Kevin Hart

Kevin Darnell Hart (born July 6, 1979) is an American comedian and actor. Raised in Philadelphia by his mother, Nancy Hart, he worked briefly as a shoe salesman before pursuing stand-up comedy. He gained an early screen break when Judd Apatow cast him in the television series Undeclared in 2001. Hart's profile grew with his stand-up album I'm a Grown Little Man (2009), followed by albums such as Seriously Funny, Laugh at My Pain, Let Me Explain, and What Now?

Hart was raised in a single-parent household alongside his older brother, Robert. His mother worked as a systems analyst at the University of Pennsylvania, while his father battled addiction and spent time in jail, prompting Hart to use humor as a coping mechanism. Hart's early comedy career began under the name Lil Kev at The Laff House in Philadelphia, where his initial performances were unsuccessful. He developed his style by entering competitions in Massachusetts and incorporating personal insecurities and family stories into his material.

Beginning in 2009, Hart launched major stand-up comedy tours. His Laugh at My Pain tour grossed over $15 million, becoming one of the year's top-selling tours and releasing theatrically. In 2015, he embarked on the What Now? Tour, culminating in a live concert filmed before 53,000 fans at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, which was released as a theatrical film in 2016. Hart also reached global audiences through YouTube and regional performances in the Middle East.

Hart made his film debut in Paper Soldiers (2002) and appeared in films like Scary Movie 3, Soul Plane, and Little Fockers. He achieved major box office success starring in Think Like a Man (2012), Ride Along (2014), Get Hard (2015), Central Intelligence (2016), and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017). His other projects include voice roles in The Secret Life of Pets franchise, dramatic roles in The Upside and Fatherhood, and films such as Night School, Me Time, and Lift. On television, he created and starred in Real Husbands of Hollywood and starred in Die Hart.

Hart expanded his work into hosting, emceeing events such as the BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Movie Awards, and The Roast of Tom Brady. In business, he founded the Laugh Out Loud Network in 2017, which merged with HartBeat Productions in 2022 to form Hartbeat. He also launched a plant-based fast-food concept, Hart House, in Los Angeles. Recognized with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2024, Hart has earned nominations for two Grammy Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards, and was named to the Time 100 list in 2015.