Kevin Hart: The 60 Minutes Interview

Summary

Kevin Hart, a renowned comedian and actor, discusses his journey to success, from stand-up comedy to building an entertainment empire. At 44, he received the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American humor. Hart's comedy is conversational, often self-deprecating, and relatable, drawing from his personal life and experiences. Despite setbacks, including a controversial Oscars hosting debacle, Hart's relentless work ethic and business acumen have led him to establish ventures in nutrition supplements, fast food, and a venture capital fund, all under his production company, Heartbeat, which is now worth over $650 million.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Kevin Hart is a successful stand-up comedian who has also become a movie star and built an entertainment and business empire.
• 🏆 At age 44, Hart was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American humor, a prestigious recognition akin to a lifetime achievement award.
• 🗣️ His comedy style is conversational, often including self-deprecating humor and cursing, focusing on personal stories about family and insecurities.
• 🤷‍♂️ Hart has a complex relationship with his height, jokingly disputing various reported measurements and using it as a recurring theme in his comedy.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 He often discusses his family life, including his wife and children, on stage, using these relatable experiences to connect with his audience.
• 🎤 Hart's confidence on stage is a stark contrast to his early life in a rough neighborhood in North Philadelphia, where he developed his comedic skills.
• 🏡 His mother, Nancy Hart, played a significant role in shaping his work ethic and discipline, while his father's struggles with addiction were also influential.
• 🎬 Hart's career had its ups and downs, including a failed sitcom and a controversial Oscars hosting gig, which he had to step down from due to past homophobic comments.
• 💼 Beyond comedy, Hart has diversified his business interests, including a production company, nutrition supplement company, fast-food chain, tequila brand, and venture capital fund.
• 💰 Hart's production company, Heartbeat, is now worth over $650 million, and he is actively involved in various entertainment ventures, aiming to set a new standard in the industry.

Q & A

What significant award did Kevin Hart receive at the age of 44?

Kevin Hart was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American humor at the age of 44.

How does Kevin Hart describe his comedy style?

Kevin Hart describes his comedy style as conversational with a lot of cursing, telling revealing stories about his personal life, insecurities, and shortcomings.

What is the height controversy mentioned in the script about Kevin Hart?

The height controversy mentioned in the script is about the varying reports of Kevin Hart's height, with GQ stating he is 5'5", the LA Times saying he's 5'4", and another source claiming he is 5'2". Hart himself insists he is 5'5" with shoes on.

How does Kevin Hart approach the creation of his comedy material?

Kevin Hart approaches the creation of his comedy material by starting from scratch, performing in small comedy clubs, and working with two collaborators, Harry Ratchford and Joey Wells, who help structure and refine his jokes.

What is the name of Kevin Hart's production company?

Kevin Hart's production company is called Heartbeat.

How did Kevin Hart's upbringing in North Philadelphia influence his confidence on stage?

Kevin Hart's upbringing in a rough neighborhood in North Philadelphia did not dampen his confidence. Friends from his teenage years recall him as always having a strong sense of self-assurance.

What was the impact of Kevin Hart's father's addiction and imprisonment on his life?

Kevin Hart's father's addiction and imprisonment were challenging aspects of his life that he addressed in his stand-up comedy. His father's actions, including a moment of running away from Kevin on the subway to avoid being seen in a bad state, influenced Hart's storytelling and eventually led his father to seek help.

What was the turning point for Kevin Hart's career after the rejection from ABC's sitcom 'The Big House'?

The rejection from ABC's sitcom 'The Big House' led Kevin Hart to start his own production company, Heartbeat, and market himself aggressively through social media, which eventually caught the attention of Hollywood studios.

What controversy led to Kevin Hart stepping down as the Oscars host in 2018?

Kevin Hart stepped down as the Oscars host in 2018 due to controversy over comments he made about gay people years earlier on stage and on Twitter.

How does Kevin Hart's business empire extend beyond his comedy career?

Kevin Hart's business empire extends beyond comedy to include a nutrition supplement company, a fast-food chain, a tequila brand, and a $100 million venture capital fund. His production company, Heartbeat, is also involved in various entertainment projects.