Mia Patel
In the 2004 comedy film White Chicks, Terry Crews, a former NFL player, played Latrell Spencer, a professional basketball player. Crews' character is well-known for a scene in which he sings and dances to Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles. Crews has said that he based his character on an actual NFL player, though he has not revealed who. Crews' performance in White Chicks helped launch his acting career, and he has since appeared in several other films and TV shows, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Expendables.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the movie | White Chicks |
| Year of release | 2004 |
| Genre | Buddy cop comedy |
| Terry Crews' character name | Latrell Spencer |
| Latrell Spencer's profession | Pro basketball player |
| Latrell Spencer's inspiration | A real NFL player |
| Terry Crews' profession before acting | NFL player |
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What You'll Learn
Terry Crews played Latrell Spencer, a pro basketball player
Terry Crews is a former American football player who played in the NFL for five years between 1991 and 1996. He played for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Rhein Fire of the World League of American Football (later NFL Europe).
Crews is also an actor, and has appeared in several films and television shows. In 2004, Crews played Latrell Spencer, a pro basketball player, in the hit comedy movie White Chicks. Crews' character is well-known for a famous scene in which he sings and dances to "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton. Crews has said that he loved the song and that the scene changed his life forever.
Crews' performance in White Chicks brought him wider recognition, and he went on to play Cheeseburger Eddie in the Adam Sandler prison football film The Longest Yard (2005), and President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho in the 2006 Mike Judge film Idiocracy. Crews has also had main roles in the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet?, and as NYPD Sergeant (and, commencing in Season 7, Lieutenant) Terry Jeffords in the Fox/NBC ensemble sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which premiered in 2013.
Crews has also lent his voice to animations such as American Dad! and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, and has hosted several game shows, including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and America's Got Talent.
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Latrell was Crews' most iconic role
Terry Crews is an American actor, television host, and former professional football player. Crews played professional football in the NFL between 1991 and 1996, for teams including the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washington Redskins.
Crews' career as an actor took off with his role in the 2004 hit comedy White Chicks, in which he played Latrell Spencer, a professional basketball player. Crews has described his role as Latrell as the first time he felt "fully confident" as an actor. Crews steals every scene he's in with his over-the-top lines, but the best moment came when he sang and danced to A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton. Crews based the character on an unnamed former NFL player who was a running back.
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$109.99
Crews' character was based on an actual NFL player
Terry Crews is a former NFL player-turned-actor who played Latrell Spencer, a professional basketball player, in the 2004 comedy film White Chicks. Crews' character in the movie, Latrell, was inspired by a real NFL player whom Crews used to play with. Crews has not revealed who this person is, but he has shared that this unnamed player's personality "must have owned the room wherever they went".
Crews played football in the NFL between 1991 and 1996, from the age of 23 to 28. He was drafted in the 11th round by the Los Angeles Rams in 1991 and played six games before taking a year off. He returned to the NFL in 1993, signing with the Green Bay Packers before moving to the San Diego Chargers. He appeared in 10 games that season. Crews then took another year off to pursue his passion for art and headed to Düsseldorf, Germany, in February 1995, to play for the World League of American Football's Rhein Fire. He then signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins in June 1995 and had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996 before retiring.
Crews' acting career took off after his role in White Chicks. He went on to star in several popular films and TV shows, including The Longest Yard, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and The Expendables series.
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Crews played in the NFL before becoming an actor
Terry Crews played football in the NFL between 1991 and 1996, from the age of 23 to 28. He was drafted in the 11th round by the Los Angeles Rams (now based in St. Louis) in 1991, playing six games before taking a year off. He returned to the NFL in 1993, signing with the Green Bay Packers before moving to the San Diego Chargers, where he played 10 games. He then took another year off to pursue his passion for art before heading to Germany in 1995 to play for the World League of American Football's Rhein Fire.
After his stint in Germany, Crews signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins in June 1995. He then had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996 before retiring from football. In total, Crews recorded just three tackles in 32 games over five years. Despite his relatively short career, Crews made a significant impact in the NFL, with a unique journey to the football world.
Crews' career in the NFL set the stage for his transition into acting. In 2000, he appeared in his first film, "The 6th Day," marking the beginning of his acting career. However, it was his role in the 2004 hit comedy White Chicks that propelled him into the spotlight. In the movie, Crews played Latrell Spencer, an NFL player, and delivered a memorable performance, especially with his singing and dancing to "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton. Crews' portrayal of Latrell Spencer was a highlight of the film and helped launch his successful acting career.
Crews has since gone on to star in numerous films and television shows, including Everybody Hates Chris, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Expendables series, and America's Got Talent, where he showcases his hosting skills and pec-popping gusto. Crews' diverse resume showcases his versatility as an actor, host, and former professional athlete.
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Crews played for the LA Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washington Redskins
Terry Crews is an American actor, television host, and former professional football player. In the 2004 comedy film White Chicks, Crews played a character who, like Crews himself, was a former football player.
Crews played as a defensive end and linebacker. His football career began at Western Michigan University, where he earned a full athletic scholarship after trying out for the football team during his freshman year.
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Frequently asked questions
Terry Crews played basketball in the 2004 film White Chicks.
Terry Crews played the role of Latrell Spencer, an NBA player.
Yes, Terry Crews played football in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washington Redskins before becoming an actor.
