His real name is Richard Marin, and his birthday is Juy 13, 1946. His nickname "Cheech" is derived from
chicharron, a spicy fried
pork skin snack.
He got his big break after doing a bunch of comedy acts in Vancouver, mostly acting like a stoner, and is half of the duo of Cheech and Chong. The team released an album Up in Smoke, which also was made into a movie, the highest grossing of the year.
He lives in San Francisco's Seacliff neighborhood. His father's a 30-year veteran of the LAPD and speaks fluent Spanish. Despite his typecast acting, he was born in California. He also has the stereotype Mexican voice, which explains why he's done a bit of voice-over for animation, even a South Park episode. He also has one of the largest collections of Chicano art in the US.
His Filmography (care of IMDB), as he's in a lot of cameos:
Desperado II: Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2002)
Spy Kids (2001) .... 'Uncle' Felix Gumm
"Resurrection Blvd." (2000) TV Series .... Hector Archuletta
Picking Up the Pieces (2000) .... Mayor Machado
It's Tough to Be a Bug (1999) (voice) .... Chili
Luminarias (1999) .... Jesus
Nuttiest Nutcracker (1999) (V) .... Mack
The Venice Project (1999) .... Himself
"Hollywood Squares" (1998) TV Series
Paulie (1998) .... Ignacio
Latino Laugh Festival (1997) (TV) .... Host
Tin Cup (1996) .... Romeo Posar
The Great White Hype (1996) .... Julio Escobar
"Nash Bridges" (1996) TV Series .... Joe Dominguez
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) .... Border Guard/Chet Pussy/Carlos
"Santo Bugito" (1995) TV Series (voice) .... Lencho the Flea
The Courtyard (1995) (TV) .... Angel Steiner
Desperado (1995) .... Short Bartender
Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie (1995) .... Himself
Charlie's Ghost Story (1994) .... Coronado
The Magic of the Golden Bear: Goldy III (1994) .... Master Borgia
A Million to Juan (1994) .... Shell Shock
The Lion King (1994) (voice) .... Banzai the Hyena
The Cisco Kid (1994) (TV) .... Pancho
The Ring of the Musketeers (1992) (TV) .... Burt Aramis
"The Golden Palace" (1992) TV Series .... Chuy Castillos
FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992) (voice) .... Stump
Shrimp on the Barbie, The (1990) .... Carlos
... aka Boyfriend From Hell, The (1990)
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990) (TV) .... Carnival Barker
Far Out Man aka Soul Man II(1990) .... Cheech
Rude Awakening (1989) .... Jesus Monteya
Ghostbusters II (1989) .... Dock Supervisor
Troop Beverly Hills (1989) .... Himself
Oliver & Company (1988) (voice) .... Tito
Fatal Beauty (1987) .... Bartender
Born in East L.A. (1987) .... Rudy
Charlie Barnett's Terms of Enrollment (1986) (V)
Echo Park (1986) .... Syd
Cheech and Chong: Get Out of My Room (1985) .... Cheech/Ian Rotten
After Hours (1985) .... Neil
Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984) .... Corsican Brother
Group Madness (1983) .... Himself
Cheech and Chong: Still Smokin' (1983)
Yellowbeard (1983) .... El Segundo
It Came from Hollywood (1982) .... Himself
Things Are Tough All Over (1982) .... Cheech/Mr. Slyman
Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams (1981) (as Richard 'Cheech' Marin) .... Cheech
Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980) .... Cheech/Red
... aka High Encounters of the Ultimate Kind (1980)
Cheech and Chong: Up in Smoke (1978)
Thanks novasoy for update.