Doris Hancox: The Life and Career of Anthony Anderson’s Mom and Co-Star

Doris Hancox is not only the mother of the famous actor and comedian Anthony Anderson but also a star in her own right. She has appeared in several TV shows and movies, and co-hosted ‘To Tell The Truth’ and won the hearts of millions with her charisma and humor. She is an inspiration to many people who aspire to achieve their dreams at any age. She has proven that it is never too late to follow your passion and have fun along the way. In this article, we will explore the life and career of Doris Hancox, from her humble beginnings in Chicago to her viral moment on Celebrity Family Feud.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Fact	Description
Full name	Doris Hancox Bowman
Date of birth	July 12, 1953
Age	70
Zodiac sign	Cancer
Birthplace	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Hometown	Los Angeles, California, USA
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	African-American
Gender	Female
Sexuality	Straight
Relationship status	Single
Occupation	Actress, TV personality
Net worth	Reported at $2 million
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	64 kg (141 lbs)
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Brown
Marital status	Widow
Spouse	Late Sterling Bowman (died in 2002)
Children	Anthony Anderson
Grandchildren	Nathan Anderson, Kyra Anderson
Nickname	Mama Doris
TV shows	To Tell the Truth, Black-ish, House Haunters, Celebrity Family Feud, etc.
Movies	Common Bond, The Truth, You People
Commercials	T-Mobile
Hobbies	Cooking, gardening, traveling
Controversies and rumors	The Celebrity Family Feud incident: In 2015, Doris and Anthony participated in the game show Celebrity Family Feud, hosted by Steve Harvey. The question that Doris was asked was: “Where would a naked magician pull a rabbit out of?” Her hilarious and shocking answer was: “From his nuts.” This caused a huge uproar among the audience and the host, who could not stop laughing for several minutes. The video of the incident went viral on YouTube and social media, making Doris an instant sensation.

Fun Facts about Doris Hancox’s Birthday

• Doris Hancox was born on July 12, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is 70 years old as of January 2024.
• Her zodiac sign is Cancer, which is symbolized by the crab. People born under this sign are said to be loyal, nurturing, intuitive, and emotional.
• Her birthstone is the ruby, which is a precious gem that represents passion, courage, and love. The ruby is also associated with vitality and royalty.
• Her birth flower is the larkspur, which is a tall, spiky plant that comes in various colors. The larkspur symbolizes dignity, grace, and positivity. It can also express admiration or attachment.
• Some of the famous celebrities who share her birthday are:
  • Michelle Rodriguez, an actress and screenwriter best known for her role as a boxer in the film ‘Girlfight’ and as Letty Ortiz in the Fast & Furious franchise.
  • Brock Lesnar, one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, who has also had successful careers in mixed martial arts and football.
  • James Rodríguez, a Colombian professional football player who plays as an attacking midfielder and won the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
  • Phoebe Tonkin, an Australian actress who starred as Cleo in the series H₂O: Just Add Water and as Hayley Marshall in The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off, The Originals.
  • Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who survived a Taliban assassination attempt and became a global advocate for girls’ education.

How Doris Hancox Raised Anthony Anderson as a Single Mom in Chicago

Doris Hancox was born on July 12, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois. Doris had a passion for acting since she was a child. Doris moved to California with her family when she was still very young. However, when she was 18 years old, she became pregnant with her first and only child, Anthony. Her son Anthony Anderson was born on August 15, 1970.  The father of the baby was not involved in their lives, and Doris had to raise Anthony as a single mother. She put her acting dreams on hold and worked as a telephone operator. She supported Anthony’s interest in acting and enrolled him in drama classes. She also encouraged him to pursue his education and helped him get into Hollywood High School.

Doris married Sterling Bowman, a businessman who owned a clothing store chain. Sterling became a loving father to Anthony and supported his aspirations to become an actor. However, He died in 2002. She has also a stepson named Derrick Bowman.

Doris Hancox’s Dream of Becoming an Actress and How She Finally Achieved It

Doris Hancox had always dreamed of becoming an actress, but she put her aspirations on hold to focus on raising her son. She did not give up on her passion, though, and continued to take audition for roles whenever she could. However, her big break came when she and Anthony participated in an episode of Celebrity Family Feud in 2015. Doris Hancox stole the show with her hilarious answer to the question “Where would a naked magician pull a rabbit out of?” Her response was “From his nuts” which made the host Steve Harvey and the audience burst into laughter. The video of the incident went viral on YouTube and social media, making Doris an instant sensation.

The producers of To Tell the Truth were impressed by Doris Hancox’s personality and charisma and offered her a role as a co-host on the show alongside her son. Since then, she has been entertaining millions of viewers with her funny comments and interactions with the celebrity panelists and contestants. She has also gained a fan base of her own, who call her Mama Doris. She has appeared in other shows such as Black-ish, where she played Anthony’s mother, and House Haunters, where she pranked unsuspecting home buyers with Anthony. She has also appeared on Entertainment Tonight and To Tell the Truth, and acted as an actress in The Truth and You People, and in several T-Mobile commercials.

Doris Hancox’s Net Worth

Doris Hancox has earned a substantial amount of money from her acting and hosting career. Her net worth is estimated to be around $2 million as of 2024. She also makes money from her endorsements with various brands and companies.

Doris Hancox’s Personality, Style, and Social Media Presence

Doris Hancox is known for her vibrant personality, stylish fashion sense, and active social media presence. She describes herself as a “fun-loving, free-spirited, adventurous, spontaneous, outgoing, and optimistic” person. She loves to travel, dance, sing, cook, read, watch movies, and spend time with her family and friends. She also enjoys dressing up and experimenting with different outfits, accessories, and hairstyles. She often shares her looks and tips on her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Doris Hancox’s Family, Relationships, and Personal Life

Doris Hancox is very close to her family and considers them to be her greatest joy and blessing. She is very proud of her son Anthony Anderson, who has become one of the most successful and respected actors and comedians in Hollywood. She often accompanies him to award shows, premieres, and interviews. Doris also loves her two grandchildren: Kyra Anderson and Nathan Anderson. She often spends time with them and spoils them with gifts. Doris Hancox is currently single and has not been romantically linked to anyone since her separation from Sterling Bowman.

Anthony Anderson: Doris Hancox’s son

Anthony Anderson is a versatile and successful actor, comedian and game show host who has starred in various genres of film and television. He is best known for his roles as Andre “Dre” Johnson on the Emmy-nominated comedy series Black-ish, Marlin Boulet on the drama series K-Ville, and Detective Kevin Bernard on the crime drama Law & Order. He has also appeared in movies such as The Departed, Transformers, and Scream 4. He is the host of the ABC version of the game show To Tell the Truth and a regular judge on Food Network’s Iron Chef America. He has been nominated for 11 Primetime Emmys and won many awards, including three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. He is also a producer, writer and director of several projects, such as Beats, Mixed-ish, and Matumbo Goldberg. He is a proud alumnus of Howard University and a descendant of African ethnic groups such as the Bubi, Tikar, Hausa, and Fulani.