Friday, the get-high classic that you and your cousins can quote by heart, celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. To commemorate the occasion, the film will be re-released in theaters for one night only, on the most appropriate day of the year, April 20. With a huge cast of Hollywood actors who, for the most part, have had steady acting work over the years, the film is still a favorite to watch, whether you smoke marijuana or not.
Rumors of a fourth installment have buzzed around for years, and Ice Cube recently said that he hopes movie companies step up to make the film happen. Just imagine if Smokey and Craig left California for legalized-pot-smoking Colorado. In the meantime, take a look at the characters from the film and see what the actors have been up to since that fateful Friday in 1995.
Ice Cube, Then
“How you gon’ sell bud and you smoke it?”—Craig
Craig Jones was fired on his day off, and the next day didn’t go too well, either. Cereal; no milk. A nagging, jealous girlfriend. He gets caught up in his friend Smokey’s mess, only to end up getting knocked out by the neighborhood bully, Deebo. Luckily he comes to just in time to knock Deebo upside the head with a brick—and win the heart of his crush, Debbie.
Ice Cube, Now
Ice Cube has come a long way since his early acting days in the ’90s. In the past 20 years he’s starred in several blockbuster films, including Barbershop, Ride Along and the Friday franchises. The rapper-actor was also a TV star on TBS’ Are We There Yet? for three seasons. Up next for the megastar is the release of the N.W.A biopic, Straight Outta Compton, in August 2015, of which he is a producer. (His son O’Shea Jackson Jr. will be portraying him.) Ice Cube will also be starring in the sequel to Ride Along.
Chris Tucker, Then
“I’mma get you high today. ’Cause It’s Friday. You ain’t got no job. And you ain’t got s—t to do.” —Smokey
Neck-swervin’, weed-smokin’ Smokey was in looooove with Mary Jane. If he could smoke, eat and chill on the porch all day, he’d be in heaven. But because he got high on his own supply, he was desperately trying to come up with $200 to pay off Big Worm, the neighborhood supplier. Thanks to his friend Craig’s knockout of Deebo, he was able to live—and smoke—another day.
Chris Tucker, Now
We last saw Tucker on the big screen in 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook. It’s rumored that Tucker will reprise his role in the fourth installment of Friday (reportedly to be titled Last Friday). He said that another of his big movies, the fourth installment of Rush Hour, was close to coming together. “I think it’s going to happen,” he said. “We’re really close to making something happen. That would be a good thing.” Not a good thing: Last year reports surfaced of Tucker’s $14 million tax woes.
Nia Long, Then
“You lucky I’m not a man; otherwise I’d kick your ass myself.” —Debbie
Debbie rocked a cropped top and a cropped hairdo. And Craig, who was already in a relationship, was still trying to holler at her. As Friday came to an end, he stepped in to fight off Deebo after he smacked her during an argument about her sister, Felisha. She promised to call him the next morning, and we wonder what happened after that 7:30 call …
Nia Long, Now
In March it was announced that Long would star alongside Mike Epps in the TV adaptation of Uncle Buck. The last few years have been big for the actress: Last year she co-starred in The Divide and in The Single Moms Club. In 2013 she appeared in Showtime’s House of Lies and reprised her role as Jordan in Best Man Holiday. Coming up for Long? The third installment of the Best Man franchise, Best Man Wedding, set for release in April 2016.
Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister, Then
Who wears house slippers to ride a bike? Deebo. But don’t let the dainty shoes fool you. Hide your jewelry, hide your bikes when he comes around. He stole Red’s bike, punched him in the eye when he tried to get it back, and later snatched the chain his grandmama gave him. But Craig got vengeance for the whole neighborhood when he knocked Deebo “the f—k out.”
Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister, Now
Lister is always working. He is set to appear in several films that are slated to come out in 2015, including Beyond the Game, Popcorn Ceiling and The Body Sculptor. He starred in this year’s American Justice as a Los Angeles cop who is suspended from the force because of reckless actions. The film was directed by his Friday co-star Demetrius Navarro.
John Witherspoon, Then
“How the hell you gon’ get fired on your day off?” —Mr. Jones
Pops was a pantyhose-as-stocking-cap-wearing dogcatcher who was forever blowin’ up the bathroom. Mr. Jones was funny and doled out solid advice to his son. He cheered Craig on at the fight against Deebo and encouraged him to use his fists instead of bullets to beat his bully.
John Witherspoon, Now
Witherspoon has nearly 40 years under his belt in Hollywood. Most recently he co-starred in Adult Swim’s Black Jesus and reprised his role as the voice of Grandpa on The Boondocks. Earlier this year he said in an interview on ThisIs50 that there wouldn’t be a fourth Friday because of Chris Tucker. For guaranteed laughs, check out his cooking show on YouTube.
Anna Maria Horsford, Then
“Craig, I wouldn’t feel comfortable lending you money without a job.” —Mrs. Jones
Mrs. Jones teased Craig quite a few times on his tough Friday. After he had to skip breakfast, she made herself a big plate of pork chops, eggs, bacon and pancakes. She told him he didn’t have any game, and she refused to loan him any money when he was in a bind.
Anna Maria Horsford, Now
Horsford was most recently seen in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In 2013 she appeared in Tyler Perry’s a Madea Christmas. Over the years she’s starred on several TV series, including The Wayans Bros., The Shield and Reed Between the Lines. This year she will co-star in The Choir Director.
Regina King, Then
“He thinks he’s the mack … ” —Dana Jones
Craig’s sister Dana was the queen of sleeping pretty to preserve her do. She started off with a chin-length cut, and by the end of the day she was rockin’ half a head of Janet-in-Poetic Justice-style braids. For Craig, nothing like a little sister to tease you when you’re down and out.
Regina King, Now
Lately King has been flexing her directing skills on Being Mary Jane and Scandal. Currently she can be seen on-screen in ABC’s American Crime. She also hosted this year’s Black Girls Rock! 2015 on BET. King is working on a TV movie, Pariah, set to premiere this year.
Paula Jai Parker, Then
“You ain’t got to lie, Craig! You ain’t got to lie!” —Joi
Joi, with her talonlike red nails and blond synthetic braids, was always yackin’ and annoying her boyfriend, Craig. Mrs. Jones couldn’t stand her either, since she was constantly playing on the house phone. One good thing about Friday? Craig was able to kick her to the curb at the end of the day.
Paula Jai Parker, Now
Most recently Parker has had a recurring role in the TV series Family Time. She also appeared in a handful of episodes of HBO’s True Blood. She has several films in progress, according to IMDb. But we’re anxiously waiting to see if she’ll join her fellow Hustle & Flow cast members on Empire next season.
F. Gary Gray, Then
The Friday director also appeared in the film briefly as a worker at a convenience store. The movie was the New York City native’s first major film.
F. Gary Gray, Now
Gray and Ice Cube have teamed up again for the upcoming N.W.A biopic, Straight Outta Compton. Gray didn’t go on to direct any of the other Friday films but is reportedly in talks to direct the fourth installment.
Faizon Love, Then
“If you ain’t got my money or my bud, I’m killing you and him.” —Big Worm
Although Deebo ended up being Craig’s biggest adversary, Big Worm was the real threat to Smokey and Craig: His gun was locked and loaded, ready to kill them both if he didn’t get his $200. You’d think, with those teal rollers that your grandma wears before church on Sunday morning, that he’d be a big teddy bear. But Big Perm—er, um, Worm—was nobody to mess with.
Faizon Love, Now
Love has a few films on the horizon, including Brotherly Love, Grow House and Friendship Day. Earlier this year he appeared in November Rule. In 2013 he appeared on BET’s Real Husbands of Hollywood.
DJ Pooh, Then
“My grandmama gave me this chain.” —Red
It was a rough Friday for Red. He tried to get his bike back; he got a black eye. He was visiting his friends Craig and Smokey and got his chain snatched. In the end he was vindicated by another man’s TKO—and got to ride off in the distance with his chain on his beach cruiser. DJ Pooh was also a writer and associate producer for Friday.
DJ Pooh, Now
DJ Pooh wrote and directed the upcoming film Grow House, in which Faizon Love is set to appear. In 2011 he was a writer for In the Flow With Affion Crockett.
Angela Means, Then
“Craig, can I use y’all’s microwave right quick?” —Felisha
Who borrows a microwave? How exactly does that work? Well, Felisha was notorious for begging her neighbors for anything she needed. She was Debbie’s wayward, crackhead sister—and Deebo’s bae—with some dusty plaits that might’ve made a nice twist-out if she’d added some natural-hair products to her tresses. Maybe she could borrow some Miss Jessie’s, Carol’s Daughter or Lottabody right quick?
Angela Means, Now
Need we say more than “#ByeFelicia”? It seems as if everyone—including Keith Olbermann—has been saying this in the past year. Her latest on-screen work was in the 2008 TV movie Customer Service Sucks. She co-starred on Nickelodeon’s Cousin Skeeter in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Means’ son, Brad Kaaya, currently plays football for the University of Miami.
Meagan Good, Then
“Man, I hate him.” —Kid. No. 2
She was only credited as “Kid No. 2,” but this was one of Good’s earliest on-screen roles. She was very irritated by Smokey as he held up the line at the ice cream truck.
Meagan Good, Now
Last year Good co-starred in Think Like a Man Too, reprising her role as Mya. In the fall she appeared in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Up next for Good? She is set to appear in the pilot for the TV series Mr. Robinson, starring comedian Craig Robinson. And she has recently signed on to co-star in the Fox drama Minority Report, based on Steven Spielberg’s movie of the same name.
Anthony Johnson, Then
“Let me wash your car for $2.” —Ezal
Ezal would do anything for $2. He even offered to clean up Smokey’s, uh, mess when he was locked out of his house and needed to use the bathroom. He was always there to put salt in a wound, too. He blasted Smokey out to the whole neighborhood when he had to poop on the side of his house, and delivered a classic line to Deebo at the end of the film: “You got knocked the f—k out!”
Anthony Johnson, Now
Johnson has continued to work in Hollywood since his role on Friday. You might remember him in a small role in O, a modern version of Shakespeare’s Othello starring Mekhi Phifer and Julia Stiles, in 2001.
Bernie Mac
“The Lord is my shepherd. He know what I want. Excuse me, Ms. Parker? Ms Parker!” —Paster Clever
Pastor Clever seemed like one of those creepy pastors who use their role in the church as a way to get next to single—and, hell, married—women. Like Smokey and Craig, he had his eyes set on Mrs. Parker. The pastor and Mrs. Parker, indeed, had their moment of intimacy just in time for Mr. Parker to come home and throw a brick in his car’s back window. Bernie Mac died in August 2008 as a result of complications from sarcoidoisis.
Kathleen Bradley, Then
“Hi, boys!” —Mrs. Parker
Mrs. Parker wore her short shorts and low-cut tops to water her grass on that Friday, wooing Smokey, Craig and Pastor Clever.
Kathleen Bradley, Now
Bradley hasn’t acted much since her role as Mrs. Parker on Friday. But for 10 years she was a model on The Price Is Right, up until 2000. In 2013 she told Friday fans to boycott the fourth installment of the film because she wouldn’t be in it. She’s hip to social media, and you can follow her on Instagram. She’s lookin’ great. #heymrsparker
Vickilyn Reynolds, Then
“Damn, Smoke, don’t be banging on the door like you the damn po-lice.” —Joann
Smokey’s mom, Joann, sat around talking on the phone all day. But she wasn’t home when Smokey needed her most: He had to use the bathroom on the side of the house because he was locked out. (Why didn’t he have a key to his own house, though?)
Vickilyn Reynolds, Now
Most recently Reynolds appeared in Along the Roadside and Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood. She had several one-off appearances on TV series including Felicity, The Parkers and That’s My Bush.
Ronn Riser, Then
“Stay off my grass, please!” —Stanley
Stanley must have wanted to win the Best Yard of the Year Award, because he was always telling someone to stay off his grass. He sprayed neighborhood kids with water to hurry them off his lawn. And after Smokey and Deebo climbed through his window, he was more worried about his grass than the fact that they’d broken into his home.
Ronn Riser, Now
Riser had a short career in Hollywood, and as far as we can tell, he must be close friends with Ice Cube. He appeared in 1998’s The Players Club as Diamond’s (LisaRaye McCoy) professor, and he reprised his role in Next Friday. He is also credited as an assistant to Ice Cube in Anaconda.
Tony Cox, Then
Mr. Parker took no mess when it came to his gorgeous wife. He was livid after he caught her with the pastor in his own house. Byyyyeee, Mrs. Parker.
Tony Cox, Now
Since Friday, Cox’s most prominent work has been in 2003’s Bad Santa, opposite his Friday cast mate Bernie Mac. This year he will appear in The Hollywood Shorties, a documentary about the world’s smallest professional basketball team.
Yvette Wilson
“People say I look like Janet Jackson.” —Rita
Smokey thought he was getting hooked up with Miss Control when Debbie’s friend Rita drove up to Craig’s house. However, Rita was not at all what he expected. She had Miss Jackson’s hairstyle, but too bad it wasn’t even her hair. Yvette Wilson died in 2012 after battling cervical cancer and kidney disease. She was 48.
Demetrius Navarro, Then
Smokey loved to get high, but after smoking with Hector and his crew, he vowed never to smoke with them again. He remembered running down the street in his underwear and getting stuck in a pigeon coop. With the sporadic ticks and spasms, it’s clear that Smokey was never the same after getting high with Hector.
Demetrius Navarro, Now
Navarro has had steady work in Hollywood since Friday but is probably best known for his recurring role as Morales on NBC’s long-running series ER. Navarro has several films in production, including North by El Norte and, as a producer, Chasing Grace and Of Sentimental Value. For much of his time in Hollywood, he has also flexed his directorial skills and even directed Friday co-star Tommy “Tiny” Lister in the 2015 movie American Justice.
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