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Chris Rock: Family influence my act

Chris Rock
Chris Rock

Comedian Chris Rock says becoming a husband and father has changed his stand-up act for the better

The '2 Days In New York' star admits having his daughters Lola Simone, 10, and eight-year-old Zahra Savannah with his wife Malaak Compton-Rock, has influenced his comedy routine for the better as he is now an expert on the perils of fatherhood and having a demanding wife.

He mused: ''Does having a wife and kids change your act? Yes, but only in the best way. It gives you weight and authority. It also makes you closer to the audience because the audience is married and has kids. People without kids know nothing about kids. Jokes about your kids are always better than jokes about your brother's kids.

''Married guys know more about women than single guys.

"Single guys have girlfriends. Girlfriends are always auditioning, always on their best behaviour.

"Wives are like Supreme Court justices - they do whatever the f**k they want.''

Despite giving him a wealth of material to work with, Chris is adamant he would never air his family's private business on stage and makes sure to keep his jokes generic so as not to offend his wife.

He told Vanity Fair magazine: ''What isn't OK to say on stage? Any of your family's business. No experience that is just theirs. I don't really worry about what they are thinking.

"Anything I say about women, I try to make sure that at least five or six friends of mine are going through a similar situation.

''That way I'm not picking on my wife.

"We like to say I have my real wife, who's a lovely woman, mother to my children.

"Then I have my comedy wife, who's a crazy bitch.''

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