From Eric to Jamie to Oscar
Comedian, actor, musician–Jamie Foxx has had many careers. Now he has an Oscar for “Ray” and a brand-new album, “Unpredictable.” So RedEye thought it was a good time to review how Eric Bishop became Jamie Foxx, and Jamie Foxx became a multitalented star.
STAND-UP COMEDIAN
– In 1989, Eric Bishop decided to perform at an open-mic night at the Comedy Club in L.A. He wrote Jamie Foxx and other unisex names on the entry card because women got preference for mic time. Jamie Foxx was called, and the name stuck.
– He then won some stand-up contests and took the show on the road. His stand-up career led to …
TV SHOWS
– On “In Living Color” (1991-94), Foxx created the character Wanda Wayne, the ugliest woman in the world.
– On “The Jamie Foxx Show” (1996-2001), he played an actor trying to make it in Hollywood. Between the two shows, he returned to his first love …
MUSIC
– Foxx actually moved to L.A. in the late 1980s to pursue a music career, and in 1994 released the album “Peep This,” which went nowhere. He eventually sang the theme for one of his …
MOVIES
– Foxx’s early ’90s movies were mostly comedies, including “The Truth About Cats & Dogs” and “Booty Call.”
– He sang the theme and received good reviews for the 1999 drama “Any Given Sunday” and went on to star in other dramas including “Ali” (2001).
– In 2004, Foxx had his breakout dramatic roles, including “Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story,” and his Oscar-nominated roles in “Collateral” and “Ray” (above), for which he was named best actor.
– His 2005 films, “Jarhead” and “Stealth,” haven’t fared as well. But expect him onscreen again next year in “Dreamgirls” and “Miami Vice.”
