# Christopher Boykin
**Christopher "Big Black" Boykin** (1972–2017) was an American television personality and musician best known as the co-star, alongside professional skateboarder [Rob Dyrdek](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-dyrdek), of the MTV reality series *[Rob & Big](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-and-big)*, which ran from 2006 to 2008.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_boykin) • [2](https://theoutline.com/post/1521/christopher-big-black-boykin-rob-big) He was also known by the nicknames [Big Black](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-black), Big B, and BB.[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972, Raleigh, Mississippi; raised in nearby Wiggins[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_boykin) • [4](https://gazettereview.com/2017/06/happened-christopher-big-black-boykin-now/) |
| Died | May 9, 2017, of a heart attack in Plano, Texas, at age 45; he had a history of heart ailments[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php) • [2](https://theoutline.com/post/1521/christopher-big-black-boykin-rob-big) |
| Breakout role | Co-star and bodyguard on *Rob & Big* (MTV, 2006–08)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_boykin) |
| Other MTV work | *Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory* (2009) and three guest episodes of *Ridiculousness* (2011)[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/86435/christopher-boykin) |
| Guinness records | Most bananas peeled and eaten in one minute; most powdered donuts eaten in under three minutes, both set while performing on *Rob & Big*[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php) |
| Before television | Served in the United States Navy and worked as a tattoo artist in Mississippi[6](https://metabase.cityofsanctuary.org/article/what-happened-to-big-from-rob-and-big-facts-background-and-key-details) |
## Early life and path to television
Boykin was born in 1972 in Raleigh, Mississippi, and raised in nearby Wiggins, where he spent much of his childhood enjoying and performing music.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_boykin) • [4](https://gazettereview.com/2017/06/happened-christopher-big-black-boykin-now/) Before entering entertainment he served in the [United States Navy](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-navy) and worked as a tattoo artist in [Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/mississippi).[6](https://metabase.cityofsanctuary.org/article/what-happened-to-big-from-rob-and-big-facts-background-and-key-details)
His large frame was central to how casting found him. Sources differ on his exact height: the Gazette Review describes him as 6 feet 6 inches and over 400 pounds,[4](https://gazettereview.com/2017/06/happened-christopher-big-black-boykin-now/) while another account gives 6'8".[6](https://metabase.cityofsanctuary.org/article/what-happened-to-big-from-rob-and-big-facts-background-and-key-details) That physical presence caught the attention of casting directors and led to his first work with Dyrdek, who hired him as a bodyguard for a [DC Shoes](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-shoes) skit; the two reprised their characters in *The DC Video: Deluxe Edition DVD*.[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php)
## Rob & Big
*Rob & Big* paired Dyrdek, a professional skateboarder from Ohio, with Boykin, a heavyset man from the South, in a reality series built around friendship, absurd challenges, and everyday comedy.[2](https://theoutline.com/post/1521/christopher-big-black-boykin-rob-big) • [7](https://clymagazine.com/isis-rae-boykin-big-blacks-daughter-and-legacy/) The show ran for three seasons from 2006 to 2008 and documented stunts and schemes, including building a ramp inside Dyrdek's Hollywood mansion.[2](https://theoutline.com/post/1521/christopher-big-black-boykin-rob-big) • [6](https://metabase.cityofsanctuary.org/article/what-happened-to-big-from-rob-and-big-facts-background-and-key-details) MTV premiered the first episode on iTunes, an early move for a television series at a time when online culture was still in its infancy.[2](https://theoutline.com/post/1521/christopher-big-black-boykin-rob-big)
Boykin's role on the show extended to record-setting stunts. While performing on *Rob & Big* he set two [Guinness World Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/guinness-world-records) showcasing his eating prowess: one for peeling and eating the most bananas in a minute, and one for eating the most powdered donuts in less than three minutes.[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php)
**Reception and criticism.** Contemporary commentary has been mixed about the show's premise. A retrospective in The Outline argued that Boykin's charm carried the show's humor and that he seemed present as a matter of pragmatism rather than a hunger for fame, which made him likeable; the same piece criticized the show's humor for relying on Boykin's size and race, and noted that Boykin was portrayed as living in a pint-sized room in Dyrdek's mansion.[2](https://theoutline.com/post/1521/christopher-big-black-boykin-rob-big) After the final season, rumors circulated about a falling out that allegedly began when Boykin lobbied for the two to appear on more even footing; in a 2010 radio interview Boykin spoke out about pay inequality on the show, which Dyrdek vehemently denied in 2016.[2](https://theoutline.com/post/1521/christopher-big-black-boykin-rob-big)
## Later career
Boykin and Dyrdek continued working together after *Rob & Big* on *Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory* and *[Ridiculousness](https://www.edgepedia.org/ridiculousness-tv-series)*; on *Ridiculousness* he guest-starred in three episodes in 2011, and a special titled "Big Black's Biggest & Best" aired in September 2017, months after his death.[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/86435/christopher-boykin) He also appeared in the video games *Skate* and *Skate 2*.[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php)
He broadened into acting roles in the 2010s, appearing on *[Shameless](https://www.edgepedia.org/shameless-american-tv-series)* (Showtime), *[Boss](https://www.edgepedia.org/boss-tv-series)* (Starz, 2011–12), *Chicago Fire* (NBC), *The Mob Doctor* (Fox, 2012–13), and *[Sirens](https://www.edgepedia.org/sirens-2014-tv-series)* (USA, 2013–15).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_boykin) He also turned his platform into a big and tall clothing brand.[2](https://theoutline.com/post/1521/christopher-big-black-boykin-rob-big) Accounts of his later years differ in tone: one retrospective states that after *Rob & Big* ended his career trajectory declined significantly amid struggles with substance abuse and legal troubles,[6](https://metabase.cityofsanctuary.org/article/what-happened-to-big-from-rob-and-big-facts-background-and-key-details) while a 2017 profile describes him as a comedian, bodyguard, world record holder, musician, businessman, and actor who began to fade from the spotlight after 2015.[4](https://gazettereview.com/2017/06/happened-christopher-big-black-boykin-now/)
## Death
On May 9, 2017, Boykin died of a heart attack in [Plano, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/plano-texas), at the age of 45; he had a history of heart ailments.[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php) He had a daughter, Isis Rae Boykin.[7](https://clymagazine.com/isis-rae-boykin-big-blacks-daughter-and-legacy/) An online memorial page for him drew 174 guest-book entries, many recalling his catchphrase "do work" and his effect on viewers.[8](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/christopher-boykin-memorial?pid=185343709)
## References
1. [Chris Boykin TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_boykin)
2. [The man who made 'Rob & Big' worth watching, The Outline (Jeff Ihaza, May 10, 2017)](https://theoutline.com/post/1521/christopher-big-black-boykin-rob-big)
3. [Christopher Boykin (Big Black) Biography, The Famous People](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-boykin-34896.php)
4. [What Happened to Christopher "Big Black" Boykin, Gazette Review (Cody Carmichael, June 21, 2017)](https://gazettereview.com/2017/06/happened-christopher-big-black-boykin-now/)
5. [Christopher Boykin, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/86435/christopher-boykin)
6. [What Happened To Big From Rob And Big, Metabase (Mara Ellison)](https://metabase.cityofsanctuary.org/article/what-happened-to-big-from-rob-and-big-facts-background-and-key-details)
7. [Isis Rae Boykin: Big Black's Daughter and Legacy, ClyMagazine](https://clymagazine.com/isis-rae-boykin-big-blacks-daughter-and-legacy/)
8. [Christopher Boykin Obituary and Online Memorial (2017), Legacy.com](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/christopher-boykin-memorial?pid=185343709)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Reality television personalities and media celebrities*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license