Born Name:  Thomas Bing Kin Chong

Born Date:  May 24, 1938

Born Place:  Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Died Date: 

Died Place: 

Occupations:  Comedian, actor, musician, activist, writer

Brief Biography:  Thomas B. Kin Chong is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, writer, musician, and activist, widely known for his iconic role as half of the stoner comedy duo Cheech & Chong. Alongside Cheech Marin, he revolutionized comedy with cannabis-themed albums and films like Up in Smoke (1978) during the 1970s and 80s. He is also recognized for his television work, particularly playing Leo on Fox's That '70s Show.

Early Life and Music Career:
Upbringing: Raised in Calgary, Alberta, where he dropped out of high school at age 16 to support himself as a guitarist.
Music Career: In the 1960s, he was a member of the Vancouver soul band Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, which signed to Motown Records and recorded the hit "Does Your Mama Know About Me".

Cheech & Chong Era:
Formation: Met Richard "Cheech" Marin in Vancouver, British Columbia, in the late 1960s.
Comedy Success: They moved to Los Angeles, creating a comedy brand centered on hippie and stoner culture. They released six gold comedy albums, including the 1974 Grammy-winning Los Cochinos.
Films: They co-wrote and starred in seven films, including Up in Smoke (1978), Nice Dreams (1981), and Things Are Tough All Over (1982).

Later Career:
"That '70s Show": Played the recurring character Leo, a laid-back hippie, from 1998 to 2006.
Voice Acting & Reality TV: Voiced Yax the Yak in Disney's Zootopia (2016) and competed on Dancing with the Stars and The Masked Singer.
Activism: He is a prominent marijuana rights activist and, in 2003, served nine months in federal prison for selling drug paraphernalia.