Ludacris
Born: 1977-09-11 in Champaign, Illinois, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Christopher Brian Bridges (born September 11, 1977), known professionally as Ludacris(/ˈluːdəkrɪs/, spoken as "ludicrous" in American English), is an American rapper and actor. Born in Champaign, Illinois, Ludacris moved to Atlanta, Georgia, at age nine, where he first began rapping. Starting with a brief stint as a DJ, he formed his record label, Disturbing tha Peace, in the late 1990s to independently release his debut studio album Incognegro (1999). After its single, "What's Your Fantasy" (featuring Shawnna), became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, the album was re-released by Def Jam Recordings as his major label debut, Back for the First Time (2000). The latter album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and spawned his second top 40 single, "Southern Hospitality" (featuring Pharrell). Ludacris' following albums, Word of Mouf (2001), Chicken-n-Beer (2003) and The Red Light District(2004), were each met with continued success and received multi-platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His fifth and sixth albums, Release Therapy (2006) and Theater of the Mind (2008), explored more serious subject matter than its predecessors. His seventh album, Battle of the Sexes (2010), returned to the more lighthearted tone of his earlier albums. Throughout his career, Ludacris has scored two number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist: "Stand Up" (featuring Shawnna) and "Money Maker" (featuring Pharrell), as well as three singles which did so as a guest performer: Usher's "Yeah!" in 2004, Fergie's "Glamorous" in 2007, and Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart" in 2009. The following year, he guest featured on Justin Bieber's single "Baby", one of the highest-certified singles of all time in the United States. Ludacris is cited as one of the first Dirty South rappers to achieve mainstream success in the early 2000s. He has received three Grammy Awards: a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critics' Choice Award, and an MTV Video Music Award. Outside of music, he has portrayed Tej Parker in the Fast & Furious film series—first appearing in its second film, 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003). His other notable acting roles include Crash (2004), Gamer (2009), and New Year's Eve (2011). In 2021, he created and starred in the children's animated series Karma's World for Netflix. Ludacris is also a private pilot.
Filmography
2025
- Wicked: One Wonderful Night as Self
2024
- Where’s Usher? as Self
2023
- Fast X as Tej
- Dashing Through the Snow as Eddie Garrick
- Celebrity Prank Wars as Self
2022
- The Jennifer Hudson Show as Self
- Sherri as Self - Guest
- End of the Road as Reggie Beaumont
- jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy as Self (archive footage)
2021
- F9 as Tej Parker
- Karma’s World as Conrad Grant (voice)
- You're Watching Video Music Box as Self (archive footage)
- Adventures In Christmasing as Self
- 2021 World Series Champions: Atlanta Braves as Narrator
- Ben & Jerry's: Clash of the Cones as Self
- 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Self
- Luda Can't Cook as Self
2020
- John Henry as Hell
- VERZUZ as Self
- Gone Mental with Lior as Self
- Saving OurSelves: BET COVID-19 Relief Effort as Self
2019
- Desus & Mero as Self
- Rhythm + Flow as Self - Judge
- Drive Like Andretti as Self
- Deion's Double Play as Narrator (voice)
2018
- Show Dogs as Max (voice)
- Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones as Self
- The Ride as Eldridge Buultjens
2017
- The Fate of the Furious as Tej Parker
- Carpool Karaoke: The Series as Self
- Beat Shazam as Self
- Fear Factor as Self - Host
2016
- Full Frontal with Samantha Bee as Self
- The Art of Organized Noize as Self
- Rising Star as Self - Expert
- Inside the Label
2015
- Furious 7 as Tej Parker
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- Hot Ones as Self
- Empire as Officer Mcknight
- Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber as Self
- Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow as Narrator (voice)
2014
- Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
2013
- Being Mary Jane as Terence Mitchell
- Justin Bieber's Believe as Self
- So So Def All-Star 20th Anniversary Concert as Self
- Fast & Furious 6 as Tej Parker
- Jason Aldean: Night Train to Georgia as Self
2012
- Doc McStuffins as Gus (voice)
2011
- New Year's Eve as Brendan
- No Strings Attached as Wallace
- Biebermania! as Self
- Breakaway as Ludacris
- Justin Bieber: Never Say Never as Self
- Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest as Self
- Fast Five as Tej Parker
- Nothing But The Beat as Self
2010
- Conan as Self
- Katt Williams: 9 Lives as Self
- Plies: Goon In the Trap
- La La's Full Court Wedding as self
2009
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as Self - Musical Guest
- The Jay Leno Show as Self
- Gamer as Humanz Brother
- DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd as Self (archive footage)
- DJ Juice: The King is Back Mixtape Blend DVD Vol. 70 as Self (archive footage)
- Mistarello Presents: Hard Body Blends Volume 4 as Self (archive footage)
2008
- Max Payne as Jim Bravura
- RocknRolla as Mickey
- Ball Don't Lie as Julius
- Battleground Earth
2007
- Fred Claus as DJ Donnie
- Katt Williams: American Hustle as Ludacris
2005
- Hustle & Flow as Skinny Black
- Crash as Anthony
- Lil' Pimp as Weathers (voice)
- Ludacris - The Red Light District as Self
2004
- Maxim: Hot Clips 2 as Self (archive footage)
- DJ Domination: World Domination
2003
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- Eve as Rufus
- Paper Chasers
- Comedy Central Roasts as Self
- The New Tom Green Show as Self
- 2 Fast 2 Furious as Tej Parker
2002
- American Rap Stars as Self
2001
- The Wash as Customer
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Darius Parker
- Making the Video
- Teen Choice Awards as Self - Host
1997
- The View as Self
1996
- The Daily Show as Self
1994
- MTV Europe Music Awards as Self - Host
1993
- Late Show with David Letterman as Self - Musical Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as Self
1989
- The Simpsons as Ludacris (voice)
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self
1984
- MTV Video Music Awards as Self
1981
- Entertainment Tonight as Self
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Host & Musical Guest
1974
- American Music Awards as Self - Musical Guest
1972
- Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest as Self - Performer (Los Angeles)
1959
- The Grammys as Self