The One Piece of Comedy Advice Danny McBride Got From His Uncle-in-Law, Cheech Marin

Danny McBride has obviously had a long, successful comedy career, starring in acclaimed TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones, appearing in hit movies like This Is the End and dodging a massive bullet by not playing Kanye West in what easily would have been the most catastrophic music biopic of all-time. 

McBride is one Hollywood star who seemingly doesn’t owe his success to behind-the-scenes favoritism either. But even though he’s no nepo baby, it turns out that McBride does have a famous relative after all.

During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, McBride was asked about the fact that his wife’s uncle is none other than Cheech Marin. And while you’d expect that the two comedians would have a ton in common, McBride was surprisingly shy around the Cheech and Chong legend. “My wife (Gia Ruiz) and I started dating in 2002. I had been to a few family Thanksgivings, Easters, and seen Cheech but was too intimidated to say anything,” McBride explained. 

According to the Eastbound & Down star, he only reached out once he was starring in weed-centric projects like Pineapple Express and Your Highness. “Then it came to the point where I’m making stoner movies, too, (and I had) the confidence to speak to Cheech!” McBride admitted.

Once they got over that initial awkwardness, McBride actually got some dispiriting, yet ultimately helpful advice from Marin about the ins and outs of the movie comedy business. “I remember he told me, ‘Comedians usually get about seven movies. Once everyone knows your moves, they’re ready for the next guy,’” McBride recalled. “I think I was on movie five at that point. So I was like, ‘I better figure this out.’”

Marin’s advice roughly tracks with Cheech and Chong’s cinematic track record. Their first movie, 1978’s Up in Smoke was a huge hit, earning $44 million at the box office, not adjusted for inflation. But their sixth film, Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers made less than $4 million, and is arguably the duo’s creative low point. 

McBride clearly took his uncle-in-law’s advice to heart. “It’s true and has nothing to do with talent,” McBride argued. “Audiences can only like something for so long, so the goal shouldn’t be to always have their attention. But when you have the moment, give ’em what you’re there for. So, I made sure that I wasn’t going to just show up as a bit character in 30 movies.”

If he was giving advice today, it’s possible that Marin would say that comedians get around seven movies plus a documentary if they wait 40 years.