Professionally known as Chris Rock, Christopher Julius Rock is a stand-up comedian, an actor, a writer, a producer and a film director born in Andrews, South Carolina, United States to Julius Rock and Rosalie "Rose" Tingman Rock. Julius was a truck driver and a newspaper delivery man while Rosalie was a teacher and a social worker.

Shortly after Chris's birth, his family moved from Andrews to Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. Chris attended James Madison High School in Brooklyn but his parents pulled him out because he was bullied in school.