Rick Fox

For the American football coach, see Rick Fox (American football).
Rick Fox

Fox at "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" event in 2009
Personal information
Born (1969-07-24) July 24, 1969
Toronto, Ontario
Nationality Canadian
Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight 230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school Warsaw Community
(Warsaw, Indiana)
College North Carolina (1987–1991)
NBA draft 1991 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Playing career 1991–2004
Position Small forward
Number 44, 17
Career history
1991–1997 Boston Celtics
1997–2004 Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 8,966 (9.6 ppg)
Rebounds 3,517 (3.8 rpg)
Assists 2,649 (2.8 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Ulrich Alexander "Rick" Fox (born July 24, 1969) is a Canadian film and television actor, businessman, retired basketball player, and E-Sports franchise owner. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, and played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Fox now owns an E-sports team named Echo Fox.

Early life

Fox was born in Toronto, the son of Dianne Gerace, who was an Olympic high jumper and women's pentathlete, and Ulrich Fox.[1] His father is Bahamian and his mother is of Italian and Scottish descent.[2] Fox's family moved to his father's native Bahamas when Fox was young. He attended Kingsway Academy in Nassau, where he was a member of the high school's basketball team, the "Saints." Fox also played high school basketball in Warsaw, Indiana. After two seasons (1984–1986) at Warsaw, Fox was projected to have a very successful senior season. Just prior to his senior season, the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) ruled that he had no more high school eligibility left (due to completing eight semesters in the Bahamas) and was not allowed to participate in any IHSAA games.[3] Despite not playing his senior season, Fox was voted onto the Indiana All-Star team in 1987.

He then went on to star collegiately at the University of North Carolina where his highlights included leading the Tar Heels to the 1991 NCAA Final Four.

Basketball career

Boston Celtics

Fox began his pro basketball career when he was selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1991 NBA draft. As a member of the Celtics, Fox became the first rookie starter on opening night since Larry Bird in 1979 and made the 1992 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 8 points per game. Fox played off the bench his first two seasons as the Celtics reached the playoffs for the last time in the Larry Bird era. By the 1995–1996 season, Fox had become the team's starting small forward and achieved double figure scoring. He recorded career highs of 15.4 points a game and 2.2 steals a game (4th in the league) and made 101 three-point field goals in the 1996–1997 campaign.[4]

Los Angeles Lakers

Rick Fox with Los Angeles Lakers

In the summer of 1997, the Celtics released Fox, and he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played and started in all 82 games during the 1997–1998 season, averaging 12 points per game. In the playoffs, he tallied 10.9 points a game as the Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Utah Jazz. In the 1998–1999 season, the Lakers acquired All-Star small forward Glen Rice. Fox primarily served as his backup during the next two seasons.

Prior to the 1999–2000 season, Phil Jackson became the team's head coach. The Lakers achieved the league's best record with 67 wins, led by the MVP play of Shaquille O'Neal and the young all-star Kobe Bryant under Jackson's triangle offense. In the playoffs, Fox played all 23 games as the Lakers advanced to the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. In the Finals, Fox averaged 6.7 points, including 11 in the Lakers' game 1 victory. In game 6, with the Lakers leading the series 3-2, Fox hit a critical three pointer in the 4th quarter to help the Lakers' final rally as they won the game and the NBA title, Fox's first.

Following the departure of Glen Rice, Fox started 77 of 82 games in the 2000–2001 season, posting an average of 9.6 points a game while shooting 39% from three point range. In the playoffs, Fox started in all 16 games as the Lakers swept through the first three rounds and reached the 2001 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Fox scored 19 points in the Lakers' game 1 loss; the 76ers were led by Allen Iverson's 48 points. The Lakers would win the next four games of the series, securing their second straight championship. In the fifth game, Fox contributed with 20 points, and hit all three of his three-point field goal attempts.

In the 2001–2002 season, Fox played and started in all 82 games in the regular season and in all of the Lakers' 19 playoff games. The Lakers faced a grueling 7 game series against the Sacramento Kings, with Fox scoring 13 points in the Lakers' game 7 victory in Sacramento. In the 2002 NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets, Fox averaged 9.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals as the Lakers swept the Nets in 4 games to win their third straight NBA title.

In the 2002–2003 season, Fox started in 75 of 76 games but suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of the last two games of the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the entire Western Conference Semifinal series against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs defeated the Lakers 4-2. Fox missed 40 games in the 2003–2004 season due to a foot injury, but started in 34 of 38 games while active. He would only play in 3 of 16 playoff games as the Lakers advanced to the 2004 NBA Finals but lost to the Detroit Pistons in 5 games. In 56 career NBA playoff games, Fox averaged 6.1 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.[4] Following the 2003–04 season, Fox was traded back to the Celtics in a deal that brought Chucky Atkins to the Lakers, but opted to retire instead of suiting up for the Celtics.

Fox played internationally for Canada twice, at the 1990 and 1994 FIBA World Championships.[5]

Acting career

During NBA career

While attending UNC, Fox completed a bachelor's degree in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures.[6] In 1994 Fox appeared in the film Blue Chips as a member of the Texas Western basketball team.[7] In 1996 Fox then played the role of Terry Hastings in the film Eddie, a slumping basketball player who receives help from fan "Eddie" played by Whoopi Goldberg.[8] Fox then had a role as the ladies man Chick Deagan in the 1998 film He Got Game film directed by Spike Lee.[9] It was in 1997 however that Fox received the biggest role of his early acting career playing prison inmate Jackson Vahue on the HBO prison drama Oz, appearing in 11 episodes of the show between 1997 and 2003. Vahue is a superstar basketball player imprisoned for charges related to a sexual assault charge. He subsequently develops and overcomes a major drug addiction. Fox first appeared on the episode "To Your Health" and each of the following episodes for the rest of the first season. His character would again appear at the beginning of the second season, before returning during the middle of the fourth season on the episode "Revenge is Sweet" and appearing on the duration of the season, as Vahue is nearing probation. His character's final appearance would come in the show's last season, on series finale "Exeunt Omnes", when Vahue is almost killed by the character Brass.[6][10]

Fox was a supporting actor in the 1999 film Resurrection playing the role of Detective Scholfield and the role of Ray in the television film The Collectors. At the time ESPN quoted Fox as saying of trying to balance his acting career with his sports career that, "I mean, Penny Marshall is courtside. You got Jack (Nicholson) and Denzel (Washington). The head of the William Morris Agency is there. (Ally McBeal creator) David E. Kelley comes to some games ... I want to jump into conversations with them, but I'm working!"[11]

In addition to Oz, Fox appeared in three more television series in the year 2003. On the first season of the crime drama 1-800-Missing starring Vivica A. Fox, Rick Fox played the role of Eric Renard over five episodes. He also provided the voice of the characters Flash Williams and Smooth Daley on the Crime Wave/Odd Ball episode of Nickelodeon's animated series The Fairly OddParents, and played the role of Peter Sampson on the television show Street Time.[6] As Eric Renard he played the love interest of the FBI agent Brooke Haslett, played by actress Gloria Reuben.[12] That year he also appeared in the film Holes in the supporting character role of Clyde 'Sweetfeet' Livingston, a baseball player.[13]

Contemporary acting career

Rick Fox holding a producer credit for The 1 Second Film in May 2006.

In 2005 Rick Fox guest starred as the character Stephen Melbourne in the UPN television series Kevin Hill[14] and appeared in Love, Inc. as the character David Marley,[15] appearing in six episodes after only being announced for three.[6] In 2006 Fox played the role of Fabrizio in the film Mini's First Time[16] the same year he appeared in 5 episodes as Daunte in the CW drama series, One Tree Hill. In 2007 Fox played Wilhelmina Slater's bodyguard and lover Dwayne in the second season of Ugly Betty, opposite his former wife Vanessa Williams.[17] The following year Fox signed on with the show Dirt to play a recurring role in a multi-episode storyline lasting six episodes playing the role of Prince Tyrese.[6][18] In 2008 and 2009, he had a recurring role (as a fictionalized version of himself) on the BET comedy-drama television series The Game, also returning to reprise his role in the 2012 season finale.[19] In 2008 Fox also had a lead role in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns as Harry, a coach trying to court the character of Brenda played by Angela Bassett.[20] In 2009, Fox played himself in the comedies Party Down[21] and Head Case,[22] and he currently has recurring roles on VH1's Single Ladies and Tyler Perry's House of Payne. In 2010 Fox briefly guest starred on the science-fiction series Dollhouse,[23] and took on a recurring role on the CW remake of Melrose Place.[24] In 2011, Fox then played the role of Bernadette's ex-boyfriend Glenn in The Big Bang Theory episode The Love Car Displacement. In an article about his appearance TV Guide quoted Fox as saying about his role, "It's all in Glenn's head now. 'How am I losing to this guy? He's smarter than me ... I love that they turned the 'threatening ex' on its ear. At the end of the day, I have more insecurity about my intellect and am constantly fighting to be accepted intellectually and be seen for more than my looks and my size. I want to appear intelligent and prove my intelligence. That's where I'm battling with him."[25]

In 2011 Fox also played a suspect on the crime drama Body of Proof[26] and in 2012 he played the character Andre Carson on the series Franklin & Bash.[27] He also played the recurring role of Winston on Single Ladies[28] and Andrew Thompson the series Mr. Box Office.[6]

Fox has also appeared in five videos with CollegeHumor duo Jake and Amir titled "Rick Fox", "Rick Fox 2", "Rick Fox 3", "Rick Fox 4", and "Finale Part 5: The Auditions". In these videos Fox plays Amir's bookie and is shown to have a fixation on eggs and chicken. His ex-girlfriend, Eliza Dushku, appears in "Rick Fox 4." Fox is featured as a guest star on the Jake and Amir podcast If I Were You Show episode 78 Steroids.

In 2013, Fox played the role of Chase Vincent in the VH1 series Hit the Floor.

In 2014, Fox guest starred as the character Dr. James Kendall in the CBS television series Mom.[29][30] On the same airdate, he appeared as himself on an episode of the CBS sitcom The McCarthys.

In 2015, Fox played the role of Sam Johnson, the general manager for eponymous basketball team on Yahoo's original series Sin City Saints, he appeared in the TV film Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!, and he played Calvin Owens, a retired basketball player, on the TV show iZombie.

2016 Fox also appeared in the showtime series Shameless.

Reality television

In late 2010, he was a celebrity contestant on ABC's Dancing With The Stars, paired with pro Cheryl Burke. They came in sixth place.

He was host of the Jace Hall Show for 5 episodes.

Fox appeared as a contestant in Jeff Foxworthy's Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?, in season 3.

He was a special guest judge during season four of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Professional eSports

On December 18, 2015 it was announced that Rick Fox had purchased professional League of Legends team Gravity Gaming (which re-branded into Echo Fox) of the North American League of Legends Championship Series.[31]

On January 26, 2016 Echo Fox announced its expansion into the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scene. On the same day the roster for his CS:GO team was announced.[32]

On April 29, 2016 Echo Fox went into fighting games by signing a top North American player Julio Fuentes of Street Fighter V.[33]

On May 17, 2016 Echo Fox continued to expand in the fighting game genre, acquiring Super Smash Brothers Melee player Mew2King.[34]

Personal life

Fox has a son with college girlfriend Kari Hillsman.[35] Fox was also married to actress/singer Vanessa Williams. After eloping in summer 1999 in the Caribbean, they had another ceremony in September 1999 in New York City. They had a daughter in May 2000. After The National Enquirer published pictures of Fox kissing and hugging another woman in mid-2004, Fox's representative announced that the couple had been "headed toward divorce" for over a year.[36] A few months later in August 2004, Fox filed for divorce from Williams.[37] Fox and Williams' split however was amicable enough for the two of them to work onscreen together several years later on the television show Ugly Betty.[17] Fox and actress Eliza Dushku dated from October 2009 to June 2014.[38] He has a younger sister, Jeanene Fox who is a highly successful European model and actress.

NBA career statistics

A list of Fox's career statistics:[39]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
† Denotes seasons in which Fox won an NBA championship

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1991–92 Boston 81 5 19.0 .459 .329 .755 2.7 1.6 1.0 .4 8.0
1992–93 Boston 71 14 15.2 .484 .174 .802 2.2 1.6 0.9 .3 6.4
1993–94 Boston 82 53 25.6 .467 .330 .757 4.3 2.6 1.0 .6 10.8
1994–95 Boston 53 7 19.6 .481 .413 .772 2.9 2.6 1.0 .4 8.8
1995–96 Boston 81 81 32.0 .454 .364 .772 5.6 4.6 1.4 .5 14.0
1996–97 Boston 76 75 42.9 .456 .363 .787 5.2 3.8 2.2 .5 15.4
1997–98 L.A. Lakers 82 82 33.0 .471 .325 .743 4.4 3.4 1.2 .6 12.0
1998–99 L.A. Lakers 44 1 21.5 .448 .337 .742 2.0 2.0 0.6 .2 9.0
1999–00† L.A. Lakers 82 1 18.0 .414 .326 .808 2.4 1.7 0.6 .3 6.5
2000–01† L.A. Lakers 82 77 27.9 .444 .393 .779 4.0 3.2 0.9 .4 9.6
2001–02† L.A. Lakers 82 82 27.9 .421 .313 .824 4.7 3.5 0.8 .3 7.9
2002–03 L.A. Lakers 76 75 28.7 .422 .375 .754 4.3 3.3 0.9 .2 9.0
2003–04 L.A. Lakers 38 34 22.3 .392 .246 .733 2.7 2.6 0.8 .1 4.8
Career 930 587 25.5 .450 .349 .770 3.8 2.8 1.0 .4 9.6

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1992 Boston 8 0 8.4 .478 .500 1.000 0.8 0.5 0.3 .3 3.6
1993 Boston 4 0 17.8 .280 .333 1.000 4.8 1.3 0.5 .3 4.3
1998 L.A. Lakers 13 13 32.9 .447 .396 .826 4.5 3.9 0.8 .2 10.9
1999 L.A. Lakers 8 1 22.6 .400 .190 1.000 2.8 1.5 0.5 .6 6.6
2000† L.A. Lakers 23 0 14.4 .452 .462 .762 1.7 1.2 0.4 .0 4.3
2001† L.A. Lakers 16 16 35.8 .450 .316 .867 4.9 3.6 1.9 .4 10.0
2002† L.A. Lakers 19 19 34.3 .482 .349 .755 5.4 3.4 1.1 .3 9.8
2003 L.A. Lakers 4 4 19.8 .444 .500 .750 1.5 1.8 0.3 .3 6.0
2004 L.A. Lakers 16 3 9.1 .400 .143 .500 1.4 1.1 0.2 .1 1.1
Career 111 56 22.8 .444 .360 .801 3.2 2.2 0.8 .2 6.6

References

  1. ↑ Fabrikant, Geraldine (November 25, 2001). "TALKING MONEY with RICK FOX and VANESSA L. WILLIAMS; Behind the Glamorous Life, His-and-Hers Nest Eggs". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ http://www.blackhollywoodlive.com/2014/12/04/rick-fox-interview-black-hollywood-lives-portraits/
  3. ↑ Herman, Steve (June 22, 1987). "Year layoff doesn't stop Fox, Indiana". The Daily News. Associated Press. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Rick Fox". NBA. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  5. ↑ Archive FIBA. Accessed on January 26, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Rick Fox bio". Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  7. ↑ Mark Blaudschun (April 5, 1993). "Some final deliberations North Carolina, Michigan weigh possibilities before taking to court". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  8. ↑ David Goodman (June 1, 1996). "Eddie review". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  9. ↑ Eric Stephen (August 27, 2010). "Rick Fox Continues Dominance Of Female Demographic". SBNation.com. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  10. ↑ Augustus Hill (2003). OZ: Behind These Walls: The Journal of Augustus Hill. HarperCollins. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  11. ↑ Tom Farrey (June 3, 1999). "The L.A. story: Opportunity". ESPN. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Rick Fox". Lakeland Ledger. July 12, 2003. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Variety Reviews – Holes". Variety Magazine. April 16, 2003. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  14. ↑ Bob Joseph (May 2, 2005). "Tar Heel Pros News & Notes". Fox Sports. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Former NBA Player to Guest Star in 'Love, Inc.'". Starpulse.com. November 8, 2005. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  16. ↑ MANOHLA DARGIS (July 14, 2006). "A Teenager Goes From Naughty to Worse in 'Mini's First Time'". New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  17. 1 2 Exes Vanessa Williams, Rick Fox Hook Up for Ugly Betty – Rick Fox, Vanessa Williams : People.com
  18. ↑ "Former Laker Rick Fox Scores Role in New FX Series 'Dirt'". Fox News. August 16, 2006. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  19. ↑ Tanner Stransky (May 30, 2012). "'The Game' season finale scoop: Rick Fox returns to stir up trouble with Tasha?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  20. ↑ Roger Moore (March 22, 2008). "Movie Review: 'Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  21. ↑ IMDb page for Episode 6, Season 1 of Party Down
  22. ↑ "Head Case: Rick Fox Role Playing". First Post. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  23. ↑ Michael Ausiello (December 22, 2009). "'Dollhouse' exclusive: Eliza Dushku's BF Rick Fox moves in!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Rick Fox to hang at "Melrose Place"". Reuters. September 3, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  25. ↑ Joyce Eng (January 19, 2011). "The Big Bang Theory: Can Rick Fox Measure Up to Wolowitz?". TV Guide. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  26. ↑ Jethro Nededog (August 7, 2011). "'Body of Proof': Rick Fox Guest Stars on Season 2 (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  27. ↑ Philiana Ng (October 19, 2011). "'Franklin & Bash' Books Cybill Shepherd, Eric Mabius and Rick Fox for Guest Spots". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  28. ↑ Randy Roper (July 18, 2012). ""I'm So Excited": VH1's 'Single Ladies' Renewed For 2nd Season". Hip Hop Wired. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  29. ↑ Marc Snetiker (December 7, 2014). "Rick Fox lands guest gig on 'Mom' as Jaime Pressly's husband". Entertainment Weekly.
  30. ↑ Rick Fox (December 7, 2014). "Rick Fox on Twitter: "Thank you to the #Ladies of @MOMCBS U are all #AA+ #LoveYouAll in an unhealthy codependent way – I need #ALANON"". Rock Fox's Official Twitter Account.
  31. ↑ Soshnick, Scott (December 18, 2015). "Former NBA Player Rick Fox Buys eSports Team Gravity". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  32. ↑ http://wiki.teamliquid.net/counterstrike/Echo_Fox
  33. ↑ http://www.eventhubs.com/news/2016/apr/29/julio-fuentes-joins-team-echo-fox-perfect-legend-now-sponspored-elevate/
  34. ↑ http://www.dailydot.com/esports/echo-fox-sign-mew2king-super-smash-melee/
  35. ↑ "VANESSA L. WILLIAMS And NBA Star RICK FOX Tie The Knot In New York". Jet. 1999.
  36. ↑ contactmusic.com
  37. ↑ usatoday.com
  38. ↑ "Eliza Dushku and Rick Fox Break Up". eonline.com. June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  39. ↑ Fox's career stats. ESPN.com
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