The term "crossover" is seldom used of comedians, yet the word is the perfect descriptor for "Bone" Hampton, one of redemptive comedy's most well-traveled and in-demand funnymen. Bone's comedic smarts know no bounds. One day he can be seen working the crowd at a comedy club, the next he's doing his thing at a church gig, and the following he's making a splash on a hit sitcom. His versatility can be traced back to his modest beginnings at the University of North Texas, where Bone played football and worked towards an emergency administration and disaster planning degree. At one point, he even interned at FEMA. Despite having a full plate with juggling sports and academics, Bone and his college buddies decided to take a break to see Oscar winner Jamie Foxx. The stand-up veteran was in town hosting a contest for the best Wanda impersonation, a character Foxx popularized on the sketch comedy show In Living Color. At the prompting of his colleagues and a free T-shirt offer, Bone took matters into his own hands and walked up to the microphone. Foxx was so impressed by his uproarious Wanda routine that he decided to join Bone on stage to mouth the character’s trademark one-liner: "I'm gon' rock yo world!"

Indeed, Bone's world was never the same after that. The exposure led to other opportunities in the area, including a chance to hone his skills at The Steve Harvey Comedy House, where he would perform regularly. It was there that Harvey saw Bone's potential and took him under his wing. Yet Harvey kept it real with him—if Bone was to make it in the for-laughs circuit, he needed to go someplace else. Bone took a leap of faith, packed his bags and jumped in his 1985 Chevy pick-up, determined to make the move to Los Angeles. In retrospect, he admits he didn't know what he was in for. His biggest shocker came when he visited Hollywood Improv. "There was a guy there who was making fun of German, Polish, Jewish, Scottish and Irish people," Bone reminisces. "At the end of his routine he said, 'Have I offended everybody in the room?' I was like, 'Are you serious?' In Texas, we don’t break down people like you just did." Bone felt like a fish out of water, but the experience inspired him to find his own niche, his own identity in the crowded world of foul-mouthed comedy. "What I did know was the Bible and how Christians think," he acknowledges. "Perhaps I'm not going to be able to touch mainstream audiences like those hardcore guys, but I'm going to be able to touch them in a way a Kirk Franklin or Fred Hammond would." And touch people he has. Since his fateful move to L.A., Bone not only continued to do stand-up and record his own CDs, but also scored opening slots on tours by the likes of Jonathan Slocumb, Chonda Pierce and Carman. In addition, he has logged appearances on ABC's Less Than Perfect, NBC's My Name Is Earl, BET's Comic View and the movie All About Steve, among other stints.