Latest news with #CheechMarin
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Cheech Marin to be honored by Hispanic Heritage Foundation for contributions to the arts
Stoner comedy legend, actor and Chicano art curator collector Cheech Marin will be honored this year at the 38th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards. The Hispanic Heritage Foundation named Marin as a recipient of the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Award for the arts on Tuesday, one of several honors bestowed on notable public figures for their accomplishments and cultural contributions to the Latino communities. Past awardees at the Hispanic Heritage Awards include Bad Bunny, America Ferrera, Becky G, J Balvin and others. Marin will be awarded alongside National Public Radio journalist and ' host Felix Contreras and Rizos Curls co-founder and CEO Julissa Prado. 'I'm extremely honored to be receiving this Hispanic Heritage for Arts Award,' Marin said in a press release. 'I accept this recognition with deep gratitude and a commitment to continue uplifting voices, building bridges, and honoring the legacy of those who came before us.' Having spent his childhood in South-Central L.A. and the San Fernando Valley, Marin's comedy career kicked off in the late 1960s, when he fled to Canada to avoid being drafted during the Vietnam War. It was during that time that he first met his future comedy partner Tommy Chong — and the rest is burned into history. 'For over five decades, Cheech Marin has reflected our cultural impact on America and the world as a comedian, actor, director, art collector, and humanitarian,' said Antonio Tijerino, the president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, in a press release. 'His groundbreaking work has not only entertained but enlightened. We are thrilled to pay tribute to Cheech and the other 2025 Honorees and tell their stories to inspire, unite, and mobilize other generations.' Cheech and Chong's blazing success first reached national attention after the release of their first comedy album 'Cheech and Chong' in 1971. The 11-track LP was nominated for a comedy recording award at the 1972 Grammy Awards and generated the famous 'Dave's not here' line. Their second album, 'Big Bambú,' was nominated for a Grammy in the same category at the 1973 award ceremony. In 1978, the duo released the stoner comedy feature film, 'Up in Smoke,' which was based in L.A. Though it was critically panned, the film became a cult classic and was added to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry in 2024. Marin's 1987 film 'Born in East L.A.' — which includes a spoof of Bruce Springsteen's 'Born in the U.S.A.' — was acclaimed by critics for blending of comedy with such serious subject matters as deportation and living as an undocumented person in the U.S. 'Without saying so much as a single word that could be even remotely described as preachy, Cheech Marin makes his points about the second-class nature of American citizenship for ethnic minorities and the desperate situation in which illegal aliens find themselves,' The Times wrote in a 1987 review of the movie. In recent years, Marin is perhaps best known for his work as a collector of Chicano art. After being a lifelong gatherer of art, the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum opened to the public in June 2022. Many consider the museum to be the largest private collection of Chicano art in the world, with more than 550 paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs from Marin's personal collection will be on permanent rotation. Nicknamed 'the Cheech,' the 61,420-square-foot, two-story art museum and education center resides in what used to be the downtown Riverside Public Library, and has displayed works by artists Chaz Bojorquez, Judithe Hernández, Frank Romero, Patssi Valdez and others. It's considered the only permanent art space to exclusively showcase Chicano and Mexican American art in the country. 'You don't have to be Chicano to love and appreciate this work,' Marin told The Times in 2022. 'Just like I don't have to be French to appreciate Impressionism or German to appreciate Expressionism. We recognize it as part of the conversation in the history of art. And now we are part of that conversation in a more concentrated effort than we've ever had before.'
CBS News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Cheech Marin honored by Los Angeles City Council, regarded a "Chicano legend"
Los Angeles City Councilmembers proclaimed Friday, June 20, to be "Cheech Marin Day," honoring the comedian and actor at a City Hall ceremony. Marin, of Cheech & Chong fame, is not only known for his big screen appearances but also as a national leader in advancing Chicano art. "Thank you very much, it's a great honor to receive this award, especially because I'm a native son of Los Angeles, as are my parents," Marin said. "I grew up right down from City Hall, for my early life." Marin founded The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum three years ago. The Cheech is the first North American facility dedicated exclusively to Mexican American and Chicano art. Drew Oberjuerge, Executive Director Riverside Art Museum, spoke at the ceremony and praised him for "leveraging his celebrity to uplift the Chicano, Latino community and the artists' incredible work." "Cheech Marin Day to me is a day to celebrate courageousness, boldness, tenacity, hard work, commitment, dedication, remembering where you came from, equity, philanthropy and the Latino, Chicano community," she said. The Los Angeles City Council proclaimed Friday, June 20, 2025, as "Cheech Marin Day." KCAL News Marin, whose real name is Richard Anthony Marin, rose to fame in the 1970s as half of the legendary duo Cheech & Chong. He later earned acclaim for his work in films such as "Born in East LA," "Tin Cup," the "Spy Kids" trilogy, and animated classics like "The Lion King" and "Cars." "We are going through troubling times right now," Marin said. "I made 'Born in East LA' 40 years ago, based upon a true story of a young man who was grabbed by immigration forces and deported although he was an American citizen." He said he was reading that in the newspaper and listening to Bruce Springsteen at the same time and began singing "born in East LA," and he said that tune became a movie. Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez commented that the comedic, satirical film feels more like a modern-day documentary. "It speaks to the salience of Cheech's work decades later and his ability to show us through comedy and art the truth of this society." He called Marin a "Chicano legend." Marin continued to profess his love for Los Angeles "I will probably always be here. I've lived in other cities before, but I always, like a homing pigeon, come back to LA because it is truly the greatest city on earth."
Forbes
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Cheech & Chong's Last Movie' Gets Digital Streaming Date
"Cheech & Chong's Last Movie" partial poster featuring Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin. Cheech & Chong's Last Movie — a documentary about iconic stoner comedy buds Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong — is coming soon to digital streaming. Directed by David Bushell, Cheech & Chong's Last Movie was released theaters on April 25 after a special screening of the film on Stoner Day on 4/20. The official summary of the film reads, 'Cheech & Chong's Last Movie defies documentary expectations, offering a wildly imaginative take on genre convention; a true-life tale told through a mix of animation and archival madness, all underscored by a classic cinematic road trip comedy. 'Tracing the enduring legacy of pioneering comics Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, the film features interviews, sketches, and never-before-seen footage spanning the duo's five-decade career. The result is an unlikely story of friendship and fame, turmoil and defiance, rebellion and ultimately — redemption.' Cheech and Chong's Last Movie is expected to be released on digital streaming via premium video on demand on Friday, May 23, per When to Stream. While When to Stream is typically accurate with its PVOD reports, the streaming tracker did not indicate if distributor Keep Smokin' had announced or confirmed the documentary's release date, so it is subject to change. When Cheech and Chong's Last Movie becomes available on PVOD, it will be available for purchase or rent on such digital platforms as Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video and YouTube. Prime Video currently has the documentary up for pre-order for $19.99, which is also the digital purchase price. Since digital rentals typically are $5 less than purchase prices, viewers can expect to rent Cheech and Chong's Last Movie for $14.99 for a 48-hour period. See the trailer for Cheech & Chong's Last Movie below (disclaimer: coarse language). Cheech and Chong's Last Movie has earned just over $750,000 in limited release in North American theaters to date. Production budget information is not available. Cheech and Chong's Last Movie was a hit with Rotten Tomatoes critics, who collectively gave the film an 88% 'fresh' score based on 25 reviews. The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, 'Getting a lot of mileage out of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong's enduring rapport, their Last Movie provides both a comprehensive retrospective and a touching last hangout with this legendary comedy duo.' In addition, audiences gave Cheech and Chong's Last Movie an 86% 'fresh' rating on the RT's Popcornmeter based on 50-plus verified user ratings. Rated R, Cheech and Chong's Last Movie, featuring Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, is expected to debut on PVOD on May 23.
New York Post
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong clash over their falling out in new documentary: ‘That's a lie'
Cheech vs. Chong. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong rehashed the rift that led to their 1985 breakup as a comedy duo in the new documentary film 'Cheech & Chong's Last Movie.' In a present day scene, the pair discussed how Chong, 86, directed four of their films together. Chong told Marin, 78, that he 'never earned' being the director on their movies, according to People. 10 Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin at a screening for their new documentary in New York on April 24. Getty Images 10 Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong visit SiriusXM's 'The Wrap Up Show' on April 23. Getty Images for SiriusXM 'You can't say say, 'Because I was there with the other that directed, I should be a director,'' Chong said to the fellow comedian in a car. 'Did I direct as much as you did in the movie?' Marin asked Chong. 'No. No, never,' Chong responded. 10 Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin in 'Up In Smoke' in 1978. 10 Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong at CinemaCon 2025. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 'See, that's a lie,' Marin said with a laugh. When Chong questioned Marin's statement, Marin explained, 'Of course, it's a lie. I directed just as much as you did in the movie. You know, when we had to… This isn't really worth going into.' The duo then sat in silence in the car. 10 Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin in 'Up In Smoke.' Courtesy Everett Collection Earlier in the documentary, Marin said in a current-day confessional that Chong's ego was 'always quite large.' Marin added, 'He got an ego out of proportion to his actual talent.' Chong, meanwhile, said in a confessional that he was 'the star of all the movies' that he did with Marin. 10 Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin at the 'Cheech and Chong's Last Movie' screening in NYC. Derek French/Shutterstock In an old clip, an interviewer asked the duo, 'Did you ever get on one another's nerves to the point that you get mad and don't speak for a while?' 'Not Cheech & Chong,' Marin replied. But Chong, who was sitting beside Marin, nodded his head yes. 10 Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin introduce their documentary film at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on April 24. Getty Images The stars created their first movie, 1978's 'Up in Smoke,' based on two popular characters from their stage act and albums, Pedro (Cheech) and Man (Chong). They became stoner icons and released more films, before the tension in their relationship led to them breaking up as a comedy duo. They have reunited sporadically since their split. 10 Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin in 2008. ASSOCIATED PRESS 10 Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong leaving 'The View' in New York on April 24. GC Images In 2017, Marin told The Post that he and Chong were on good terms again. 'When we first got back together, there was still a lot of animosity, and it persisted for a while. But eventually it kind of waned,' the 'Nash Bridges' star said. 'I think when health issues come into play, you do another assessment. He was sick for a while. He's fine now. But it took awhile to get there.' 10 Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong with the Career Achievement in Comedy award at CinemaCon. REUTERS When asked if they'll do another film together, Marin said, 'I don't think so, no. There's too many blocks to that. We're on the road all the time, playing casinos. We have been for eight years.' 'Cheech & Chong's Last Movie' is now playing in select theaters.
New York Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Cheech and Chong's Last Movie' Review: Rolling Another One for the Road
It is not quite accurate to state that had recreational marijuana use been legal in the early 1970s, the comedy team of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong would not have had careers. As the new documentary 'Cheech and Chong's Last Movie' details, they had rather relatively lucrative gigs before the rise of the counterculture. But when they brought stoner characters into their act, it propelled them even, well, higher. 'Cheech and Chong's Last Movie,' directed by David Bushell, features the two comedians ruminating on their careers and friendship. They do so both in separate talking-head segments and sitting together in the front seat of a vintage roadster in search of a site called 'The Joint.' The first segments are more or less extemporaneous interviews, while the scenes in the roadster are scripted. The emotions they perform, however, feel genuine. Bushell has an archive of vintage audio and visual footage to buttress an already incredible narrative. Tommy Chong was born in Canada, but Richard Marin, who was known as Cheech, moved there in the 1960s to avoid the Vietnam War draft. Both were keen on pursuing music careers before they met in an improv theater group in Vancouver. The movie delves so deeply into their pasts that 'Cheech and Chong,' their 1971 blockbuster debut comedy album, doesn't come up until an hour into the movie. And yet the documentary doesn't quite cover everything — their collaborations with Joni Mitchell and Martin Scorsese go unmentioned, for example. This is still a rollicking account that will make even non-herbally-inclined viewers root for the fellows.
