Comedian and actor Kevin Hart has made a huge name for himself in Hollywood over the past couple of decades. He’s starred in blockbuster movies, sold out arenas with his stand-up comedy tours, and built an impressive entertainment empire.
But one thing that often gets people curious about Kevin is his stature. Standing at only 5 feet 2 inches tall, Kevin Hart height size compared to other male celebs makes him stand out.
So how did Kevin Hart get his start in showbiz? How has he leveraged his height to his advantage throughout his career? And what’s the story behind some of his funniest bits about being short?
Getting His Start as a Young Comedian
Kevin Darnell Hart was born on July 6, 1979, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Even from a young age, he was cracking jokes and realized he had a knack for making people laugh.
After graduating high school in 1998, the 19-year-old Kevin decided to pursue stand-up comedy full-time. He began performing at small clubs and venues around Philadelphia, honing his comedic skills on stage.
Kevin’s comedy incorporated amusing stories from his life growing up as well as self-deprecating jokes playing off his short stature. Audiences appreciated his high energy and unique perspective.
Within just a few years, Kevin was winning contests at comedy clubs and started touring nationally. His fanbase grew steadily as he opened for big-name comics at larger venues.
It was clear the rising comedian had found his calling entertaining crowds with punchlines about life as a short guy.
Breaking Into Movies by Playing Off His Height
Kevin’s talent and work ethic earned him opportunities to break into TV and film throughout the 2000s. Many of his earliest roles involved leaning into self-deprecating humor about his height.
For example, in the 2004 film “Soul Plane,” Kevin played a character named Nashawn Wade – the gay co-pilot of an airplane. In hilarious scenes, Kevin’s character uses his short height for laughs as he interacts with the tall pilot, Captain Mack.
This role proved Kevin could take a relatively small supporting part and steal scenes by playing off his stature for comedy. It showed how his self-awareness about being short was becoming an asset and distinctive part of his act.
Kevin took on similar roles in films like “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005), “Little Man” (2006), and “Superhero Movie” (2008). While often playing a sidekick or oddball character, he reliably delivered funny lines highlighting the absurdity of his small size compared to others.
Audiences were beginning to catch on to Kevin’s potential as a comedic force in Hollywood. His ability to lampoon himself showed rare confidence and likability.
Earning Leading Man Status in Comedy Blockbusters
After spending years paying his dues, Kevin Hart finally broke through to mainstream stardom in the 2010s. He leveraged his trademark self-effacing humor to begin landing lead roles in major comedy films.
In 2011, Kevin starred alongside Taraji P. Henson in “Think Like A Man” – a romantic comedy based on Steve Harvey’s book about relationships. While not the typical envisioned Hollywood leading man, Kevin won over audiences through sheer charisma and laughs. The movie topped the box office on its opening weekend.
From there Kevin starred in a steady stream of commercial and critical comedy hits including:
- “The Five-Year Engagement” (2012)
- “About Last Night” (2014)
- “Get Hard” (2015)
- “Central Intelligence” (2016)
- “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (2017)
Rather than hide his short stature, Kevin convinces audiences to embrace it as part of his charm. His confidence and ability to find humor in his height makes him extremely likable.
In an industry obsessed with appearance, Kevin broke the mold and showed being a leading man has nothing to do with looking the part. It’s all about having talent, loads of personality, and the ability to connect with crowds.
Poking Fun at His Height in Stand-Up Comedy
While building his movie career, Kevin Hart never abandoned his first love – stand-up comedy. He continued touring and selling out huge venues as a comedian.
And a big part of his live act involves poking fun at situations his height gets him into. By laughing at the absurdities of being short, both Kevin and the audience can see the humor in it.
Some of his most hilarious bits about his stature include:
Airport Security
Kevin jokes about how airport security personnel always give him a hard time and full pat down at checkpoints, regardless of having a first-class ticket:
“I walk through the metal detector and it doesn’t go off. But they still want to search for me. They say I’m ‘suspicious.’ Security dude grabs me, talking about ‘random search.’ Ain’t nothing random about this!”
“They search me so much I should charge them rent. I gotta start bringing luggage with me, so at least I’m getting something out of this!”
Clubbing and the Ladies
Kevin self-effacingly pokes fun at trying to pick up women at clubs while being only 5’2″:
“When you short, you gotta have an A++ game to talk to the ladies at the club. Ain’t no woman ever seen a short dude and said ‘Ooh, I gotta get me some of that!”
“Fellas, you ever been out dancing and a girl backs that thang up on you? When you short, that’s not their butt – it’s their lower back!”
Playing Basketball
In one hilarious bit, Kevin describes trying to play pick-up basketball with his taller friends:
“They wanna post me up, back me down in the paint. Man, I don’t play ‘center’, the only ‘center’ I know is the middle seat in the back of the car!”
“The only way I’m blocking shots is if everyone on the court takes a knee. As soon as they stand back up, I ain’t touching nothing!”
Kevin clearly doesn’t take himself too seriously and enjoys pointing out the quirky aspects of being a shorter guy. By laughing at himself, he helps crowds loosen up and not feel awkward about his stature either.
How Kevin Hart’s Career Proves Height Isn’t Everything
Over his 20+ year career, Kevin Hart has amassed incredible accomplishments:
- Starred in over 60 movies grossing over $3 billion in total
- Headlined global comedy tours consistently grossing 9 figures
- Appeared on Forbes Celebrity 100 list from 2012-2019
- Named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People (2015)
The numbers speak for themselves – Kevin is one of the most successful entertainers of his era. He’s built a multi-media empire and assumed the status of a beloved household name.
And he achieved it all standing just 5 feet 2 inches tall.
Kevin Hart embodies how chasing your dreams and developing your talents can trump any physical limitations. By combining self-confidence with self-deprecation, he wins over audiences who find him both hilarious and down-to-earth.
Rather than try to deny or hide his lack of height, Kevin embraces it as part of his identity. He demonstrates we shouldn’t let something as arbitrary as stature determine our path in life.
So for anyone feeling limited by how short or tall you are, remember Kevin Hart’s motto:
“I literally am the ‘put some respect on my name guy’. I embody it. Being short ain’t stopped me from doing nothing!”
Keep reaching, dreaming big, and know that anything is possible when you believe in yourself. Our external qualities matter far less than the passion and effort we put into achieving our goals.
Just ask the 5’2” giant we know as Kevin Hart!
In summary
Kevin Hart height at 5 feet 2 inches tall, which is shorter than the average for a male celebrity. However, Hart has not let his diminutive stature hold him back, instead thriving in the entertainment industry through a mix of confidence, self-deprecation, and impressive comedic talents. He pokes fun at situations caused by being short in hilarious stand-up bits. By fully embracing his height, Kevin Hart proves that size alone does not determine success or likeability. His story is an inspiration that we are capable of accomplishing great things regardless of physical attributes we cannot control.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Kevin Hart exactly?
Kevin Hart stands at 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 meters) tall. His small stature compared to other male celebrities is often remarked upon and frequently incorporated into Hart’s stand-up comedy routines in self-deprecating ways.
What size shoe does Kevin Hart wear?
Due to his shorter-than-average height, Kevin Hart wears a size 7 shoe in men’s sizing. He has been photographed wearing custom-sized designer sneakers on red carpets and other events.
Has Kevin Hart’s height affected his career?
While unconventional, Hart’s relatively short stature compared to leading men hasn’t held back his amazing career. By leaning into jokes about his height, Hart has turned it into an advantage and become extremely successful in both movies and stand-up comedy.
Does Kevin Hart wear lifts or platform shoes?
There is no evidence that Hart wears special shoes to appear taller. He openly discusses and jokes about his height in his comedy acts. However, Hart has been photographed standing on boxes during photo shoots alongside taller celebrities.
Is Kevin Hart sensitive about jokes or remarks about his height?
Hart seems to take jokes and remarks about his short stature in stride, even using self-deprecating humor about it in his own comedy routines. He has said he embraces his height and doesn’t let it stop him from achieving his dreams.
