Born : Kevin Darnell Hart
Age : July 6, 1979 (age 35)
Place of birth : Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation: Actor, comedian, writer, producer
Years active : 1999–present
Medium : Stand-up, film, television
GenresObservational comedy, black humor, surreal humor, satire,self-deprecation
Subject(s) : African-American culture, current events, everyday life, human sexuality, marriage, parenting,pop culture, race relations,racism, self-deprecation
Influences : Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle
Kevin Hart
Comedy career
Hart's first gig was at The Laff House in Philadelphia under the name of Lil Kev, which did not go well.
His career suffered a slow start, as he was booed off stage several times, once even having a piece of chicken thrown at him. After those initial unsuccessful shows, Hart began entering comedy competitions throughout Massachusetts, and his fortunes soon turned for the better.
It took time for Hart to develop a unique comedic style. After an early period of attempting to imitate comedians like Chris Tucker, he found his own rhythm by delving into his insecurities and life experiences. "Because of what I do, it has to be an open book," he has said. "But right now this is a book that is being written."
Hart has cited fellow Philadelphian Bill Cosby as a personally significant comedic influence. "When you talk about your flaws, people gravitate towards you," Hart said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. "I'm just not that manly man." This humility may be somewhat attributed to his short stature, since he is only five feet, four inches tall.
Hart's comedy tours began in 2009 with his act titled "I'm a Grown Little Man," followed by "Seriously Funny" in 2010, "Laugh At My Pain" in 2011, and most recently, his TV special titled "Let Me Explain" in 2013. Hart grossed over $15 million from "Laugh At My Pain," making it one of the year's top-selling comedy tours. Hart also has a game available through iTunes called "Little Jumpman." His Facebook page, Twitter account, and YouTube channel are all connected to and accessible through this app.