Alex Thomas

Alex Thomas Jr. was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, where he began his entertainment career as a teenage dancer on the television show “Soul Train.” His early exposure to the industry led him to become an assistant choreographer for the first two seasons of “In Living Color,” where he met Keenan Ivory Wayans and Damon Wayans. These interactions prompted Thomas to pursue stand-up comedy, marking a pivotal shift in his career trajectory. He subsequently appeared on numerous comedy shows, including “BET’s Comic View,” “Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam,” and “Comedy Central’s Premium Blend.” His stand-up career culminated in a Showtime special titled “Straight Clownin’,” which featured appearances by Tyra Banks, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dr. Dre.

In 1994, Will Smith discovered Thomas performing at the Laugh Factory and recruited him for the writing staff of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” where Thomas contributed for the show’s final three seasons. Concurrently, he maintained an active presence as a touring stand-up comedian, opening for performers such as Damon Wayans, Mark Curry, and Bill Cosby. His acting credits include roles in films such as “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” (1996), “BAPS” (1997), “The Players Club” (1998), “Two Can Play That Game” (2001), “The Wash” (2001), and “Just Married” (2003). On television, Thomas held a regular role as “Phil” (aka “Phino”) on “The Jamie Foxx Show” and made guest appearances on “Moesha,” “Martin,” and “The Parkers.” He also lent his voice to animated series including “Family Guy,” “Batman Beyond,” “King of the Hill,” and “The Cleveland Show.”

In 2001, Thomas hosted the “Up in Smoke Tour,” a hip-hop event featuring artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and Eminem, performing his stand-up routine in all 49 cities. From 2009 to 2010, he was recognized as “College Comic of the Year,” leading to over 100 college performances. More recently, Thomas co-starred in “Mr. Box Office” on The CW Network alongside Bill Bellamy, Jon Lovitz, and Tim Meadows. Beyond entertainment, he established “The Alex Thomas Foundation,” a pediatric cancer charity that hosts “The Alex Thomas Celebrity Classic” golf tournament annually in Los Angeles to support pediatric cancer research.