Curiosidades

He was the first Celebrity Jeopardy Champion.

His father is a 30-year veteran of the LAPD.

Hated golf until he co-starred in O Jogo da Paixão (1996) ; now is an avid golfer.

He is of Mexican descent, and is among the top collectors of Mexican and Mexican-American art, having put together at least one book on the subject, and supported the development of Chicano art on the West Coast.

"Cheech" is derived from chicharron, a spicy fried pork skin snack.

Owns and plays Taylor guitars.

Majored in English at Calfornia State University Northridge.

Played in the 2005 All-Star Cup golf tournament, dubbed the 'Celebrity Ryder Cup', at Newport, Wales, UK.

Wife Natasha Rubin is a classical pianist.

Has worked with director Robert Rodriguez eight times, starting with A Balada do Pistoleiro (1995), Um Drink no Inferno (1996), Pequenos Espiões (2001), Pequenos Espiões 2: A Ilha dos Sonhos Perdidos (2002), Era Uma Vez no México (2003), Pequenos Espiões 3: Game Over (2003), Grindhouse (2007), and Machete (2010).

Serves as a board member for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

Is a brother of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity

Resides in San Francisco's Seacliff neighborhood

Awarded 'Best Supporting Actor' for Dark Harvest (2016) at the 2016 New York City Cannabis Film Festival.

He and Tommy Chong together comprise the comedy duo Cheech & Chong.

Speaks fluent Spanish.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 104-105 (article "Cheech and Chong"). New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Queimando Tudo (1978), O Rei Leão (1994) and Pequenos Espiões (2001).

Niece Gia Ruiz's husband is Danny McBride.