Biography
Multi-talented teen star Nick Cannon was born in San Diego, CA, in 1980. He was introduced to the entertainment industry as a dancer on
Soul Train and as a standup comedian in Los Angeles. Like many of his teen-star brethren, Cannon quickly found a home on the Nickelodeon cable channel. During the 1998 season, he joined the cast of the teen sketch comedy show
All That. During this time, he could be seen all over the channel, from Snick show host to series writer on
Cousin Skeeter and Kenan & Kel. Also a songwriter and rapper, Cannon's cover of "Parents Just Don't Understand" (originally recorded by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince) appeared on the soundtrack to the Nickelodeon animated feature Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. After a few bit parts in the feature films
Whatever It Takes and
Men in Black II, he got ready to make his media breakthrough in film, television, and music.
Cannon's first starring role came in the 2002 musical drama
Drumline. He played Devon, a percussionist from Harlem who joins the competitive show-style marching band at Atlanta A & T University. His song "I'm Scared of You" appeared on the soundtrack. The same year, he created The Nick Cannon Show (along the same lines as
The Amanda Show for his
All That co-star
Amanda Bynes). He then gained a lot of exposure with the romantic comedy
Love Don't Cost a Thing (with a story borrowed from the '80s romantic comedy
Can't Buy Me Love). On the soundtrack, he performs with Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, and Chingy for the song "Shorty (Put It on the Floor)." In December of 2003, he released his self-titled debut album on Jive Records. He collaborated with several big names, including R. Kelly on the hit single "Gigolo." Film projects for 2004 include the feature films Shall We Dance? and
The Underclassman. In 2006 Cannon would strap on his rollerskates for the retro-minded comedy drama
Roll Bounce, and after appearing alongside an impressive cast of players that included
Forest Whitaker,
Kelsey Grammer, and
Danny DeVito in the gambling drama
Even Money, the fast-maturing actor would earn his first voice credit as the titular hopper in
The Adventures of Brer Rabbit. His voice well-suited to the world of animation, Cannon would step back into the recording booth to provide the voice for trigger-happy Office Lister in the computer animated family comedy
Monster House. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide