Cheech Marin: 1946—: Actor
Became Chicano Art Connoisseur
Though the CBS series earned critical praise and quickly developed a devoted following, Nash Bridges was cancelled in 2001. Marin's film career, however, continued to flourish: he appeared in 2001's Spy Kids, and reprised his character in its follow-up as well as in a sequel to Desperado. He also will reunite with Tommy Chong on a film project for New Line Cinema. The success of their act did enable Marin to buy a home in the posh celebrity beachfront enclave of Malibu, where he lives with his artist wife, Patti Heid, and their two children; the actor also has an adult daughter from a previous marriage.
Over the years, Marin has become an avid collector of Hispanic art, and reportedly owns the largest collection of Mexican-American paintings in the United States outside of a museum. His favorites include Patssi Valdez, Frank Romero, Carlos Al, and Glugio "Gronk" Nicandro, and Marin claimed that he is formidable in his acquisition deals. "I drive a hard bargain," he told Hamlin in the San Francisco Chronicle interview. "But I'm always out there supporting the artists. I'm the guy who puts my money where my mouth is over a long period of time. My niche is Chicano art, and I'm a propagandist for it. I want to promote these painters because they deserve a wider audience and attention." Some of the collection became part of a 2002-2003 art exhibit, "Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge," that made stops in several American cities, including El Paso, Albuquerque, and Washington, D.C.
Selected works
Discography
Cheech and Chong, Ode, 1972.
Big Bambu, Warner Bros., 1972.
Los Cochinos, Warner Bros., 1973.
Wedding Album, Warner Bros., 1974.
Sleeping Beauty, Warner Bros., 1976.
Up in Smoke, Warner Bros., 1978.
Greatest Hit, Warner Bros., 1981.
Get out of My Room, MCA, 1985.
"Born in East L.A." (single), MCA, 1987.
Let's Make a New Dope Deal, Warner Bros., 1991.
Filmography
Up in Smoke, 1978.
Cheech & Chong's Next Movie, 1980.
Still Smokin', 1983.
The Corsican Brothers, 1984.
After Hours, 1986.
Born in East L.A., 1987.
Oliver & Company, 1988.
Rude Awakening, 1989.
The Shrimp on the Barbie, 1990.
The Lion King, 1994.
Desperado, 1995.
From Dusk Till Dawn, 1996.
Tin Cup, 1996.
Paulie, 1998.
Spy Kids, 2001.
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams, 2002.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico, 2003.
Screenwriting
Up in Smoke, 1978.
Cheech & Chong's Next Movie, 1980.
Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams, 1981.
Things are Tough All Over, 1982.
Still Smokin', 1983.
Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers, 1984.
Born in East L.A., 1987.
Television
The Golden Palace, 1992.
Nash Bridges, 1996-2001.
The Ortegas, 2003.
Sources
Books
Newsmakers 2000, Issue 1, Gale, 2000.
Periodicals
ADWEEK Western Edition, September 24, 1990, p. 4.
Austin American-Statesman, January 18, 1996, p. 48.
Back Stage, June 15, 1990, p. 6.
Buffalo News,August 16, 1996, p. B15.
El Paso Times, May 25, 2003, p. 1.
Entertainment Weekly, February 4, 1994, pp. 44-45; August 25, 1995, p. 90; August 16, 1996, p. 45; December 20, 1996, p. 82.
Los Angeles Magazine, November 2002, p. 36; April 2003, p. 17.
Los Angeles Times, May 10, 1999, p. 6; July 7, 2002, p. 12.
People, July 11, 1983, p. 26; September 14, 1987, p. 14; October 12, 1992, p. 9; April 27, 1998, p. 125.
San Francisco Chronicle, May 9, 1996, p. E1; February 2, 1999, p. E1.
Smithsonian, October 2002, p. 45.
Sport, December 1997, p. 92.
On-line
"Cheech and Chong Take Another Hit," Excite/ Reuters Online, http://entertainment.excite.com/article/id/342273|entertainment|07-23-2003::08 :30|reuters.html (July 24, 2003).
—Carol Brennan
Additional topics
Brief BiographiesBiographies: Al Loving Biography - Loved Painting from Early Age to Alice McGill Biography - PersonalCheech Marin: 1946—: Actor Biography - Started Entertaining With Tommy Chong, Branched Out From Drug Humor, Became Chicano Art Connoisseur