Tim Story

Born: March 13 1970
Where: LA, California, USA

The former rapper scored a box office debut hit with Barbershop, an ensemble comedy featuring Ice Cube and Anthony Anderson.

His early career as a rapper with Ice T's Rhyme Syndicate was cut short when a member of the group was shot dead by a local rival.

He began producing and directing his own talent shows and attended the USC film school to hone his emerging talents.

The self-financed One of Us Tripped won the Black Filmmaker's Hall of Fame Feature and he also shot and bankrolled The Firing Squad.

After directing music videos for the likes of 'N Syn, R Kelly and Jon B, he made his mainstream feature debut with Barbershop.

In 2004, he helmed the weak American remake of the action comedy Taxi with Queen Latifah and Gisele Bundchen.

Recent work includes the big screen version of the comic cartoon Fantastic Four.