The GenX Star With Rocket Scientist Parents and a Triplet Wife
Also, My Time In The Windy City Last Week 🏙️
I was in Chicago last week and I was able to revisit a few of my favorite spots in the city. I’ve been to Chicago like a hundred times and each time there’s something new I do that makes me love the city even more. I hate the traffic and the persistent construction, but I love the city. Oh, I also hate that it’s one of the few places in the country where I have to wait more than fifteen minutes sometimes to get a Lyft or Uber. And on occasion, not get one at all! Here’s a little street photography I took, but fist, here are a couple of cool pieces of trivia connecting Chicago and pop-culture…
One of the coolest things about being in downtown Chicago is checking out the Buckingham Fountain. The very same fountain in the opening of ‘Married With Children.’ The fountain was donated to the city of Chicago in 1927 by Kate S. Buckingham in memory of her brother Clarence. Here’s the shot from the opening shot of the show. [click the image or HERE to watch the intro]
Another cool Chicago spot is the Michael Jordan Steakhouse on Michigan Avenue. There’s an amazing painting inside the restaurant of Jordan that I wish I owned. The decor is very cool also — I’ve always imagined I’d run into Jordan here one day 🤣
Some street photography while exploring the city this time around—
GenX Actor Spotlight
No one would have ever expected Jack Black to become a household name. The guy is literally a “jack” of all trades. When you think of Jack Black you think of just how funny he is, but also how unique he is in his talent abilities. Remember him in Nacho Libre? How about Shallow Hal? How about his appearance in Water World (1995)? Also, if you have not seen BE KIND REWIND from 2008, you’ve got to check it out!
Born Thomas Jacob Black on August 28, 1969, Jack has a very interesting personal background that makes his successful career all the more interesting?
Jack's parents, Thomas William Black and Judith Love Cohen, were both engineers at the prestigious Hubble Space Telescope project. His mother, Judith, was a respected aerospace engineer who contributed to the Apollo space program. This intellectual environment provided a unique backdrop for Jack's artistic inclinations.
Growing up with rocket scientist parents is pretty cool, but Black has another interesting note in his personal life. In 2006, Jack Black married Tanya Haden, who is part of a triplet set. Tanya, an accomplished artist and cellist, shares her musical talent with her sisters, Rachel and Petra Haden. Black and Hayden met when they were students at Crossroads School, a private high school in Santa Monica.
Jack Black's career spans a variety of mediums, from music with his band Tenacious D to voice acting in well known animated films like "Kung Fu Panda" and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie." However, one of my absolute favorite roles is in the highly underrated film, "High Fidelity," which happens to take place in Chicago!
Jack Black in "High Fidelity"
In 2000, Jack Black brought his dynamic energy to the role of Barry Judd in "High Fidelity," a film adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel. Set in the heart of Chicago, the movie explores the life of Rob Gordon (played by John Cusack), a record store owner navigating his personal and professional turmoil. Black's portrayal of Barry, an outspoken and passionate music enthusiast, who’s also pretty damn quirky, is so good he often steals the scene.
The character Barry Judd, with his unfiltered opinions and fervent, and often aggressive, love for music, became a fan favorite. His memorable performances, such as the unexpected yet hilarious rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," showcased Black's musical talent and comedic timing. This role was perfect for black and really brings out his acting ability. I love most of Jack Black’s films, but if someone were to ask me which one is my favorite, I’d probably say Barry Judd in “High Fidelity.”
As a GenXer, "High Fidelity" has a deeper layer beyond the film; it's a great look back to a time when record stores were cultural hubs. The film really hits all the notes when it comes to record store experiences and the types of people that worked in them. Jack Black's presence captures the record store snob archetype, but in a really lovable and hilarious way.
Did you know you can tour every Chicago film location from “High Fidelity?”
A Few More Cool Facts About Jack Black
1. Beyond his acting career, Jack Black is one-half of the rock duo Tenacious D, along with Kyle Gass. Their blend of comedy and rock music has garnered a cult following, with hits like "Tribute" and "Wonderboy" showcasing their “acquired taste” style.
2. Jack Black has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2018).
Jack was in an Atari commercial! That’s right, way back in 1983 Jack Black was in an Atari commercial, which was his first job!
Hope you enjoyed this post. Stay tuned for another excerpt from my book this coming Friday! You can read the first excerpt I posted below:
Growing Up In “The Eighties” - What it was really like
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