'My goal is to build a comedy empire and help restore dignity to our profession. It..s the best I ever feel when I..m on stage, putting the thoughts from my head into those of an audience. Applause is my drug of choice.' - Katt Williams
Known just as much for his permed hair as he is for his animated performances and quick wit, comedian Katt Williams has been making his mark in Hollywood for over 12 years. Beginning his career at an age when most teenagers are seeking their driver's license, the young comic quickly discovered that he had a gift for making people laugh. Inspired by the likes of great humorists such as Richard Pryor Donn Knotts, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Thomas Marshall, Jeff Foxworthy, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld and Dave Chapelle, whom he calls the 'Malcolm X of comedy,' Katt Williams' entertaining standup routines are laying the blueprint for a new generation of comics.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Dayton, Katt Williams was the product of a socially and politically charged household. His parent's influence and teachings may have been what caused him to briefly join the Nation of Islam later on in his life while living in the Bay Area. Being that educational excellence was greatly encouraged from birth, the tiny prot..g.. was reading at age 3. When he was 12, he won a number of awards for science projects, which landed him a full scholarship to The National Science Academy in Dayton, but as soon as the young brain found out about the scholarship, he purposely failed a math test in order to be disqualified from participating in the program. "I was young. You know when you are young, you just do what you do. I can use my I.Q. now. I had a high I.Q as an 8 years old. So you know what was I gonna do with it. I was just trying to be impressive and not mess up."
In 1999 Katt became a presence at The Improv, The Comedy Club, The Icehouse and even had his own room at The Hollywood Park Casino where he had a large, loyal following. He..s become somewhat of a staple comedic force on the BET Network, appearing on shows such as Comic View, Rip the Runway, Black Carpet, 106th & Park, The BET Awards and BET Comedy Awards. Throughout his success he has been massively embraced by the Hip Hop community, receiving and encouragement from Nelly, Ludacris, Snoop, and Master P (..Hands down Katt Williams is the next Richard Pryor..) and Snoop Dogg (..Katt is doing his comedy thing so flamboyantly and so fly with spirit of the late great Red Foxx and the spirit of Richard Pryor..) For two consecutive years Katt has hosted the BET ..Hip Hop.. Awards Show in Atlanta, Georgia. In his role as host he received an overwhelmingly positive response from critics and had a chance to speak directly to Hip Hop audiences globally and share his insight on urban culture, folklore, lifestyle, history and music. More than a musical style, hip-hop is a history of American culture, and a testimony by its artists of their life experiences. The Award Shows have been electrifying events of non-stop homage and entertainment to the genre of Hip Hop music. Performances from the 1st Hip-Hop Awards included Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Young Jeezy and T.I. while Award Nominees include everyone from Common and Busta Rhymes to DMX and Jay-Z.
Katt Williams' talent extends over multiple mediums. Known to most for his breakout role in three seasons of Nick Cannon..s highly-rated MTV improv show, 'Wild n' Out,' the funnyman has appeared in music videos for everyone from Outkast ('Roses') and Ludacris ('Stand Up' & 'Number One Spot') to E-40 ('One Night Stand') and Lil.. Kim ('Shut Up/Lighter's Up'), in addition to landing roles on the small and big screen. Some of his appearances include 'NYPD Blue', UPN's 'Girlfriends' and 'Cuts', 'The Tracy Morgan Show', 'Short Circuitz', 'Wanted', 'My Wife and Kids,' Russell Simmon's HBO 'Def Comedy Jam' alongside Dave Chappelle and an animated character ('A Pimp Named Slickback') on the popular adult cartoon 'The Boondocks'. He also co-starred alongside Eddie Griffin in Eddie Murphy's 'Norbit'. With the recent release of his own movie 'American Hustle', Queen Latifah's 'A Perfect Holiday' with Terrence Howard, Gabrielle Union and Charlie Murphy, and 'First Sunday' with Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan, he is definitely cementing himself on the silver screen. He is also branching off into directing and casting his own films with his team of writers at So Pro Studios. Katt continues to receive stamps of approvals from the urban and mainstream community alike for his brilliance and ingenuity on screen and on-stage including being named 'hottest new comedian' in Rolling Stone Magazine as well as praise from African American comedic icons such as Steve Harvey who says, 'He's one of the hottest comedians in the country'
Widely recognized for his role as 'Money Mike' in the hit New Line movie Friday After Next, the rising star is currently on a multi-city sold out comedy tour with a groundbreaking album in the works entitled It's Pimpin', Pimpin' (Kattpack Records/Diplomat Records/Universal), featuring Lil Wayne, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Da Brat, E-40, Lyfe Jennings, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Lil' Jon, and more. Ten of 'Money Mike's' ring tones were also recently ranked in the Jamster! Top 5 most downloaded, fun-sound ring tones while 'Money Mike' also remains the Urban World Wireless.. ring tone king with the popular 'Pimp Phone Ringing'.
Telling jokes with ease, the stand-up comic/actor wants to conquer the globe's problems with laughter. 'Everything, everywhere is comedy material. To watch and view the world via television, newspapers, movies and music translate our world into funny. There is no subject where funny doesn't exist.' The current Los Angeles resident has undoubtedly become a fixture on the comedic and Hollywood landscape with more than enough charisma and talent to spare. Possessing the ability to make millions of people laugh, Katt Williams is healing the world one smile at a time. Katt sums it up best, ..I..m in the great comedian lane. Once you..re in that lane, that's just the beginning of it. The getting there is the journey.' < less
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