Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx was born Eric Marlon Bishop on December 13, 1967, in Terrell, Texas, and raised by his grandmother after his parents' split. He began performing as a stand-up comedian and pianist, adopting the stage name Jamie Foxx to book gigs more easily. His breakthrough came as a featured player on the sketch comedy series In Living Color from 1991 to 1994, where his impressions and characters gained national attention. Foxx starred in his own WB sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show from 1996 to 2001, playing a nightclub owner while transitioning to film with roles in Booty Call (1997) and Any Given Sunday (1999). Critical acclaim followed in Ali (2001) as Muhammad Ali's trainer and Collateral (2004) opposite Tom Cruise, earning Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. His pinnacle arrived with Ray (2004), portraying Ray Charles and winning the Academy Award for Best Actor, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Award. Post-Ray, Foxx balanced blockbusters like Jarhead (2005), Dreamgirls (2006), and Miami Vice (2006) with music success, including his album Unpredictable (2006) topping Billboard charts and Grammy-winning 'Blame It' (2009). He starred in Django Unchained (2012) as a freed slave, White House Down (2013) as the President, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) as Electro, Baby Driver (2017), and Pixar’s Soul (2020). Foxx hosted Beat Shazam since 2017 and featured on hits like Kanye West's 'Gold Digger' (2005). In April 2023, Foxx suffered a hemorrhagic stroke from a brain bleed while filming Back in Action, spending weeks hospitalized and in rehab. He recovered publicly via family updates and returned to work, voicing a role in Strays (2023) and starring in Back in Action (2025 Netflix release). He received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2007 and joined the Academy in 2005.