Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx’s Return to the Screen: Upcoming Release of “Strays”

Actor Jamie Foxx is set to make his return to the big screen with the release of the R-rated comedy Strays on August 18. In this film, Foxx joins Will Ferrell as the voices of two stray dogs. This release marks Foxx’s first film appearance since his hospitalization in April 2023 due to a medical emergency, the details of which remain undisclosed. In July 2023, Foxx publicly addressed his health crisis for the first time, describing his experience as having been “to hell and back” and expressing his gratitude for his recovery and continued life.

Who Is Jamie Foxx?

Jamie Foxx, born Eric Morlon Bishop, stands out as one of the most versatile entertainers of his generation. Initially gaining prominence on television as a cast member of In Living Color, Foxx went on to establish himself further with the launch of his own sitcom in 1996.

Foxx’s transition to dramatic acting was marked by his acclaimed performances in the 2004 thriller Collateral and the biopic Ray, the latter of which earned him an Academy Award for his portrayal of Ray Charles. His impressive filmography also includes notable roles in Dreamgirls, Django Unchained, and Just Mercy.

In addition to his acting career, Foxx is a successful musician with five studio albums to his name. His song “Blame It” won a Grammy Award, and his 2005 collaboration with Kanye West on “Gold Digger” remains a significant highlight in his musical career.

In April 2023, Foxx faced a medical emergency that led to hospitalization. Fortunately, he has since made a full recovery.

Early Life

Jamie Foxx, born Eric Marlon Bishop on December 13, 1967, in Terrell, Texas, is the son of Darrell Bishop and Louise Annette Talley Dixon. Shortly after Foxx’s birth, Darrell converted to Islam, adopting the name Shahid Abdula. The conversion led to a strained relationship with Foxx’s mother, resulting in the abandonment of Foxx during infancy. Consequently, his maternal grandparents assumed custody, raising him from the age of less than one year.

Foxx later reflected on this separation during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2005. He revealed that his father’s religious beliefs played a significant role in the family’s dissolution. “He drew a line in the sand: ‘I’m a Muslim, and since you’re not, I can’t be your father,’” Foxx recounted. “During our last conversation, which was after my grandmother passed, I said, ‘Listen, I understand observing your religion, but is that worth missing out on your son’s life?’” Despite this early estrangement, Foxx has since reconciled with his father, who has lived with him for several years.

As a child, Foxx was deeply involved in sports and music. At Terrell High School, he excelled in basketball and football, becoming the school’s first quarterback to pass for over 1,000 yards. Following graduation, Foxx received a classical piano scholarship to the U.S. International University in San Diego, where he majored in music. Reflecting on his time at the university, Foxx noted the significance of the diverse environment. “Going to that school was great for me,” he told Oprah. “Especially since I’d come from a world where Blacks and whites were separated by the town’s railroad tracks… But at the university, there were people from 81 different countries.”

During his college years, Foxx was encouraged by friends to perform at a comedy club’s open mic night, marking the beginning of his entertainment career. He adopted the stage name Jamie Foxx, choosing it as a tribute to the comedian Redd Foxx and selecting a gender-neutral first name to gain an advantage in comedy lineups, as female comedians were often given priority.

Early Career: TV Show, ‘Collateral,’ and First Album

Upon graduating from college, Jamie Foxx relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy. In 1991, he joined the cast of the TV variety show In Living Color as a regular member. His audition for the show took place at the renowned Laugh Factory comedy club in West Hollywood, where he performed in front of an audience that included notable cast members such as Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, Keenan Ivory Wayans, and David Alan Grier. Foxx left In Living Color in 1994.

In 1996, Foxx made a return to television with The Jamie Foxx Show, portraying a struggling actor residing in a hotel owned by his aunt and uncle. Co-created and produced by Foxx through his company, Foxxhole, the series enjoyed a five-season run despite modest ratings, further advancing Foxx’s career.

Foxx made his film debut with Toys in 1992, sharing the screen with Robin Williams and Joan Cusack. During the 1990s, he also ventured into music, releasing his debut album Peep This in 1994. The album, characterized by its smooth R&B sound, peaked at No. 12 on the R&B and hip-hop charts, with the track “Infatuation” gaining notable radio play and listener attention.

Despite earlier roles in The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996) and The Players Club (1998), Foxx garnered significant acclaim for his dramatic turn in Any Given Sunday (1999). Directed by Oliver Stone, the film centered on a professional football team and featured a cast that included Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, and Dennis Quaid. Foxx drew on his high school football experience to advise Pacino on his iconic locker room monologue.

Foxx’s next major film role was in Michael Mann’s Ali (2001), where he portrayed Drew Bundini Brown, the assistant trainer to the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, played by Will Smith. Foxx later received critical acclaim for his supporting role in Mann’s Collateral (2004), opposite Tom Cruise. In the thriller, Foxx played a taxi driver who is abducted by a hitman (Cruise) and forced to drive him to various locations over the course of one night. Roger Ebert praised Foxx’s performance, stating, “Jamie Foxx’s work is a revelation. I’ve thought of him in terms of comedy, but here he steps into a dramatic lead and is always convincing and involving.” For this role, Foxx was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award.

Academy Award for Ray

Jamie Foxx reached a new pinnacle of stardom with his portrayal of soul music pioneer Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic Ray. Foxx earned the role through a rigorous process of securing Charles’ approval. The two artists showcased their musical talents on separate pianos, after which Charles affirmed, “The kid’s got it.” To fully immerse himself in the character, Foxx undertook significant physical transformations, including losing 30 pounds and undergoing a procedure to simulate Charles’ blindness by having his eyelids glued shut—an ordeal that led him to hyperventilate on set.

Foxx’s dedication and performance were met with critical acclaim, earning him the Best Actor awards at both the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes, solidifying his status on Hollywood’s A-list. In his poignant Oscar acceptance speech, Foxx paid tribute to his late maternal grandmother, saying, “She still talks to me now, only now she talks to me in my dreams. And I can’t wait to go to sleep tonight because we got a lot to talk about. I love you.”

Continued Success: “Gold Digger,” Django Unchained, and Spider-Man Role

Following his acclaimed role in Ray, Jamie Foxx navigated a varied career trajectory, marked by a mix of successes and setbacks. In 2005, he appeared in the military action film Stealth, alongside Josh Lucas and Jessica Biel, which was met with both critical and financial disappointment. That same year, he earned critical recognition for his portrayal of a marine in Jarhead, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal. Despite the positive reviews, the film struggled to attract a broad audience.

Foxx also continued to cultivate his music career, releasing the album Unpredictable. The record achieved significant success, topping pop, R&B, and hip-hop charts, driven by singles such as “DJ Play a Love Song” and “Can I Take You Home.” At the 2006 BET Awards, he won Best Duet/Collaboration with Kanye West for their hit “Gold Digger.”

In 2006, Foxx collaborated with Colin Farrell in Michael Mann’s film adaptation of the 1980s television series Miami Vice. He also starred in Dreamgirls alongside Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé, portraying a scheming car salesman who becomes the manager of the R&B star James Thunder Early, played by Eddie Murphy. The film, loosely inspired by the Supremes, was recognized with the Outstanding Performance by a Cast award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Foxx’s focus in the late 2000s was heavily on his music career. His third album, Intuition, released in 2008, featured collaborations with Kanye West and Lil Wayne. The album’s second single, “Blame It,” reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, earning Foxx his first Grammy for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals. He followed up with Best Night of My Life in 2010.

Despite his musical pursuits, Foxx maintained an active film career. He appeared in The Kingdom (2007), Valentine’s Day (2010), Horrible Bosses (2011), and the animated film Rio (2012). He also portrayed Nathaniel Ayers in The Soloist (2009) opposite Robert Downey Jr.

In late 2012, Foxx made a significant comeback with a leading role in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. He portrayed Django, a former enslaved person who partners with a bounty hunter, played by Christoph Waltz, to rescue his wife (Kerry Washington) from a cruel plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio). The film’s depiction of slavery presented emotional challenges for Foxx, who acknowledged the difficulty of filming on location where his ancestors had suffered.

Foxx continued to expand his repertoire with a prominent role as President Sawyer in White House Down (2013) alongside Channing Tatum. In 2014, he revisited roles in Rio 2 and Horrible Bosses 2, played the villain Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and took on the role of William Stacks in the remake of Annie. The following year, he released his fifth studio album, Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses.

Recent Movie Roles: ‘Just Mercy’ and ‘Strays’

Following a brief hiatus from the screen, Jamie Foxx made a notable return in 2017 with appearances in the crime thrillers Sleepless and Baby Driver. In Baby Driver, directed by Edgar Wright, Foxx took on the role of the menacing villain Leon “Bats” Jefferson. His portrayal, opposite Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, and Jon Hamm, drew inspiration from a friend from his comedy club days in Los Angeles.

In 2018, Foxx portrayed Little John in a remake of Robin Hood, a trusted friend of the titular character. The subsequent year, he delivered a compelling performance in Just Mercy, a film based on the true story of a Black pulpwood worker wrongfully convicted of the 1986 murder of a young white woman. Foxx’s role, alongside Michael B. Jordan, held personal significance due to his father’s seven-year incarceration for a minor drug offense. His performance garnered a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.

In 2020, Foxx lent his voice to the lead character in Pixar’s animated film Soul, where he played a disillusioned jazz musician who finds himself in a realm of disembodied souls after a coma. The film resonated deeply with Foxx following the passing of his sister, who had Down syndrome, in the same year. Foxx reflected, “When you look at this film, it is exactly what I am now going through—the bittersweet feeling of losing someone but gaining a vision of joy.”

Foxx later reprised his role as Electro in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), a Marvel Cinematic Universe film featuring the return of multiple Spider-Man actors, including Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland. He is also set to star in the upcoming Spawn, where he will play the antihero title role; however, the film is still in pre-production with no confirmed release date.

In August 2023, Foxx will feature in the R-rated comedy Strays, alongside Will Ferrell. In this film, they voice two stray dogs seeking revenge against their neglectful owner. Foxx recorded his performance prior to his recent health issues, making Strays his first release since his hospitalization.

Personal Life: Family, Relationships, and Health

Jamie Foxx has two daughters. His first, actress and singer Corinne Foxx, was born in 1994 to his then-girlfriend Connie Kline. His second daughter, Anelise, was born in 2019. In a 2017 interview with People, Foxx reflected on raising his daughter in Hollywood, noting, “In this business, sometimes it can get crazy, but my daughter, she’s just incredible.”

Foxx has never married, expressing his reluctance to adhere to a traditional lifestyle. He remarked, “The traditional cookie-cutter lifestyle with the 2.5 children, the wood paneling on the station wagon and the cottage, I don’t think that was for me.” Despite this, he has had notable romantic relationships. Foxx was linked with actress Katie Holmes following her separation from Tom Cruise in 2012. The couple kept their relationship private for years, but it was reported in August 2019 that they had parted ways.

Foxx’s personal life has included occasional legal issues. In 2003, he was arrested following an altercation with security guards at a New Orleans casino and was subsequently placed on two years’ probation. Additionally, in 2018, he faced accusations from a woman who claimed he assaulted her in 2002 after she refused to engage in sexual activity. Foxx denounced the allegations as “absurd” and vowed to take legal action against his accuser.

More recently, Foxx was in the news when his daughter Corinne announced on April 12, 2023, that he had been hospitalized due to an undisclosed medical emergency. Despite initial concerns and rumors about his health, Corinne later confirmed that he had been released from the hospital and was recovering. Foxx publicly addressed his hospitalization for the first time in July 2023, describing his experience as having “been to hell and back” and expressing gratitude for his recovery.