From his days as a comedian on In Living Color, becoming a Grammy Award-winning musician, to delivering award-winning performances in the films Ray and Collateral, the title of “Renaissance man” applies to Jamie Foxx’s illustrious career in Hollywood. With a career that packs an equal amount of variety and vibrancy, many would expect humorous anecdotes and wild stories to come with it.
In a talk with writer and critic Jacques Morel at the Tribeca Film Festival for Tribeca Talks: Storytellers, Foxx relayed many humorous anecdotes surrounding his decades-plus career in Hollywood, including the time Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones and Sidney Poitier staged an intervention for him.
Those familiar with Foxx’s work know that 2004 was a banner year for the comedian turned actor. The “Blame It” singer won the Academy Award for best actor for his performance as music legend Ray Charles in the biopic Ray, becoming only the third black actor to do so. That same year, he also earned a supporting actor nomination for his performance as ill-fated cab driver in the neo-noir modern classic Collateral. Despite his success, the actor admits that he didn’t think he was going to win.
“When we were up for the Oscar, I didn’t take it seriously,” Foxx told Morel. It wasn’t until a pivotal meeting with Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier, courtesy of Oprah Winfrey, that Foxx began to take the nomination process seriously. “I give you one thing: responsibility,” Foxx recalled of the advice Poitier gave him.
Aside from that, the former In Living Color comedian reminisced about his time climbing up the Hollywood ladder, including stalking New Jack City actor Wesley Snipes and inviting him to a Halloween house party he threw. The Texas native also took some time to humble-brag about the massive parties he throws, name-dropping guests such as David Blaine and Puff Daddy.
Watch the full conversation below. The intervention part starts around the 51-minute mark.