A trailblazing rapper, an Oscar winner, and many iconic comedians dominate the cast of Friday, the 1995 cult classic that's still as relevant as ever.
The Friday cast includes a hip-hop veteran and a comedy stalwart at the forefront along with many more talented character actors. The first entry in the Friday franchise, the 1995 buddy comedy deals with a day in the life of South Central L.A. locals Craig Jones and Smokey as they struggle to come up with the $200 that they owe a drug supplier. Marking the feature directorial debut of F. Gary Gray, Friday has been immortalized in a plethora of Internet memes and pop-culture references. Its quotable dialogues stem from rapper Ice Cube and record producer DJ Pooh’s screenplay, which is largely based on their personal experiences.
One of the interesting behind-the-scenes facts about the making of Friday is that Cube and Pooh sought to reinterpret the “hood” as a place of fun instead of just being violent and menacing. This balance of slacker comedy and socio-political commentary is brought to life by a cast that included stars like Chris Tucker, Regina King, and Bernie Mac when they were just starting out. For Cube, Friday served as an opportunity to showcase his comedic chops after having boasted his dramatic prowess in Boyz n the Hood. All in all, Friday proved to be a successful launching pad for many of its actors.
Ice Cube As Craig Jones
O’Shea Jackson, a.k.a. Ice Cube, leads the Friday cast as Craig Jones, a slacker who recently got fired from his job. He lives with his parents while bearing the brunt of his father’s taunts. This financial and residential situation often puts Craig in a sour mood, and he generally has a defensive attitude toward the residents of his neighborhood. While Ice Cube was primarily known for his music career, including his work with the rap group N.W.A. and his solo discography, he successfully rebranded himself as an actor. He made an acclaimed film debut in 1991’s Boyz n the Hood in which he played the vengeful gangster Darrin “Doughboy” Baker.
Apart from reprising his role in the Friday sequels and animated series, the rapper-turned-actor established himself in the action genre as a “tough guy” archetype. Ice Cube’s best characters bring out this persona. He is known for playing the snake-slaying documentary camera operator Danny Rich in Anaconda and the punchline-cracking secret agent Darius Stone in xXx: State of the Union. He has also played tough cops like the authoritative order-barking Captain Dickson in the 21 Jump Street franchise and the equally serious Detective James Payton in the Ride Along series. However, he can also play funnier, kind-hearted characters such as the barber Calvin Palmer in the Barbershop movies.
Chris Tucker As Smokey
When it comes to the most chill movie stoners, Chris Tucker’s Smokey from Friday is an easy pick. An unemployed slacker like his friend Craig, Smokey is calmer and friendlier in terms of his personality. However, the marijuana-smoking character’s decisions can often be unwise and land him in trouble. While Friday made him a star, Tucker didn’t reprise his role in the sequels. According to Ice Cube, Tucker turned down $10-12 million to appear in Next Friday for “religious reasons” as he didn’t wish to swear or smoke pot on camera anymore. Still, Tucker is fondly remembered for his contribution to the Friday cast.
Chris Tucker’s best movies include the Rush Hour franchise in which he played the fast-talking, womanizing LAPD detective James Carter. His friendly chemistry with Hong Kong martial artist Jackie Chan was heavily praised. The stand-up comedian also played the flamboyant talk show host Ruby Rhod in The Fifth Element and boisterous convict Beaumont Livingston in Jackie Brown. Chartering slightly more dramatic territories, Tucker appeared in Silver Linings Playbook as Danny McDaniels, a patient at a psychiatric hospital who is a good friend to Bradley Cooper’s protagonist. He later joined the cast of Air as the talkative and optimistic Nike executive Howard White.
