What are the full names of comedians Cheech and Chong?

The iconic stoner comedy duo is comprised of Richard Marin and Thomas B. Kin Chong. Richard Marin, a third-generation Mexican-American from Los Angeles, earned his famous nickname "Cheech" as a child. An uncle remarked that the newborn Marin looked like a "chicharrón," a fried pork rind, and the shortened moniker stuck with him for life. His partner, Tommy Chong, was born in Alberta, Canada, to a Chinese-Canadian father and a Scots-Irish Canadian mother, giving him a unique multicultural perspective that influenced his artistic career.

Their partnership began in Vancouver, British Columbia, in the late 1960s. Marin had moved to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War draft, where he met Chong, who was then running a comedy and music venue. They quickly developed their signature act, which parodied hippie and counter-culture stereotypes. This led to a string of successful comedy albums and films, including the 1978 classic "Up in Smoke," cementing their status as pop culture legends and making their stage names household words for generations of fans.