A member of a Hollywood royalty who forged his own path as a rapper,Chet Hankshad no trouble slipping into a recurring role as Blake onEmpirethis season.
The Fox drama about a hip-hop dynasty struck a particular chord with the 27-year-old son ofTom HanksandRita Wilson.
His dad’s best acting advice? “Show up on time, know your lines and be nice to everybody.”
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.
Chet first made a name for himself under the pseudonym Chet Haze, parlaying a viral reimagining of Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” while a student at Northwestern University into a real music career. His latest venture is a group calledFTRZwith pal Drew Arthur, and they’re preparing to release their first single, “California Models.”
And onEmpire, he feels lucky to show off his acting and rapping chops.
“It’s kind of a role that I’ve always really wanted to play,” he explains. “I’m very comfortable recording and being in a studio, and I also have some performing experience as well. So that made it a lot more comfortable for me, having that as a part of my history.”
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A darker part of his history is his battle withsubstance abuse. In 2015, Chet revealed he had entered rehab for a cocaine addiction.
The most joyful addition is his 5-year-old daughter. Chet has been protective of her privacy ever since confirming that he’s a father in December 2016, but he credits his little girl with changing his life for the better.
“Fatherhood forces you to grow up really quickly,” he says. “It’s a beautiful process, and it’s a blessing to be able to grow yourself as you watch your kids grow.”
The season finale ofEmpireairs Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
source: people.com
