Rick Fox
Encyclopedia
Ulrich Alexander "Rick" Fox (born July 24, 1969) is a Canadian
television actor and retired professional basketball
player who last played for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers
in 2004.
, the son of Dianne Gerace, who was an Olympic high jump
er and women's pentathlete, and Ulrich Fox. His father is Bahamian and his mother is Italian Canadian. Fox's family moved to his father's native Bahamas when Fox was three. He attended Kingsway Academy in Nassau
, where he was a member of the high school's basketball team, the "Saints." Fox also played high school basketball in Warsaw, Indiana
. After two seasons (1984–1986) at Warsaw, Fox was projected to have a monster senior season. Just prior to his senior season, the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) ruled that he had no more high school eligibility left (due to completing eight semesters in the Bahamas) and was not allowed to participate in any IHSAA games. Despite not playing his senior season, Fox was voted onto the Indiana All-Star team in 1987.
He then went on to star collegiately at the University of North Carolina
where his highlights included leading the Tar Heels to the 1991 NCAA Final Four
.
Fox began his pro basketball career when he was selected by the Boston Celtics
in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft
. As a member of the Celtics, Fox became the first rookie starter on opening night since Larry Bird
in 1979. Fox played for thirteen seasons in the NBA (from 1991–1997 with Boston and from 1997–2004 with the Los Angeles Lakers
). With the Lakers, Fox won three NBA championships: in 2000
, 2001
, and 2002
, and played in the 2004 NBA Finals
.
On April 5, 1999, Fox scored his 6,000th career point in the Lakers' 117-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets
. In 56 career NBA Playoff games, he averaged 6.1 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
Fox played internationally for Canada once, at the 1994 FIBA Basketball World Championship held in Toronto.
on the HBO prison drama Oz
. He has also appeared in a number of basketball themed films, namely Eddie
, He Got Game
, and Blue Chips
. Fox was a producer of The 1 Second Film
, the largest collaborative nonprofit film ever created.
Fox has guest starred in One Tree Hill
, Missing, and Shark
with James Woods
. He appeared in the movie Holes
.
In 2007, Fox signed on with the show Dirt
to play a recurring role in a multi-episode storyline. He also had a lead role in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns
as Harry, Angela Bassett
's love interest. He played Wilhelmina Slater
's bodyguard and lover in the second season of Ugly Betty
, opposite his former wife Vanessa L. Williams
.
In 2008 and 2009, he had a recurring role (as a fictionalized version of himself) on the CW
comedy-drama
television series The Game.
In 2009, Fox played himself in an episode of Party Down
on Starz.
In Fall 2010, he was also a celebrity contestant on ABC
's Dancing With The Stars
, paired with pro Cheryl Burke
. They came in 6th place.
Fox guest starred in an episode of The Big Bang Theory
entitled "The Love Car Displacement
" in 2011.
Fox also played himself in three sketches of Jake and Amir
for CollegeHumor
(1 Apr 2011, 12 June 2011, and 18 Oct 2011).
Fox guest starred for 2 episodes in VH1
's Single Ladies
.
Fox guest starred in an episode of Body of Proof
entitled "Love Thy Neighbor
" in 2011.
Fox currently has a recurring role on Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
Fox has a son with college girlfriend Kari Hillsman. Fox was also married to actress/singer Vanessa L. Williams
. After eloping in summer 1999 in the Caribbean, they had another ceremony in September 1999 in New York
. They had a daughter in May 2000. After The National Enquirer
published pictures of Fox kissing and hugging another woman in mid-2004, Fox's representative announced that the couple had been "headed toward divorce" for over a year. A few months later in August 2004, Fox filed for divorce from Williams.
In 2010, it was reported that Fox was dating actress Eliza Dushku
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television actor and retired professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who last played for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in 2004.
Early life
Fox was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, the son of Dianne Gerace, who was an Olympic high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
er and women's pentathlete, and Ulrich Fox. His father is Bahamian and his mother is Italian Canadian. Fox's family moved to his father's native Bahamas when Fox was three. He attended Kingsway Academy in Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
, where he was a member of the high school's basketball team, the "Saints." Fox also played high school basketball in Warsaw, Indiana
Warsaw, Indiana
Warsaw is a city in and the county seat of Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States. Cradled among Winona Lake, Pike Lake, Hidden Lake and Center Lake, Warsaw is nicknamed "Lake City," though other cities in the surrounding area are also referred to by that nickname...
. After two seasons (1984–1986) at Warsaw, Fox was projected to have a monster senior season. Just prior to his senior season, the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) ruled that he had no more high school eligibility left (due to completing eight semesters in the Bahamas) and was not allowed to participate in any IHSAA games. Despite not playing his senior season, Fox was voted onto the Indiana All-Star team in 1987.
He then went on to star collegiately at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
where his highlights included leading the Tar Heels to the 1991 NCAA Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
.
Basketball career
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft
1991 NBA Draft
The 1991 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 1991 in New York City, New York. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as the best overall pick in this draft, becoming one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight...
. As a member of the Celtics, Fox became the first rookie starter on opening night since Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
in 1979. Fox played for thirteen seasons in the NBA (from 1991–1997 with Boston and from 1997–2004 with the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
). With the Lakers, Fox won three NBA championships: in 2000
2000 NBA Finals
The 2000 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1999-2000 National Basketball Association season. The Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference took on the Indiana Pacers of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Lakers holding home court advantage...
, 2001
2001 NBA Finals
The 2001 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2000-01 National Basketball Association season. The Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference took on the Philadelphia 76ers of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Lakers holding home court advantage in a best-of-seven format.The...
, and 2002
2002 NBA Finals
The 2002 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association championship series for the 2001–02 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the Western Conference and two-time defending NBA champions, and the New Jersey Nets, champions of the...
, and played in the 2004 NBA Finals
2004 NBA Finals
The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference; the Lakers held home court advantage...
.
On April 5, 1999, Fox scored his 6,000th career point in the Lakers' 117-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. In 56 career NBA Playoff games, he averaged 6.1 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
Fox played internationally for Canada once, at the 1994 FIBA Basketball World Championship held in Toronto.
Acting career
Fox's acting credits include playing prison inmate Jackson VahueJackson Vahue
Jackson Vahue is a fictional character from the HBO prison drama Oz played by Rick Fox, a former NBA basketball star and champion with the Los Angeles Lakers.-Character overview:...
on the HBO prison drama Oz
Oz (TV series)
Oz is an American television drama series created by Tom Fontana, who also wrote or co-wrote all of the series' 56 episodes . It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by premium cable network HBO. Oz premiered on July 12, 1997 and ran for six seasons...
. He has also appeared in a number of basketball themed films, namely Eddie
Eddie (film)
Eddie is a 1996 comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Frank Langella. It was a moderate success, grossing $31,387,164 in the US.The film was directed by Steve Rash.- Plot summary :...
, He Got Game
He Got Game
He Got Game is a 1998 American sports-drama film written and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth, a prison inmate convicted for killing his wife...
, and Blue Chips
Blue Chips
Blue Chips is a 1994 drama film about basketball, directed by William Friedkin, written by Ron Shelton and starring Nick Nolte as a college coach and real-life basketball stars Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway as talented finds....
. Fox was a producer of The 1 Second Film
The 1 Second Film
The 1 Second Film is a non-profit collaborative art project being created by thousands of people around the world, including many celebrities....
, the largest collaborative nonprofit film ever created.
Fox has guest starred in One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, Missing, and Shark
Shark (TV series)
Shark is an American legal drama created by Ian Biederman that originally aired on CBS from September 21, 2006 to May 20, 2008. The series stars James Woods.-Synopsis:...
with James Woods
James Woods
James Howard Woods is an American film, stage and television actor. Woods is known for starring in critically acclaimed films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Salvador, Nixon, Ghosts of Mississippi, Casino, and in the television legal drama Shark. He has won three Emmy Awards, and has gained...
. He appeared in the movie Holes
Holes (film)
Holes is a 2003 film based on the novel of the same name by Louis Sachar, who also wrote the screenplay, with Shia LaBeouf as the lead role of Stanley Yelnats...
.
In 2007, Fox signed on with the show Dirt
Dirt (TV series)
Dirt is an American television serial broadcast on the FX network. It premiered on January 2, 2007 and starred Courteney Cox as Lucy Spiller, the editor-in-chief of the first-of-its-kind "glossy tabloid" magazine DirtNow, which was previously two separate publications: drrt and Now Dirt (styled...
to play a recurring role in a multi-episode storyline. He also had a lead role in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns
Meet the Browns (film)
Meet the Browns is a 2008 romantic comedy-drama film released by Lionsgate on March 21, 2008. The film was based on the play of the same name by Tyler Perry.-Plot:...
as Harry, Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett
Angela Evelyn Bassett is an American actress. She has become well known for her biographical film roles portraying real life women in African American culture, including singer Tina Turner in the motion picture What's Love Got to Do with It, as well as Betty Shabazz in the films Malcolm X and...
's love interest. He played Wilhelmina Slater
Wilhelmina Slater
Wilhelmina Vivian Slater is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. She is played by Vanessa Williams, who received a supporting actress award at the 2007 and 2008 NAACP Image Awards, a Best TV Villain award at the 2007 Teen Choice Awards and a supporting actress...
's bodyguard and lover in the second season of Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
, opposite his former wife Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
.
In 2008 and 2009, he had a recurring role (as a fictionalized version of himself) on the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
television series The Game.
In 2009, Fox played himself in an episode of Party Down
Party Down
Party Down is an American comedy television series created and primarily written by John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge, and Paul Rudd that aired on the Starz network in the United States.-Conception:...
on Starz.
In Fall 2010, he was also a celebrity contestant on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Dancing With The Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
, paired with pro Cheryl Burke
Cheryl Burke
Cheryl Stephanie Burke is a professional dancer. She is best known for being one of the professional dancers on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, where she was the first woman to win the show and the first person to win twice ....
. They came in 6th place.
Fox guest starred in an episode of The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
entitled "The Love Car Displacement
The Love Car Displacement
"The Love Car Displacement" is an episode of the television series The Big Bang Theory that first aired on CBS on January 20, 2011. It is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of the series and the seventy-sixth episode overall...
" in 2011.
Fox also played himself in three sketches of Jake and Amir
Jake and Amir
Jake and Amir is a web series starring CollegeHumor writers Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld from New York. They play humorous versions of themselves; Jake is generally depicted as a "regular guy", and Amir as his annoying and obsessive co-worker, the pair acting as a comic double act...
for CollegeHumor
CollegeHumor
CollegeHumor is a comedy website owned by InterActiveCorp and based in New York City. The site features daily original comedy videos and articles created by its in-house writing and production team, in addition to user-submitted videos, pictures, articles and links. In early 2009, CollegeHumor's...
(1 Apr 2011, 12 June 2011, and 18 Oct 2011).
Fox guest starred for 2 episodes in VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Single Ladies
Single Ladies (TV series)
Single Ladies is a television series on the VH1 network in the U.S. created by Stacy A. Littlejohn and produced by Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Entertainment for the MTV network-owned cable channel. The show chronicles three friends, Val, Keisha and April, and their relationships...
.
Fox guest starred in an episode of Body of Proof
Body of Proof
Body of Proof is an American medical drama television series created by Chris Murphey and produced by ABC Studios. Starring Dana Delany as medical examiner Dr. Megan Hunt, the series premiered on March 29, 2011 on ABC....
entitled "Love Thy Neighbor
Love Thy Neighbor
Love Thy Neighbour was a 1970s British situation comedy.Love Thy Neighbor or Love Thy Neighbour may also refer to:* the Biblical phrase from Leviticus and the New Testament about the Ethic of reciprocity...
" in 2011.
Fox currently has a recurring role on Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
Personal life
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
. After eloping in summer 1999 in the Caribbean, they had another ceremony in September 1999 in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. They had a daughter in May 2000. After The National Enquirer
The National Enquirer
The National Enquirer is an American supermarket tabloid now published by American Media Inc . Founded in 1926, the tabloid has gone through a variety of changes over the years....
published pictures of Fox kissing and hugging another woman in mid-2004, Fox's representative announced that the couple had been "headed toward divorce" for over a year. A few months later in August 2004, Fox filed for divorce from Williams.
In 2010, it was reported that Fox was dating actress Eliza Dushku
Eliza Dushku
Eliza Patricia Dushku is an American actress known for her television roles, including recurring appearances as Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series Angel. She starred in two Fox series, Tru Calling and Dollhouse...
.