Thomas B. Kin Chong is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, writer, musician, and cannabis rights activist, known for his comedy albums and films Cheech & Marijuana-themed Chong with Cheech Marin, as well as the character Leo on Fox's That '70s Show. He became a naturalized American citizen in the late 1980s. Chong was born at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta on May 24, 1938. His mother was Lorna Jean, a native waitress Scottish-Irish, and her father was Stanley Chong. As a youth, Tommy Chong moved with his family to Calgary, settling in a conservative neighborhood that Chong called "Dog Patch". He said his father “was injured in the Second World War and there was a veterans hospital in Calgary. He bought a $500 house in Dog Patch and raised his family on $50 a week.” before taking the nickname Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers. After the group released two additional singles, Chong and Wes Henderson were fired by Chris Clark and Motown producer Johnny Bristol for missing an appointment to apply for a green card allowing them to live in the United States. The group broke up shortly after when Chong attempted to reduce the number of players covered by Vancouver's contract. He intended that he, Taylor and Henderson would make up the group, while the other members would be classified as sidemen and session artists. Cheech & Chong has co-written and performed on numerous Cheech & Chong comedy albums, four of which were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. He and Cheech Marin shared the 1973 award in that category for Los Cochinos. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on 'Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned'? Get an original essay He also directed four of the duo's films, while co-writing and starring in all seven with Cheech. After Cheech & Chong Cheech & Chong, although very successful comedians, broke up in 1985 due to creative differences and Marin's desire to focus on a mainstream acting career. It was the beginning of a difficult period for Chong. He did not act regularly until he filled the recurring role of the aging, fun-loving hippie "Leo" on That '70s Show. Chong was absent during the fifth and sixth seasons of the series as he served a brief prison sentence; upon his exit, he returned to the series for its final two seasons. He also played a hippie role in Dharma and Greg. Chong was originally set to play the character Shenzi, the hyena in the Disney film The Lion King. Cheech Marin voiced Banzai. Chong provided the voice of the character Yax in the 2016 Disney film Zootopia. In September 2005, a/k/a Tommy Chong premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The documentary, produced, written and directed by Josh Gilbert, tells Chong's comedic and personal story. It includes material related to his prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice and his imprisonment. The project includes interviews with Cheech Marin, Bill Maher, George Thorogood, Peter Coyote, Lou Adler, Eric Schlosser and Jay Leno. In 2011, Chong appeared as a judge on an episode of Franklin & Bash. On September 4, 2014, Chong was announced as one of the celebrities participating in the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. He teamed up with professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd. Despite being repeatedly at the bottom of the rankings, Chong and Murgatroyd managed to advance to the semi-final night but were eliminated at the end of that evening. Chong is the oldest contestant to reach the semi-finals of the show. On April 4, 2015, Chong was at Ann.