Eric Morlon Bishop, Jr. (born December 13, 1967 in Terrell, Texas), better known by his stage name Jamie Foxx, is an Academy Award winning actor, Grammy Award winning multi-platinum selling R&B singer, and critically acclaimed comedian. As a singer he has three multi-platinum releases; 1994’s Peep This, 2005’s Unpredictable and 2008’s Intuition. His fourth studio album, Best Night of My Life, will be released December 21. Foxx received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 14, 2007. He is perhaps best known for playing Ray Charles in the movie Ray and being featured on Kanye West’s hit single Gold Digger.
One of the most popular African-American comedians of the late 1990s, TV star turned screen actor Jamie Foxx first became known for his many roles on Keenen Ivory Wayans’ long-running comedy variety show In Living Color. Since then, Foxx has played both raucous and sensitive nice-guy roles in a number of films, and earned particular acclaim for his portrayal of a talented but egotistical quarterback in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday.
Born Eric Bishop in the small town of Terrell, Texas, on December 13, 1967, Foxx was raised by his grandparents after his parents separated. He enjoyed a happy upbringing, going to church every day with his grandparents and excelling at everything from academics to music to football. During his teen years he had his first taste of the entertainment business as his church’s choir director and music director, and also started his own R&B band. Foxx studied music while a student at the U.S. International University in San Diego; it was during his college days that he got his start as a stand-up comedian.
