Chris Rock may take center stage by hosting the Oscars or saturday night livebut growing up in Brooklyn, New York, he shared the spotlight with his six brothers and one sister: Charles, Andre, Tony, Brian, Kenny, Andi, and Jordan.
The comedian was born to Rosalie “Rose” Rock and Julius Rock, who died from complications of diabetes in 1988. In addition to raising her own children, Rose also cared for 17 children. “When you have that many siblings, it’s great for your development because you have so many people to bounce ideas off of,” Chris’ younger brother Tony told PEOPLE in June 2018. “We had each other, so we were rich in family.”
Chris set the bar high for his siblings, especially up-and-coming comics Tony and Jordan. “People will say, ‘He’s funny, but he’s not as funny as Chris,'” Jordan said. C-Ville In November 2022. “They already have a bar I need to be at.”
Family head Rose told Today In April 2008, she said that her goal had always been to raise “wonderful” children. He added: “Being great doesn’t mean being a movie star or an artist. It means being great, great people.”
In March 2022, Chris’ family rallied around Chris after Will Smith slapped him at the Oscars in response to a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. (Pinkett Smith has alopecia, a disease that causes hair loss.)
“When Will slapped Chris, he slapped all of us. But he actually slapped me,” Rose later told WIS News. “Because when you hurt my child, you hurt me too.”
Chris’ brother Kenny also spoke about the incident, saying: los angeles times“Watching this over and over eats me up because you see someone you love being attacked and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Additionally, Tony was mentioned by name in Smith’s apology video and later he tweeted He said he had a “real friendship” with him. The Fresh Prince alum before the event.
So who are Chris Rock’s siblings? Here’s everything you need to know about Charles, Andre, Tony, Brian, Kenny, Andi and Jordan Rock.
Charles “Shabazz” Ledell Rock
Rock’s oldest brother, Charles “Shabazz” Ledell Rock, was born on October 5, 1953.
Charles exerted a particularly strong influence on his younger brother Tony. “He always included me. … He was a big part of my life,” Tony said. Studio Q In January 2017, she stated that she often cuts school to hang out with Charles at work.
He added: “On the weekends he would work hard and I would work with him. … because he played basketball, I wanted to play basketball too. He taught me how to box, and because he boxed, I boxed for a few years. … He included me in his life.”
Charles died in Harlem, New York, on February 4, 2006, at the age of 52.
Andre Kaya
Born on April 16, 1967, to Rose and Julius, Andre is two years younger than his brother Chris. He grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant. In December 2016, Rose said: Sun News Andre loves to bake, especially his sweet potato pies.
Andre runs a freight trucking business named after his father, Julius Rock Trucking, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Otherwise he lived his life largely away from the public eye.
Anthony “Tony” Rock
Born on June 30, 1974, Anthony “Tony” Rock is the fourth son of the Rock clan. He started his career at an early age; He followed in the footsteps of his father, who first distributed newspapers, and then his brother, who did comedy.
“When I was 14, I was working for my father. New York Daily NewsTony told BlackDoctor.org in June 2016.
He turned his focus to comedy, treating Chris’ accomplishments as a bucket list. “Chris was always saying, ‘Get out of here,'” Tony said. Studio Q. “I was the troublesome little brother. That made me say, ‘I’m going to master everything he does.’ Just to show him I can do it.”
He got his big break in 2006 when he starred on HBO. Def Comedy Jam. But he said being Chris’ younger brother was both the gift and curse of his career. “I don’t have the luxury of just wearing a casual outfit, taking the night off. Because if I bomb, it’s like, ‘Oh, he’s not funny – he’s only doing this because of his brother,'” Tony said. washington post In August 2008.
In December 2012, NBC News reported that Tony founded the MyRock Foundation, a charity aimed at raising awareness about diabetes among Black Americans, in honor of his late father.
“One of the hardest times in my life was when I lost my father, Julius Rock, to health complications caused by diabetes,” he told BlackDoctor.org. “He instilled a hard work ethic in me and my siblings and always told us about our responsibilities to others. MyRock exemplifies my responsibility to educate people about diabetes.”
In addition to his comedy and charity work, Tony has had recurring roles on many TV series, including his brother’s show. Everybody Hates Chris As Uncle Ryan. He created his own sketch show, Tony Rock ProjectIt aired for one season in 2008. In addition to acting, he hosted many shows. Can you say? (2003) and All Def Comedy (2016) and took part as a guest jury member in competitions such as. Cake? (2022).
Brian Rock
Born around 1976, Brian Rock is Rock’s fifth sibling. Rose said in 2016: Sun News He said he was a minister. Little is known about her personal life, but she has supported Chris at public events. Brian was photographed with his mother and siblings at an after party for Chris’ movie in New York. good hair In October 2009.
Kenneth “Kenny” Rock
On April 16, 1979, exactly 12 years after Andre’s birth, Rose and Julius welcomed their son Kenneth “Kenny” Rock. Like Chris and Tony, Kenny is an actor who has appeared in movies. vesuvius (2018), Accidental Killer (2016) and A Brooklyn Story I Hope (2014). in 2016 Sun News He reported working at Scholastic. According to his Instagram page, he is the “rebel of the Rock family.”
In June 2022, Kenny said in an interview that he used to box in his youth. He later won a boxing match against celebrities. Real World: DCJosh Colon.
Andi Rock
Andi Rock is the only daughter of the Rock family and was born on March 18, 1985. Andi moved from New York to South Carolina with her family and studied at Winthrop University. In 2016, Andi was working as a therapist for children with autism and living in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Andy said Sun News He said he was very impressed by his mother’s growth. “One of the biggest things he taught me was to treat everyone the same, whether they were a judge or a cleaner,” she said. “Everyone deserves respect, which is why I say ‘Hello’ to everyone I ever encounter.”
Although she has largely stayed out of the spotlight, Andi married husband Brett Nelson on November 14, 2020, in what she described as a “micro wedding” on Instagram. She’s also close with her famous brother, calling Chris one of her “favorite people” in a May 2017 Instagram post.
Jordan Rock
Jordan Rock, the youngest in the family, was born on February 10, 1991. Unlike his older siblings, Jordan grew up in Georgetown, South Carolina, after Rose moved the family there. New York Times.
He later dropped out of high school and moved to Brooklyn at 18 to pursue his own comedy dreams. “I grew up in comedy by watching my brothers. “They are an inspiration,” Jordan told KSDK. In May 2019.
Still, being Chris’ brother brought some challenges. “Sometimes I wish my name was just Ronaldo or something like that,” he said. C-Ville. Jordan also likened her relationship with her siblings to Beyoncé and her family, calling herself the “Solange” of Rocks in a 2018 interview with From the OH.
In 2015, Jordan joined his older brother Tony on the road. A year later, he landed his breakout role in the Netflix series. Love. “I didn’t have it. [a big break] until this happens. I went to work and I didn’t know what I was getting into,” he told KSDK. “It felt like a journey and I was surprised it happened.”
This concert was followed by an episode Big Time Puberty (2019), also starring Pete Davidson. Jordan also appeared in Davidson’s Netflix special Pete Davidson Presents: Best Friends.
Away from the cameras, he connects more with his older brother Chris. “The older I get, the closer I get to it,” Jordan said C-Ville. “I’m trying to go places he’s gone before. “He is someone I can call, talk to, and get reassurance that the game is working a certain way.”