Two years after the death of his father, Henry Witherspoon, comedian Kevin Hart acknowledged a crucial milestone in their relationship: he bought his father’s first home. On the July 12 episode of his podcast, “Gold Minds with Kevin Hart,” the “Jumanji” star shared this heartfelt story with guest Vince Staples.
Hart thought on his mother, Nancy Hart, who worked tirelessly and with determination. A single mother, she raised Kevin and his brother, Robert, while working as a computer analyst at the University of Pennsylvania. Nancy Hart instilled in her sons a strong work ethic and financial prudence, always planning for the unexpected events of a rainy day.
He informed the Compton rapper that he never got the opportunity to fully repay his mother, who died from ovarian cancer in 2007, before his career took off.
Despite the fact that his father was not around for much of his childhood, Hart is about to find a significant method to help him.
The “Ride Along” box office star stated that at this point in his career, he wanted to provide some consolation to his father’s life. Hart asked his father to locate him a house in Philadelphia, and his father surprised him by finding one within hours.
“I remember asking my dad what he want, and it’s like you’re kind of getting over because this is like when money started to come in,” says Hart. “I said, ‘Dad, I’m going to set you up.'” Allow me to get you a house. Just go find a house in Philadelphia that you like, and I’ll get you. My dad called me back about two hours later. He says, ‘I got it.’ “I was like, ‘That fast?'”
The house his father chose was priced at $65,000, which was significantly less than Hart expected.
“It was around 65 grand. I figured I’d have to spend some money. “I’ve never paid for a house faster in my life,” Hart said, emphasising his father’s modest choice.
Over the years, Hart continued to support his father, improving his living conditions to assure his well-being.
He said, “Years passed… I was like, “Let me go and set you up right,” but the concept of comfort was not as substantial as you might have assumed.
“That’s where my mentality got a little grounded,” he explained.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the comic took his father with him on vacations where he explored the wilderness by trekking and zip-lining through the jungle, as well as having him around his home where he could sit by the pool and pose for family photographs.
Hart had a complicated relationship with his father. He has addressed it in his stand-up routines, his 2017 memoir “I Can’t Make This Up,” and several interviews. Witherspoon was absent for much of Hart’s youth due to drug addiction issues.
Hart and his brother eventually persuaded their father to go to treatment, where he changed his life and met his new spouse. This metamorphosis allowed them to rekindle their connection before he died.
This journey reinforces Hart’s perspective on success and comfort, emphasising that true riches is more than just money; it is about removing concern from one’s life.
“The money is all perception-based,” Hart explained during his meeting with Staples. “If you truly want to function and comprehend how extraordinary what you’ve accomplished is, consider it in relation to your surroundings and where you’ve come from. If you can care for yourself while also supporting your career or passion, you’ve already won.”
