How Did Cheech & Chong Meet? Plus, What Brought Them Back Together For One Last Movie
In the ’70s, no two stoners were funnier than Cheech & Chong. The duo, made up of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, met in 1969 in Vancouver, Canada; Cheech, originally from Southern California, had moved north to avoid the Vietnam War draft, and Chong, a Canadian citizen, was trying to spark a career in comedy after a failed attempt at being a professional musician. The two achieved worldwide success with album’s like 1971’s Cheech & Chong (which unleashed their legendary “Dave’s not here” skit onto the world) and films like 1978’s Up in Smoke.
Today, they’re back, promoting their newest film, Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie, which hits theaters nationwide today. Here’s a look back at how they got together, and became one of the biggest comedy teams of the 20th century.
The early years
While Tommy Chong was on tour with his band in the 1960s, they had a stop in San Francisco, where Chong stumbled across a club hosting Chicago’s Second City Improv. Upon returning to Canada, the show inspired him to form an improv group called City Works, which performed a quirky mix of comedy and burlesque at Shanghai Junk, a strip club his family owned.
It was here that Chong first crossed paths with Cheech Marin, who was brought in to replace the group’s original straight man. It wasn’t long before the pair realized they had something special while performing together, as they got tons of laughs from the crowds. They began performing at other comedy clubs, eventually releasing eight studio albums and leaning heavily into the stoner culture. As their stand-up success grew, so did their ambition.
Everett Collection
When Cheech & Chong Went Up In Smoke
The duo made the leap to the big screen in 1978 with Up in Smoke, a film that would go on to become a cult classic. Despite a modest budget, the movie raked in over $44 million, proving there was a huge audience for Cheech & Chong’s unique brand of humor. The film’s success led to two more: Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie (1980) and Nice Dreams (1981). While Things Are Tough All Over (1982) and Still Smokin’ (1983) didn’t hit the same heights, the pair’s influence in comedy continued to grow. Not long after the epic flop of 1984’s Cheech & Chong’s: The Corsican Brothers, they decided to split up and focus on their solo careers but still reunited several times over the years.
While Chong got a recurring gig on That ’70s Show, Cheech was a regular on Nash Bridges. Both proved to be powerhouse comedians on their own and together, and both voiced several characters. You may recognize Chong’s voice in FernGully: The Last Rainforest and Cheech’s in The Lion King.
Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb
Cheech & Chong: Still Smokin’
In recent years, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong have reunited for a new project: Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie, a documentary blending comedy, animation and archival footage to chronicle their five-decade partnership. Directed by David Bushell, the film premiered at SXSW in 2024 and was released on a limited theatrical release on April 20, 2025, with a nationwide rollout on April 25.
The documentary follows the duo on a road trip to a place called “The Joint,” during which they reflect on their journey from their early days in the 1960s through their rise to fame, eventual split in the 1980s and subsequent reunion. It features interviews, sketches, and never-before-seen footage, offering an intimate look at their careers and personal relationship. While the film is titled Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie, both men have hinted that this may not actually be their final collaboration.
Cheech & Chong’s Unlikely Influences
As part of the press tour for the new doc, the duo recently took part in a Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, where a Reddit user asked about their early influences. Both gushed about Lenny Bruce; Cheech responded that he looked up to Bob Newhart and the Smothers Brothers while Chong loved Andy Griffith‘s comedy album. Cheech also looked back at what it was like working on the short-lived Golden Girls spinoff, Golden Palace, during his solo career. He responded, “It was slow and fast, alternatively. I liked it because I got to work with Betty White, my all-time hero; she was the first person I ever saw on TV. ”
Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie is in theaters now.
Remind 
Classic Comedy Duos
March 2021
Chuckle at television & films funniest comic duos.
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