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Katt Williams

Katt Williams is a comedian known as much for his permed hair as for his animated performances and quick wit. He began paving his path to Hollywood over a decade ago. At an age when most teenagers are eagerly anticipating getting their driver's licenses, 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, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Dave Chapelle (whom he calls the Malcolm X of comedy), Williams' incomparably acerbic standup routines are laying the blueprint for a new generation of comics.

Williams is currently wrapping up the 100-city The Pimp Chronicles Tour, selling out theatres in every major market across the country. Recently, he was also added to the very short list of comedians to earn the honor of performing at Radio City Music Hall; he promptly sold out those two dates as well.

Last winter, Code Black Entertainment released Williams' HBO Special, Katt Williams: Pimp Chronicles Pt.1. Taped live in Atlanta, the show featured guest appearances from Cam'Ron, Lil' Jon, Snoop Dogg, Andre 3000, and Anthony Anderson. One of the highest rated comedy specials on the network in the past two years, the special garnered 3.6 million viewers and has since gone triple platinum in DVD sales. The highly-anticipated follow up – Katt Williams: American Hustle – will be released on DVD in November of this year.

On the big screen, Williams was most recently seen in the comedy Norbit for Paramount Pictures, opposite Eddy Murphy. Perhaps best known theatrically for his role as Money Mike in Friday after Next, he is currently re-teaming with the man who made him famous on film, Ice Cube, in the feature First Sunday. In the film, set for a January 2008 release through Screen Gems, Williams and Cube star as two petty criminals who plot to rip off their church.

Williams also conquered the land of television comedy on Nick Cannon's MTV improv series Wild ‘N' Out, and graced several hit television shows with cameo appearances. Some of these shows include NYPD Blue, UPN's Girlfriends, The Tracy Morgan Show, My Wife and Kids, as well as the popular adult cartoon The Boondocks, where he provided the voice for an animated pimp named Slickback. Williams will also write for and appear on Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz when it debuts later this year. Additionally, the funnyman has contributed to music videos for many musical groups and performers, from OutKast and Ludacris to E-40 and Lil Kim.

Williams' talent continues to extend over multiple mediums. In addition to television, film, and stand-up, his debut rap album, It's Pimpin, Pimpin, was released earlier this year by Cam'Ron's Diplomat label and features Snoop Dogg, E-40, Da Brat and Lil' John. Last year, he brought his comedic genius to the stage as the host of the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta. And, his self-created Money Mike Pimp Phone Ringing ringtone remains the most downloaded on Urban World Wireless.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Dayton, Williams was the product of a socially and politically charged household. At the age of 13, longing to express his creative side, he emancipated himself from his parents and moved to Florida where he sold flowers and magazines on the side of the road. He honed his skills during open-mic nights at local clubs – where he could sneak into the venues under-aged with the only other patrons not asked for ID – the comedians. In 1999, he became a notable presence at The Improv, The Comedy Club, The Icehouse, and he had his own room at The Hollywood Park Casino. Williams also won an award that year from a comedy peer, The Cedric The Entertainers Anheuser-Busch Best Los Angeles Comics Award. Since then, he has performed stand-up on many shows, such as Comedy Campus, BET's Comic View, both the 2005 and 2006 BET Comedy Awards, The 2006 Def Comedy Jam, and several late night talk shows including The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

Williams currently resides in Los Angeles with his eight children.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2008.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Katt Williams Facts

Birth Name Katt Micah Williams
OccupationActor, Comedian
BirthdaySeptember 2, 1973 (50)
SignVirgo
BirthplaceCincinnati, Ohio, USA
Height5' 5" (1m65)  How tall is Katt Williams compared to you?

Selected Filmography

Not available.