“A man who dances the tango rules the world,” says Tommy Chong, the reefer king of Cheech & Chong fame. He’s not speaking about his younger years—Chong is still doing the tango now, at 81, after first showing off his abilities in season 19 of Dancing with the Stars. He attributes his long-enduring physical fitness to “genetics,” among other factors; while chatting with me on the phone from a casino, he sounds as sharp as ever, his voice warm and rumbly.
When he’s not lighting up the slot machines or dancing the night away, Chong sticks to his bread-and-butter: stand-up and sketch comedy, and advocacy for the legalization of marijuana. Weed, he says, has played a central role in his relatively good health over the years, and helped him cope when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2016. (He is now in remission, and feeling great.)
During our conversation, Chong expounds on the health benefits of marijuana, his all-time favorite ways to exercise, and he also unveils what is, by far, the world’s most ingenious solution for beating the munchies.
GQ: If you’ll allow it, I was truly taken aback to learn you’re 81—you look great! Do you maintain a wellness or fitness regiment?
Tommy Chong: Well, when I was a kid, I played football, which is what got me interested in exercise. It’s where I learned about calisthenics, and running, and lifting weights. It’s a combination of weightlifting and spiritual wellness for me.
When did you start lifting weights?
I’ve been lifting weights since I was 15 years old, but trust me, I was not a natural at it. I ended up moving out to Hollywood to do a movie, and I signed up with a trainer. It was this guy named Vince Gironda, and he had a special at his gym: 25 bucks and we’ll get you in shape for a movie. He got me in the best shape of my life for Up in Smoke. He gave me a big lecture on how to maintain a diet and such. I’ve just been following that routine to this day. Oh, and I invented a knee machine for myself.
A knee machine?
Yeah, I grew up poor so everything that cost money—sports like golf, or skiing, or whatever—I didn’t try out until later in life. When I started skiing, I realized I couldn’t ski on moguls because it takes a lot of balance and it’s a big stress on your knees. So I invented this knee machine, I call it “the bouncer.” It’s a skateboard stretched between four springs on a frame, and I just bounce on it like I’m going over moguls. I should really put it on the market once I get it all together—after all, I’ve only been working on it for 30 years now! It helps me with my circulation, and that’s a huge part of keeping yourself healthy. I use that, and do a lot of walking, and have my tai chi, which is tango.
Tango? Like, the dance?
Yeah, I’m a tango dancer. I’ve been studying tango for years now. I love it. I’ve tried to tell everybody about it, but people won’t listen to me. I’ve walked into classes and just had a blast dancing with people. With tango, the male dancer has to know what he’s doing, because he’s the lead. When I was on Dancing with the Stars, the pros they partner you with will back-lead the dance. So I’ve been trying to get rid of that habit and learn how to lead the dance for the last couple of years. That’s why I’m still taking lessons and classes, because you never stop learning to dance. My wife—who is gorgeous—likes to dance tango as well. It’s fun, and it keeps things exciting. My other bit of advice for old guys is to check out the new fashion magazines, and do what they say.
Dance is such a wonderful exercise, and I don’t think people always realize that.
It’s great! It’s the best. I get to get all dressed up, and I get to dance with my beautiful wife. My only problem is that sometimes my wife looks so good that I just want to give her a big hug instead of dancing.
When you were touring the country, what did your diet look like? Did you try to stop in at as many different restaurants as you could?
Well back in the day, me and Cheech always used to go and eat at places in Chinatown [in Vancouver], since they tended to have the cheapest and most nutritious dishes we could find. I had to teach Cheech about all of the best Chinese food dishes so we could order what was actually good, and he taught me about all the best Mexican dishes.
You’re a big advocate for the legalization of marijuana in the United States. What, in your estimation, are some of the health benefits of weed?
For one, it’s a great natural relaxer and painkiller. Back in the day, when I was lifting at Gold’s Gym, I met this big Austrian bodybuilder named Arnold Schwarzenegger. He barely spoke any English, and he was so health-conscious about his diet and his exercise. The only thing he would do for entertainment besides exercise was smoke a joint. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also used it for years to treat his migraines. See, what pot does so well is it helps out your brain. Every aspect of your body will benefit from the relief that pot can give you. The only problem with pot is the munchies. The way you get around that though is to have something healthy in the refrigerator to eat when you’re stoned.
Do you have a go-to healthy munchie?
Celery. I actually hate celery, but it gives you the crunch factor. The whole thing you want from any munchie is crunchiness. When you’re stoned, you’re just looking for that satisfying feeling. The whole sensation starts in your mouth, and then it satisfies your brain, and that’s why people love potato chips, candy, all that stuff when they’re high. With celery, you’re in good shape, because realistically, you can only eat so much celery.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Real-Life Diet is a series in which GQ talks to athletes, celebrities, and everyone in-between about their diets and exercise routines: what's worked, what hasn't, and where they're still improving. Keep in mind, what works for them might not necessarily be healthy for you.
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