Chris Rock: What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

The question

What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

August 16, 1985. My dad took me and my brothers Andre and Tony to see the Fresh Fest at the Nassau Coliseum, on Long Island. We saw Whodini, the Fat Boys, and Grandmaster Flash. Greatest day of my life. The births of my children were big days, too, but billions of people have children—only 15,000 people saw that show.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, January 2016 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 577 →

Joyce Carol Oates Novelist, short story writer and essayist

On two dates: 23 January 1961 and 13 March 2009 (my two weddings).

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 January 2010 source ↗

Chloë Sevigny American actress and director

Last time I was on the dance floor – in Manchester a few weeks ago.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 May 2012 source ↗

Steve Jones Welsh television presenter

Were? I'm happiest right now!

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 July 2010 source ↗

Cynthia Nixon American actress and politician

Now. I feel wiser and calmer than I’ve ever been.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 April 2017 source ↗

More from Chris Rock

View profile →

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

I have a child-like fear of being late. I’m a grown man, and I’m scared I’m going to the principal’s office.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, January 2016 source ↗

Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

I hate rich people that feel a need to tell you how hard they had it (“We had the smallest pool on the block”). And I hate poor people that feel a need to puff up their bios so they can better fit in with the rich—you meet a lot of Talented Mr. Ripleys in showbiz.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, January 2016 source ↗

Question What does happiness look like for you when life is going well? Identity & self

Just a lazy day roaming New York with my daughters—La Esquina for lunch and Mister Softee for dessert.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 29 January 2016 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

Barack Obama—just the balls to think he could be president is gangster. People forget that, when he first announced he was running, most black people were for Hillary Clinton. The only person that was laughed at more for a crazy idea was Noah.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, January 2016 source ↗

Also answered this

Chris Packham, Lisa Marie Presley, Dawn O’Porter, Marcus Brigstocke, Stanley Tucci, Nick Robinson

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

All time & hindsight questions
The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject

Report this answer

Others on this question

More from Chris Rock

More on time & hindsight

Also answered this

Explore further