Doris Hancox Dreamt of an Onscreen Career & Her Son Anthony Anderson Made It a Reality

Doris Hancox wanted to be a Hollywood star all her life. Her son, Anthony Anderson, made her dream come true. Anthony Anderson's mother made a name for herself when she worked with her son on two television shows.

Hancox married Stephen Bowman, Anderson's stepfather, years ago. However, it's unclear if the two are still together; this was after Anderson said his mother was single during an interview with talk show host Jimmie Kimmel.

Anderson, a celebrated actor, and entertainer, then tried to help his mother find a man out on the streets of L.A.'s Hollywood Boulevard, where he checked out some potential suitors for her.

Anthony Anderson Has a Special Bond with His Mother

In an interview with TODAY, Anderson revealed that he is close to his mother and that she accompanies him everywhere he goes. The two co-host the "To Tell The Truth" game show aired on ABC.

Anderson and his mother have worked on several projects together. Recently, the duo traveled to Europe in October 2022 to shoot an E! reality show, "Anthony Anderson and Mom: European Vacation," which will premiere in 2023.

In 2017, Anderson stated that he was proud to be a mama's boy and opened up about the relationship he shares with Hancox:

"I have a very special relationship with my mother."

Anderson stated that his mother is his best friend, and they have a fun relationship inside and outside work. He also revealed that he inherited his sense of humor from his mother.

The actor disclosed that Hancox couldn't pursue her acting dream because she became a teen mom, so she had to put her vision on hold.

The award-winning actor said that because of his success in the entertainment industry and his connections, he was happy to give his mother an opportunity she never had. He added that he felt good seeing her be her authentic self, live her dream, and become a star in her own right.

Anderson Made His Mother a Co-host of the "To Tell the Truth" Show

Their game show "To Tell The Truth" goes way back to the 1950s, and the original host was Bud Collyer. Over the years, the show has had many updates and edits. Currently, entertainer Anderson hosts the show alongside his mother, Hancox, popularly known as Mama Doris.

The show features four celebrity judges who are presented with three contestants. Their job is to determine which of the participants tell lies.

Even though not many people can mix work and family, the Emmy nominee stated that working with his mother has been fulfilling. He jokingly said that he works with her because he realized through that, she's able to earn more money:

"I embraced it because I realized years ago that the network could write a much bigger check to my mother than I could."

Anthony Anderson also explained that his mother wanted to be an actress growing up, so he was glad she could live her dream through him.

Speaking about co-hosting with his mother on the show, the "Law and Order" actor said that their approach to presenting the show makes it successful. Anderson also said he loves sharing the spotlight with his mother and finds it fun working with her.

However, in 2021, amid the covid-19 pandemic, Doris Hancox went missing in action on some episodes, and her son hosted the show alone.

Anderson added that the show also showcases how he relates with his mom, given that the two come from different generations and have lived in the same house but differ in opinion.

The show about lying and getting caught made Anderson disclose how he once lied to his mom, and she found out. He gave an incident where his mother had enrolled him in piano lessons, but they didn't own one then.

So, he took her credit card and ordered a baby grand piano; however, when it got delivered, he played dumb, but his mother realized.

Once Doris Hancox Disappeared from the Show for a Couple of Weeks, This Is How the Audience Reacted

In 2021, Anderson's mother took a break from the game show, and her absentia attracted many Twitter fans' comments asking her whereabouts.

One fan said she would only participate in the show if Doris were there. She tagged Anderson and asked him where his mother was and if she was okay. Another fan asked, "Where is Mama Doris on #totellthetruth? It's been two weeks."

Anderson's mother won the hearts of many on the show where she's in charge of scorekeeping. Her personality, which brings out her comical side, makes many fans never want to miss an episode.

However, in 2021, amid the covid-19 pandemic, Doris Hancox went missing in action on some episodes, and her son hosted the show alone. Many fans were concerned and raised eyebrows, wondering if she had left the show or was just taking a short break.

Following her absentia, the game show didn't receive much reception from its viewers, and it is unclear if she took a break because of contract issues. Regardless, Hancox is now back on the show, and the causes of her disappearance remain unknown.

Anthony Anderson's mother joined the game show after she impressed the producers with her appearance in "Family Feud."