bring any VOC ticket to a house show in branson for 1/2 off a home show.
Remembering the Legends of Laughter
Honoring the voices that shaped the laughter of the Veterans of Comedy Foundation
Our Tribute
In Loving Memory of Tarik “Tai Fu Panda” Shakeer Hopkins
May 20, 1975 – May 22, 2024
Tarik Shakeer Hopkins, 49, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Kansas City VA Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.
Tarik was born on Tuesday, May 20, 1975, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the son of Elijah Hopkins and Loraine Albritton Hopkins, and the beloved husband of Monique Carson Hopkins.
Known on stage and to many who loved him as “Tai Fu Panda,” Tarik was the definition of unstoppable. A no-holds-barred comic with a fearless style, he had a rare gift: the ability to walk into any room, connect with any audience, and leave people laughing hard—no matter where they came from or what they’d been through. Tai Fu believed funny is funny, and he proved it everywhere he went.
Tarik’s comedy carried him to places most comics only dream about—and some dread—with a boldness and heart that made him unforgettable. He traveled the world with pride, performing for troops at home and overseas, using humor as a way to lift spirits, build connection, and remind service members they were seen.
An Army veteran who called the Kansas City area home, Tarik lived with courage, purpose, and a deep love for people. His legacy lives on in the laughter he created, the lives he touched, and the memories that will never fade.
We honor Tarik not only for his service, but for the joy he brought into the world.