Nick Cannon Biography / Pictures

Nick Cannon (born October 8, 1980) is an American actor, rapper and television personality.

Biography

Nick Cannon was born to Beth Gardner and James Cannon, a televangelist who hosted a public access TV ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina. As a child, Nick divided his time between living with mother and grandmother in San Diego and with his father in Charlotte. He began performing at age eight, and at the age of eleven, he landed a spot on his father's cable access program performing stand-up comedy. When Nick was in his mid-teens, he moved to Hollywood, where he performed stand up at The Improv, The Laugh Factory, and the Comedy Store. Nick attended Quail Hollow Middle School. He graduated from Monte Vista High School in 1998.

Nick scored his television debut on Nickelodeon's All That. In 2002, he was featured in his own series, The Nick Cannon Show. Later that year, he had his first starring role in Drumline, followed by the 2003 comedy Love Don't Cost a Thing. In 2005, he appeared in Roll Bounce with fellow actor and rapper Bow Wow. That same year, Nick starred in and executive produced the comedy Underclassman. In 2006, Nick lent his voice for the animated feature Monster House, followed by a role in the drama Bobby.

The following year, Nick created Short Circuitz, a sketch comedy series that also airs on MTV. Most recently, he has appeared in the Direct-to-DVD remake of Day of the Dead and the independent drama American Son.

In 2005, Nick produced and hosted the MTV improv comedy series Wild 'N Out. He will host the fourth season of America's Got Talent in Summer 2009. He also hosted the first and only season of Nickelodeon's Friday Night Slimetime.

As a teenager, Nick formed the rap duo "Da Bomb Squad" with his best friend Steve Groves; they opened for the likes of Will Smith, LFO, 98 Degrees, and Montell Jordan.

After signing with Jive Records in 2001, he was featured alongside Lil' Romeo and 3LW on the Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius soundtrack with a cover of the 1988 hit song "Parents Just Don't Understand". His debut self titled album was released in 2003 and included the single "Your Pops Don't Like Me".

In 2005, Nick formed his own record label, Can I Ball Records, with plans to release his second album, Stages, later that year. The album's first single, "Can I Live?" was released in July of 2005 followed by the second single "Dime Piece" in March of 2006. His second album has been shelved and has not seen release as of 2009.

Nick dated Grammy-nominated singer and actress Christina Milian and socialite Kim Kardashian. Nick began dating Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks in February 2007 and just six weeks later on May 7, 2007, Nick proposed to Ebanks via the Times Square jumbotron. The couple called off their engagement five months later in October 2007.

On April 30, 2008 Nick married singer Mariah Carey at Carey's estate on the Bahamian island of Windermere. The two share a short haired Jack Russell terrier named Cha Cha.