---
name: "Tommy Chong"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/tommy-chong"
fi1m_id: "tommy-chong"
imdb_id: "nm0001045"
tmdb_id: 63208
wikidata_id: "Q369174"
roles: ["Actor","Writer","Director"]
born: "24 May 1938"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 69
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-04T17:31:59.875739+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Tommy Chong

## Identity

Tommy Chong

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tommy-chong
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** tommy-chong
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001045
- **TMDB ID:** 63208
- **Wikidata ID:** Q369174
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Chong, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q369174, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001045/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/63208

Actor and writer. Born 24 May 1938 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Writer, Director
- **Born:** 24 May 1938, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- **Active:** 1978–present
- **Also known as:** Thomas Bing Kin Chong, Thomas B. Kin Chong
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 7 acting, 1 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Cheech Marin](https://film.one/person/cheech-marin.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 56 (1), 1980s 70 (3), 1990s 64 (1), 2010s 66 (2), 2020s 70 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 70 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 5, Comedy 5, Animation 3, Family 3, Drama 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,980m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Chong, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q369174, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001045/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/63208

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*FernGully: The Last Rainforest*](https://film.one/film/ferngully-the-last-rainforest.md) (64), [*Nice Dreams*](https://film.one/film/nice-dreams.md) (50)
- **Disney+:** [*Zootopia*](https://film.one/film/zootopia.md) (82)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*After Hours*](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md) (80)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Up in Smoke*](https://film.one/film/up-in-smoke.md) (56)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Tommy Chong

> Tommy Chong gets a laugh by sounding as though nothing requires immediate attention. His deep, relaxed voice is an effective comic tool, especially in supporting parts; the limitation is how often the character arrives ready-made.

Listen to how little hurry there is in Tommy Chong’s voice. The deep, relaxed delivery makes a small part recognisable and gives a director a dependable comic presence. We like him in small doses, particularly when the surrounding film supplies some friction. Left to carry too much, the familiar stoner persona can spare both actor and audience the trouble of discovering a character.

His partnership with Cheech Marin established that persona, with *Up in Smoke* (1978) providing their breakthrough. The films that followed through the early 1980s kept returning to it, with diminishing rewards. That is the reservation about Chong: recognition can do too much of the work. His recurring Leo in *That '70s Show* (1998–2006) brought the hippie persona to a new generation, without requiring much reinvention.

*After Hours* (1985) offers a better reason to return to him. Martin Scorsese’s unnerving comedy casts him as Pepe, alongside Marin, and makes good use of the relaxed timing that can become repetitive elsewhere. Against the film’s restless camera and Griffin Dunne’s mounting predicament, that lack of hurry is funny rather than merely familiar. We recommend the film with reservations about how its women are used, but Chong fits a supporting cast that keeps the anxiety comic. It is a useful setting for an actor whose manner needs little explanation.

We laughed at Yax in *Zootopia* (2016) because Chong sounds so comfortably unhurried in a police comedy. As the voice of the laid-back yak, he needs no elaborate introduction; the low, relaxed delivery does the character work. Byron Howard and Rich Moore have a whole city to explore, and Chong is one of its smaller pleasures, rather than the reason to visit. We recommend the film despite reservations about using predators and prey to explain human prejudice. Start with these two supporting performances if the prospect of a whole evening of Cheech & Chong sounds a little too much.

## Biography

Tommy Chong is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, musician and activist. Born Thomas Bing Kin Chong on 24 May 1938 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, he started in music before forming the comedy duo Cheech & Chong with Cheech Marin.

Chong is known for the marijuana-themed comedy films with Marin, including *Up in Smoke* (1978), which he co-wrote and directed, and for the recurring role of Leo on the television series *That '70s Show* (1998). He voiced Yax in the animated film *Zootopia* (2016) and appeared as Pepe in Martin Scorsese's *After Hours* (1985).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com.*

## On Fi1m (8)

### Performed in (7) — the average rests on these

- *Zootopia 2* (2025), Fi1m 70, as Yax (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/zootopia-2.md)
- *Jay and Silent Bob Reboot* (2019), Fi1m 50, as Alfred the Butler — [page](https://film.one/film/jay-and-silent-bob-reboot.md)
- *Zootopia* (2016), Fi1m 82, as Yax (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/zootopia.md)
- *FernGully: The Last Rainforest* (1992), Fi1m 64, as Root (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/ferngully-the-last-rainforest.md)
- *After Hours* (1985), Fi1m 80, as Pepe — [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md)
- *Miami Vice* (1984), Fi1m 81, as T.R. 'Jumbo' Collins — [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Up in Smoke* (1978), Fi1m 56, as Man — [page](https://film.one/film/up-in-smoke.md)

### Directed (1)

- *Nice Dreams* (1981), Fi1m 50, as Chong — [page](https://film.one/film/nice-dreams.md)

## Complete filmography (62)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Zootopia 2* (2025), as Yax (voice) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/zootopia-2.md)
- *Evil Bong-A-Thon!* (2025), as Jimbo Leary
- *The Ballad of Straw-Hat Sam* (2024), as Bert, The Sword Salesman
- *The Muppets Mayhem* (2023), series, as Tommy Chong
- *That '90s Show* (2023), series, as Leo
- *Alien Danger! With Raven Van Slender* (2021), as Lord Green
- *The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault* (2020), as (archive footage)
- *Hot Pink Horror: The Making of Color Out of Space* (2020), Actor
- *Color Out of Space* (2020), as Ezra
- *Jay and Silent Bob Reboot* (2019), as Alfred the Butler — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/jay-and-silent-bob-reboot.md)
- *Wildchat* (2019), Actor
- *Double Dutchess: Seeing Double* (2017), Actor
- *It's Gawd!* (2017), as Gawd
- *Zootopia* (2016), as Yax (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/zootopia.md)
- *The Fluffy Movie* (2014), as Video Store Clerk
- *The Millers* (2013), series, as Ganja Pete
- *Uncle Grandpa* (2013), series, as Bottom Bag (voice)
- *Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie!* (2013), as (voices) · Writer
- *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, as Judge Tommy Harper
- *Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS. Evil* (2011), as Stone (voice)
- *Raising Hope* (2010), series, as Hubert
- *Cubed* (2009), series, as Tommy Chong- Drug Abuse Teacher
- *Charles Band's Evil Bong 2: King Bong* (2009), as Jimbo Leary (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Railroad to Hell: A Chinaman's Chance* (2008), as Deputy Tom
- *Free Radio* (2008), series, as Tommy Chong
- *Code Monkeys* (2007), series, as Laird Boony (voice)
- *Charles Band's Evil Bong* (2006), as Jimbo Leary
- *The Making of: Evil Bong* (2006), Actor
- *Greasy Rider* (2006), Actor
- *Secret Agent 420* (2005), as QP
- *High Times Potluck* (2003), as Tommy Chong
- *Pauly Shore Is Dead* (2003), as Tommy Chong
- *George Lopez* (2002), series, as Mr. Gutierrez
- *The Wash* (2001), as Dee’s Connection
- *That '70s Show* (1998), series, as Leo
- *Half Baked* (1998), as Squirrel Master
- *Dharma & Greg* (1997), series, as Carl
- *South Park* (1997), series, as Chief Running Pinto (voice)
- *McHale's Navy* (1997), as Armando/Ernesto
- *National Lampoon's Senior Trip* (1995), as Red
- *Sliders* (1995), series, as Van Elsinger
- *The George Carlin Show* (1994), series, as Rhodes
- *FernGully: The Last Rainforest* (1992), as Root (voice) — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/ferngully-the-last-rainforest.md)
- *Life After Sex* (1992), as Tommy - Interview Subject
- *The Spirit of '76* (1990), as Stoner
- *Far Out Man* (1990), as Far out Man · Director, Writer
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Tommy Chong (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Tripwire* (1989), as Merle Shine
- *Get Out of My Room* (1985), as Chong
- *After Hours* (1985), as Pepe — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/after-hours.md)
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as T.R. 'Jumbo' Collins — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers* (1984), as Corsican Brother · Writer, Director
- *Playboy Video Magazine, Volume 3* (1983), Actor
- *Yellowbeard* (1983), as El Nebuloso
- *Still Smokin* (1983), as Chong · Director, Writer
- *Things Are Tough All Over* (1982), as Chong / Habib · Writer
- *Nice Dreams* (1981), as Chong · Writer, Director — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/nice-dreams.md)
- *Cheech & Chong's Next Movie* (1980), as Chong · Writer, Director
- *Up in Smoke* (1978), as Man · Writer — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/up-in-smoke.md)
- *Basketball Jones* (1974), Actor
- *Rollin' On The River* (1971), series, Actor
- *Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie*, as Чонг

## Gallery

- ![Tommy Chong](https://film.one/media/person/118435/gallery-6dbba096d82a.jpg) Tommy Chong — John Manard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Tommy_Chong_GalaxyCon_Oklahoma_City_052026-4.jpg/1280px-Tommy_Chong_GalaxyCon_Oklahoma_City_052026-4.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![@JodieEmery, Tommy Chong and Mini Tommy at the @CCHQstore in #Vancouver (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/118435/gallery-e896b5c02af7.jpg) @JodieEmery, Tommy Chong and Mini Tommy at the @CCHQstore in #Vancouver (2013) — Cannabis Culture, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/%40JodieEmery%2C_Tommy_Chong_and_Mini_Tommy_at_the_%40CCHQstore_in_-Vancouver_%288343371199%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong at Universal Studios in Los Angeles on July 11, 1979](https://film.one/media/person/118435/gallery-4d62c79473cc.jpg) Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong at Universal Studios in Los Angeles on July 11, 1979 — Tony Barnard, Los Angeles Times, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/CheechChong1979.jpg/1280px-CheechChong1979.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong speaking at the 2022 WonderCon, for "Z2 Comics: Back in Smoke - 50 Years of Cheech & Chong", at the Anaheim Convention Center i](https://film.one/media/person/118435/gallery-c25026662119.jpg) Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong speaking at the 2022 WonderCon, for "Z2 Comics: Back in Smoke - 50 Years of Cheech & Chong", at the Anaheim Convention Center i — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Cheech_Marin_%26_Tommy_Chong_%2851984119062%29.jpg/1280px-Cheech_Marin_%26_Tommy_Chong_%2851984119062%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong speaking at the 2022 WonderCon, for "Z2 Comics: Back in Smoke - 50 Years of Cheech & Chong", at the Anaheim Convention Center i](https://film.one/media/person/118435/gallery-c8887834ce79.jpg) Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong speaking at the 2022 WonderCon, for "Z2 Comics: Back in Smoke - 50 Years of Cheech & Chong", at the Anaheim Convention Center i — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Cheech_Marin_%26_Tommy_Chong_%2851984119812%29.jpg/1280px-Cheech_Marin_%26_Tommy_Chong_%2851984119812%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong speaking at the 2022 WonderCon, for "Z2 Comics: Back in Smoke - 50 Years of Cheech & Chong", at the Anaheim Convention Center i](https://film.one/media/person/118435/gallery-4bcda56b0c52.jpg) Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong speaking at the 2022 WonderCon, for "Z2 Comics: Back in Smoke - 50 Years of Cheech & Chong", at the Anaheim Convention Center i — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Cheech_Marin_%26_Tommy_Chong_%2851985128731%29.jpg/1280px-Cheech_Marin_%26_Tommy_Chong_%2851985128731%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/tommy-chong