As one half of 70’s stoner comedy duo Cheech and Chong, “Cheech” Marin, 75, has efficiently reinvented himself as an actor, musician, activist, creator, artwork collector and marijuana entrepreneur. (He just lately teamed up with chef Zach Neil to launch Muncheechos, a nationwide digital model for stoners run out of ghost kitchens.) Thrice married, he tells SENIOR PLANET how he’s happiest at residence in Los Angeles cooking for Russian pianist spouse Natasha Rubin and his household:
Q: What do you assume followers can be shocked to find out about you?
CHEECH: That I’m a very good prepare dinner. A few years in the past I cooked in accommodations in Canada. I discovered all of the fundamentals and might make absolutely anything. I nonetheless do in the present day. I’m the prepare dinner in the home and make dinner each evening – as a result of I need to eat what I need to eat. It’s one of the simplest ways to ensure it.
Q: What’s your secret to getting older with angle?
CHEECH: I smoke weed all day and keep away from all train. I feel that’s the important thing. You possibly can decry all of it you need however right here I’m!
Q: There should be extra to it?!
CHEECH: Properly, my spouse and I stroll collectively each day wherever we’re, and I do Tai Chi most days which is actually good for circulation. Additionally I just lately began not over-eating, consuming quite a bit lower than I used to, so I’ve misplaced weight and really feel extra energetic.
Q: Do you eat a particular food regimen?
CHEECH: My worst nightmare is that I get up and I’m a vegetarian. That scares the hell out of me. It will be like boarding an alien ship. I like meals and eat every thing.
Q: Do you continue to get excessive each day?
CHEECH: No, I’m going by lengthy durations the place I’m not smoking – simply meditating as an alternative. I’ve been into meditation since I used to be 19 years previous. I had a second knee alternative just lately. For the primary one I used to be prescribed opioids which made the therapeutic course of quite a bit longer and didn’t actually reduce the ache. Additionally I needed to beat an opioid habit by the top in order that wasn’t good. So for the second knee alternative, I found Dabs, concentrated marijuana which seems to be like taffy, and that took the ache away with none side-effects. After two months, I used to be totally healed. I’m not saying its gonna work for everyone but it surely labored for me.
Q: Have you ever ever thought-about retiring?
CHEECH: Each time I say I’m gonna retire, I get extra jobs – so I’ve found out the technique now to not say I’m gonna retire after which the roles will cease coming I feel.
Q: You might have so many pursuits, however Chicano artwork must be certainly one of your greatest passions?
![](https://149472331.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/small-Cheech-and-de-la-Torre-Bros-sculpture-by-Melissa-Richardson-Banks-color.jpg)
CHEECH: Sure, I’ve been finding out western artwork since I used to be 11 years previous however I found Chicano artwork once I was married to an artist (Patti Heid) who launched me to Chicano (Mexican-American) painters. I acknowledged how good they have been and puzzled why they weren’t getting any shelf house in museums so I began down that path.
![](https://149472331.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/small-Cheech-at-Gronks-Studio-by-Melissa-Richardson-Banks-2017.jpg)
Photograph: by Melissa Richardson Banks 2017
As soon as I had a sufficiently big assortment, I started on the lookout for methods to exhibit it so I’m excited for the opening of The Cheech Marin Middle for Chicano Artwork, Tradition & Trade opens in Riverside (CA) on Could 8.
Q: How usually do you see Tommy Chong?
CHEECH: I noticed him yesterday. I used to be over at his home doing Tik Tok stuff. He lives in Pacific Palisades simply down the road to me. Weirdly sufficient, we’ve all the time lived close to one another, irrespective of the place. He moved to Paris, I moved to Paris. He moved to Malibu, I moved to Malibu. So now we’re neighbors once more. Subsequent he’ll transfer out to Joshua Tree so we are able to stay shut there too.
Q: What’s up subsequent?
CHEECH: I simply returned from Winnipeg in Canada, doing a Bobby Farrelly comedy referred to as Champions with Woody Harrelson. I’ve recognized Woody a very long time from once we did a play collectively in San Francisco whereas I used to be doing Nash Bridges on TV so we’re fairly shut. He and I are just about on the identical plank!
Q: You famously didn’t was once fluent in Spanish. Has that modified?
CHEECH: I’m much more fluent now than I ever was. It happened after I began going to Costa Rica for a month at a time the place I used to be compelled to talk Spanish and so my Spanish improved. It’s not good but it surely’s a lot improved. However I’m not as proficient as my spouse who speaks six completely different languages fluently.
Q: The world mourned the passing of Betty White though she holds a particular place in your coronary heart?
CHEECH: Sure, I obtained to know her once we did Golden Palace collectively. You might inform her any joke and she or he would simply chortle her ass off and instantly run to her supervisor and inform him that joke. She simply had the perfect humorousness and was so mild and ethereal.
Q: What makes you happiest?
CHEECH: My household. All my youngsters and my spouse – ex-wives even. I strive to verify all people is blissful and see that everyone will get what they want in life – an training, a roof over their heads, meals. My youngest daughter came to visit yesterday and we spent the day cooking, simply me and her. That was cool. I’ve 4 youngsters. Three stay in LA though my eldest daughter lived in Colorado along with her husband and my three grandkids. It’s good to be near all of them.
Photograph credit score: Melissa Richardson Banks