Chris Tucker On Why He Stepped Back From His Hollywood Career After Making $48 Million For The Rush Hour Trilogy

In the space of just 12 years, Chris Tucker made $15,000 for his scene-stealing role in F. Gary Gray’s 1995 stoner comedy Friday to $48 million for Brett Ratner’s action-packed Rush Hour trilogy (1998-2007) with Jackie Kan.

However, the 51-year-old SAG Award has been nominated failed to pay more than $12 million in taxes on his lucrative payday and… as recent as 2021 — he still owed $9.6 million in unpaid taxes from 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2010.

After playing LAPD detective James Carter for nine years, Chris pretty much left his Hollywood acting career behind, aside from supporting roles in Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and Billy Flynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016).

“I’ve missed you all too!” Tucker said Classic ATL last Thursday of his break.

“The way I stepped back from Hollywood at one point, you know, as the highest paid actor in Hollywood. But I felt like, you know, it was a ceiling there and I wanted more. It wasn’t enough. So I took a step back and lived a little bit, traveled the world and did a lot of humanitarian things that really broadened my view of the world.

Uncle Sam: However, the 51-year-old SAG Award nominee failed to pay more than $12 million in taxes on his lucrative payday and — as recently as 2021 — still owed $9.6 million in unpaid taxes from 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2010

“That, you know, it’s not just about being the greatest comedic actor in the world, it’s about becoming someone to give to the world — hopefully inspire in some way. I like that I did that.’

The Atlanta-born comedian “never stopped doing stand-up,” and he has five upcoming shows in April starting this Friday at Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, TX.

‘I’m working on it now. I’m on my way so I’m definitely looking forward to doing as a stand-up comedy and stand-up shows,” Chris reassured, adding, “I definitely want [write] a book.’

Tucker also spent quality time with his son Destin Christopher Tucker from his six-year marriage to health coach Azja Pryor, which ended in 2003.

In 2021, the 24-year-old SoundCloud rapper graduated cum laude with a degree in Film, TV and Emerging Media Studies from Morehouse College in Atlanta.

The audience can then see the Def Comedy Jam alum playing NIKE’s Jordan Brand VP Howard White in Ben Affleck’s widely acclaimed sports drama Air, which hits US and UK theaters this Wednesday.

And since Chris had been friends with Howard since they met “years ago at Michael Jordan’s golf tournaments in the Bahamas,” he had a VIP insider look to play the part more authentically.

“I actually wrote all my parts into the movie and just gave them to Ben,” Tucker revealed.

“He loved it because of all the research and information I got from Howard about what was going on with Nike. So it was great.’

Air also features Matt Damon, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Viola Davis and Jason Bateman.

Break: After playing LAPD detective James Carter for nine years, Chris pretty much left his Hollywood acting career behind, aside from supporting roles in Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and Billy Flynn’s Long Halftime Walk (pictured, 2016)

Tucker told Classix ATL last Thursday, “I missed you all too… Like I stepped back from Hollywood at one point, you know, as the highest paid actor in Hollywood.” But I felt like, you know, it was a ceiling there and I wanted more. It wasn’t enough’

He continued, “So I took a step back and lived a little bit, traveled the world and did a lot of humanitarian things that really broadened my view of the world. That, you know, it’s not just about being the greatest comedic actor in the world, it’s about becoming someone to give to the world – hopefully inspire in some way. I like that I did’

‘I’m doing it now’: The Atlanta-born comedian ‘has never stopped doing stand-up’ and he has five upcoming shows in April starting this Friday at Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, TX (pictured in 2017)

2021 family portrait: Chris also got to spend quality time with his 24-year-old Morehouse College-educated son Destin Christopher Tucker (M) from his six-year marriage to health coach Azja Pryor (L), which ended in 2003

This Wednesday in theaters in the US and UK! The audience can then watch Tucker play NIKE’s Jordan Brand VP Howard White in Ben Affleck’s critically acclaimed sports drama Air

VIP: And since the Def Comedy Jam alum had been friends with Howard (R, pictured in 1984) since they “met at Michael Jordan’s (L) golf tournaments in the Bahamas years ago,” he had an insider’s look at playing more authentically of the part

Chris (pictured March 18) revealed, “I actually wrote all my parts into the movie and just gave them to Ben (R). He loved it because of all the research and information I got from Howard about what was going on with Nike. So it was great’