would run out of the clubs going 'I quit! I'll never play again! I can't take it!. On a quieter scale, that's exactly how Gaye mad me feel. He had a neat little trick. All good musicians do. He said, 'Can I sit in, and do you mind if if I can borrow your guitar?' And then he took the same instrument that I'd been struggling with and make it sound like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, all rolled in one.
• I've met a lot of jazz musicians in my day, and they're all funny. Cannonball Adderley was a riot, Miles [Miles Davis] had the most dry sense of humor ever, always had something clever to say. I think what is is is jazz musicians - they're so careful about what notes they play, everything they do is to impress the listener. And that's what comedy is. Comedy is the ultimate truth. Jazz is hitting the notes that that no one else would hit, and comedy is saying words that no one else would say. And Gaye was the master. He was really just a special guy.
• [on his mother] She really helped me. The thing about her, she was a white woman and she was married to my dad who was Chinese, and she said "Remember this: you're mixed so people are always going to look at you, they're going to notice you. So it's up to you how you conduct yourself, but you're going to be noticed."
• The trouble when you're doing something illegal is that you know what you're doing. You're lying to your parents, you're lying to your kids. The only person you can't lie to is yourself.

Interesting Facts about Tommy Chong

1. Father, with Shelby Chong of Gilbran Chong, Paris Chong, Precious Chong, and Marcus Chong.
2. Father, with Maxine Sneed, of Rae Dawn Chong, Robbi Chong. Adopted father of Marcus Chong.
3. The rumor of his death in the mid-1990s, (spread mainly through the internet) was greatly exaggerated.
4. Former guitarist of the 1960s interracial sextet, 'Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers' whose singer was Bobby Taylor . He also co-wrote the group's biggest hit, "Does Your Mama Know About Me".
5. Has a stand-up comic act with his wife, Shelby Chong. They frequently perform to sold-out crowds. [2001]
6. Has two children with first wife Maxine Sneed: daughters Rae Dawn Chong (born in 1961) and Robbi Chong (born in 1965). He also has four children with second wife Shelby Chong: daughter Precious Chong (born in 1968, while he was still married to first wife Maxine), and sons Paris Chong (born in 1974), Marcus Chong (adopted in 1978), and Gilbran Chong (born in 1980).
7. His father, Stanley Chong, was a Chinese immigrant. His mother, Lorna Jean (Gilchrist), was of Scots-Irish ancestry.
8. Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 104-105 (article "Cheech and Chong"). New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
9. True to his comedy image, Tommy and his family ran Nice Dreams Enterprises, an internet company that sells marijuana bongs and pipes. He was arrested in 2003 on federal drug paraphernalia charges and sentenced in September of that year. He will spend 9 months in jail and pay around $120,000 in fines.
10. The only person of the 55 arrested during the US Drug Enforcement Administration's "Operation Pipe Dreams" to serve time in prison.
11. Originally considered for the part of Shenzi alongside Cheech Marin in The Lion King (1994). But the directors couldn't get hold of Chong, So the part went to Whoopi Goldberg.
12. Shared the stage with Producer/Actor Anthony Begonia for an East Meets West event in Little Tokyo.
13. Has a webcast on youtube under the username citizenchong.
14. Was considered for the role of Sheriff Leigh Brackett in Halloween (1978).
15. Former Father-in-law of C. Thomas Howell.
16. Former brother-in-law of Three Dog Night drummer, Floyd Sneed.
17. Diagnosed with prostate cancer [June 9, 2012].
18. In federal prison in the 1990s, his cube-mate was Jordan Belfort, who would regale Chong with wild tales of his career as a stockbroker. Chong encouraged Belfort to write a book, which was turned into The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). They've remained friends ever since.
19. Contrary to popular belief, it is not his likeness as the picture of Jesus in Born in East L.A. (1987).