POOKIE- CHRIS ROCK

POOKIE- Chris Rock Chris Rock, a celebrated comedian and actor, took on one of his most unforgettable dramatic roles as Pookie in the 1991 crime drama New Jack City. Portraying a former stick-up kid turned crack addict, Rock's performance as Pookie was so convincing that it stunned fans who were used to his comedic chops. Pookie’s tragic journey—from being a streetwise hustler to a vulnerable informant who relapses and ultimately meets a grim fate—became an iconic symbol of the crack epidemic’s devastating human toll. Interestingly, Rock has admitted that playing Pookie was emotionally taxing and forced him to confront the harsh realities of addiction. He even turned down similar roles afterward, worried about being typecast or glorifying drug culture. Behind the scenes, Rock had never done drugs himself, which made his portrayal all the more impressive for its rawness and realism. The character’s downfall in a bomb-rigged crackhouse remains a haunting cinematic moment, and “It keeps c