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The Detroit native had moved out to the West Coast in 2001 to pursue a career in comedy after becoming a favorite on Detroit airwaves and the stand-up circuit as a teenager. He had minor roles in the films “Ali,” “8 Mile” and “Roll Bounce,” but was still waiting for his big break when Ben Stiller called, offering him a role in his latest comedy, “Tropic Thunder,” the highly-anticipated comedy storming theaters this week.

“I was like, ŒAre you serious? Because I’m sitting here with some chicken and beef ramen right now,’” Jackson said. “But it felt great.”

Jackson was cast in the role of Alpa Chino (say it out loud), a successful rapper and entrepreneur who tries to fit product placement for his new drink, Booty Sweat, into every movie. Chino is cast alongside action star Tug Speedman (Stiller), comedian Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and Method actor Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) in the biggest war epic ever made, which goes awry when the actors unknowingly run afoul of drug runners in the jungles of Vietnam.

Many of the film’s biggest laughs come from the interaction between Alpa Chino and Lazarus, who has been hired to play the platoon’s black sergeant, even though he’s a white man from Australia. Downey appears dressed in makeup as a black man throughout the movie, and Jackson’s job is to convey the proper mix of outrage and offense, letting moviegoers realize the filmmakers are in on the joke and it’s OK to laugh.

“When I first heard (Downey) was going to play the role, I was like ŒWhat?’” Jackson laughs. “When I saw him and heard the voice, that really freaked me out because he was so into the role ... My mom came to the set one day and thought he was Don Cheadle.”

Although Jackson’s role is relatively minor compared with the comedic superstars who take center stage, he is crucial in making sure the race-related humor is funny and doesn’t send audiences running for the exits.

“I’m kind of like the voice for the black audience in this. I had to make sure he had his black on straight because, otherwise, it could ruin all of our careers,” he said.

The result is a hilarious career highlight for Downey, still riding high after the monstrous success of “Iron Man” earlier this summer. The character comes across as a dig at Method actors, and Jackson shows a wonderful sense of timing in conveying Alpa Chino’s outrage and utter shock at the entire affair.

In a movie filled with three superstars - plus an uproarious movie-stealing cameo from one of Hollywood’s most famous faces - it would be easy for Jackson to go unnoticed as just another face filling the screen. But Jackson, working with Stiller and screenwriter Justin Theroux, creates a fully-dimensional comedic character, a rapper who is an entrepreneur, commentator on race relations and a really big “Scarface” fan.

“(The name) was really a Justin Theroux creation. At first it was just a really silly name, but then we started talking and I just think it’s really funny that someone would be so obsessed with ŒScarface’ that they would change their name to sound like his, only spelled Alpa Chino,” Jackson said. “It was cool. I got to really bring a lot to the character. It could have just been another token character, just another black rapper, but they really created a great role.”

With “Tropic Thunder” storming theaters this week, Jackson is witnessing the biggest film release and role of his career. Several critics have already praised his work in holding his own among Stiller, Black and Downey - praise which Jackson said is truly unexpected.

“It feels great that people are liking the movie and have been mentioning my work,” he said. “It’s amazing and it’s really a blessing.”

In the seven years since moving out to Hollywood, Jackson has worked in films alongside Will Smith, Eminem, Chi McBride, and now Stiller, Downey and Black. He said his plan now is to focus on moving forward as a comedian whose work is appreciated by people of all races.

“I hate to mention other actors and say I want to be just like them, but I definitely think Will Smith is the model for where I want to go,” he said. “I want to do things where there’s no color. I definitely want to be doing things that appeal to everyone.”

Jackson recently finished a film called “Rogue’s Gallery,” with Ving Rhames, Bob Odenkirk and others.

“It’s really a bizarre action comedy about assassins,” Jackson said. “I pick my projects very carefully and really read each script, so it allows me to work with some great people like this.”

But right now, Jackson said he’s happy to be celebrating the release of a film that’s sure to be one of the big comedy hits of the year.

“The most memorable part (of the shoot was) when I looked to my left and saw Ben Stiller, and then to my right and saw Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr.,” Jackson said. “We were in the jungle, and were tired and holding M-16s, and I just though ŒWow, I’m in a big war movie.’ It was pretty great.”

“Tropic Thunder” is now playing in local theaters and is rated R.