Kevin Hart and Thai Randolph on comedy, connection and bringing Hartbeat to Cannes

The 43-year-old actor and comedian, known for his indefatigable work ethic and relentless positivity, has been a force in advertising for years. A lot of that has been driven by sheer force of personality—he’s personally fronted a huge number of projects, and the company is forged in his image and even carries his name. The man and the brand, in many ways, are one.

But as he looks to scale Hartbeat into a global media force, Hart recognizes it needs to extend well beyond him. Growing the company, rather than his personal brand, he says, is what most excites him these days.

“The star of Kevin isn’t getting any bigger. I’m thankful for it, I’m appreciative of it, but my focus and my priority are the company and the brand,” he said. “Our opportunity to grow is where I really, really get hyped.”

A growing media empire

It’s been an eventful few years for Hart and his business ventures. In April 2022, he merged his two entertainment entities—digital comedy network Laugh Out Loud and production company Hartbeat Productions—to form the new Hartbeat. The company includes Hartbeat Studios, which finances, develops and produces original content; Hartbeat Media, which is involved in events, gaming, music publishing and Web3, and also serves as the company’s distribution arm; and Hartbeat Pulse, a branded entertainment studio and marketing consultancy.

At the time of the merger, the company announced a $100 million investment by private equity firm Abry Partners—which is helping the company to scale quicker. NBCUniversal’s Peacock, which signed a multiyear, first-look deal with Laugh Out Loud and acquired an equity stake in 2020, remains a shareholder. (Hart is involved in a slew of other businesses, too, from a chain of vegan fast food restaurants to a line of tequila and more.)

Branded projects created through Pulse are a growing focus. Hart has proven adept at developing original IP with brands, going back to “Cold as Balls,” a digital series sponsored by Procter & Gamble’s Old Spice in which he interviews athletes while they’re sitting in locker-room ice baths. The series, which launched in 2018 and is now in its eighth season, has racked up more than 1.4 billion views to date.