# List of celebrities who worked as pimps **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2019, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854 "2019-01-16T05:29:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/1 "2019-01-16T05:29:49Z")
I didn’t know Miles Davis worked as a pimp, but in this thread they mention that he did. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21432361&postcount=2](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21432361&postcount=2) Which got me thinking. What other celebrities have worked as pimps? Ice T, Rick James, James Lipton. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/2 "2019-01-16T05:49:25Z")
iceberg slim ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/3 "2019-01-16T13:09:59Z")
After leaving the Marine Corps, R. Lee Ermey bought “a run-down bar and whorehouse in Okinawa.” Apparently, the Japanese authorities took a dim view of the enterprise, and he had to relocate to the Philippines. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/4 "2019-01-16T13:41:14Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I didn’t know Miles Davis worked as a pimp, but in this thread they mention that he did. > > [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21432361&postcount=2](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21432361&postcount=2) > > Which got me thinking. What other celebrities have worked as pimps? > > Ice T, Rick James, **James Lipton.** Anyone else? Wait, what? The “Actor’s Studio” guy? Holy crap! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/5 "2019-01-16T13:46:54Z")
James Lipton??? I know Richard Pryor grew up in a brothel, but I don’t think he ran the place. I’m guessing R Kelly was sort of running a brothel…for himself. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/6 "2019-01-16T14:19:10Z")
About James Lipton: > **[James Lipton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lipton)** > > Louis James Lipton (September 19, 1926 – March 2, 2020) was an American writer, lyricist, actor, and dean emeritus of the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in New York City. He was the executive producer, writer, and host of the Bravo cable television series Inside the Actors Studio, which debuted in 1994. He retired from the show in 2018. > Louis James Lipton was born on September 19, 1926, in Detroit, the only child of Betty (née Weinberg), a teacher and librarian, and Lawrence Lip... There is a list of famous pimps in this Wikipedia entry, but I don’t know which of them are famous for something else: > **[James Lipton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lipton)** > > Louis James Lipton (September 19, 1926 – March 2, 2020) was an American writer, lyricist, actor, and dean emeritus of the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in New York City. He was the executive producer, writer, and host of the Bravo cable television series Inside the Actors Studio, which debuted in 1994. He retired from the show in 2018. > Louis James Lipton was born on September 19, 1926, in Detroit, the only child of Betty (née Weinberg), a teacher and librarian, and Lawrence Lip... ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/7 "2019-01-16T15:32:03Z")
Dennis Hoff, but that really strains the definition of “Celebrity”. How 'bout Hugh Hefner? Larry Flint? Bob ‘Whatzisname’? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/8 "2019-01-16T16:06:40Z")
[Wayne Brady?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-zSJljpKNc#t=1m40s) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/9 "2019-01-16T17:46:54Z")
Malcolm X (early in his life when he was still Malcolm Little) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/10 "2019-01-16T17:52:14Z")
Snoop D O Double G > **[Snoop Dogg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoop_Dogg)** > > Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion),\[note 1\] is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he was featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, "Deep Cover", and then on Dre's debut solo album, The Chronic. Broadus has since sold over 23 million albums in the United States and 35 million albums worldwide. His accolades include an American Music Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and 17 B... ---
**Author:** ![ReptoidBusiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5e925/32.png) [@ReptoidBusiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReptoidBusiness)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/11 "2019-01-16T18:20:13Z")
The OP mentioned Ice T - I knew he had been a pimp but the reality didn’t hit me until my friend sent me a clip of his interview from _Pimps Up, Ho’s Down_. Holy shit, when he starts casually talking about breaking a girl, it’s a real pimp smack from reality. Try watching _SVU_ the same way after that! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/12 "2019-01-16T20:20:32Z")
James Lipton wasn’t a pimp in the way most Americans would think. In order to pay for living in Paris he worked for prostitutes. They did not work for him. He shilled for them in the street and brought business to the women. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/13 "2019-01-16T22:03:51Z")
For those that remember the “Rich white man adopts two black boys" sitcom **Diff’rent Stokes** , Todd Bridges (who portrayed the older boy Willis - as in What’chu talking’ ‘bout, Willis?) did some pimping after the show ended. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/14 "2019-01-16T22:05:26Z")
Charles Mingus ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/15 "2019-01-17T02:41:07Z")
Jelly Roll Morton **Gatopescado** , how do you figure that Hefner, Flint, and Guccione were pimps? They published skin magazines. That’s not the same as renting women out for sex. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/16 "2019-01-17T02:46:55Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > James Lipton wasn’t a pimp in the way most Americans would think. In order to pay for living in Paris he worked for prostitutes. They did not work for him. He shilled for them in the street and brought business to the women. And they paid for his help. That’s pimping without the hat, cane, and Cadillac. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/17 "2019-01-17T03:28:54Z")
Tiffany Haddish, though it’s not clear whether she was joking or not. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/18 "2019-01-17T05:28:18Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > For those that remember the “Rich white man adopts two black boys" sitcom **Diff’rent Stokes** , Todd Bridges (who portrayed the older boy Willis - as in What’chu talking’ ‘bout, Willis?) did some pimping after the show ended. > > TCMF-2L I knew he had a serious drug addiction for many years; was that how he financed it? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/19 "2019-01-17T17:36:58Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > And they paid for his help. That’s pimping without the hat, cane, and Cadillac. What about the clear high-heeled platform shoes with goldfish swimming in the heels? ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-celebrities-who-worked-as-pimps/827854/20 "2019-01-17T20:55:37Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I knew he had a serious drug addiction for many years; was that how he financed it? Dealing drugs was his main criminal activity although he was involved in violence, firearms offences and even accused of murder although OJ Simpson’s lawyer made sure the charges didn’t stick. The pimping came about when he decided if he used females to sell drugs they could offer sex as well. More lucrative. TCMF-2L