Mike Epps

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Mike Epps
Mike Epps - Houston 2013 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Epps in 2013
Birth nameMichael Elliot Epps
Born (1970-11-18) November 18, 1970 (age 50)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Medium
  • Film
  • television
  • stand-up
Years active1989–present
Genres
SpouseMechelle McCain (2006–2017)
Kyra Robinson (2019-)
Children6
Relative(s)Omar Epps (cousin)
Websitewww.mikeepps.com

Michael Elliot Epps (born November 18, 1970)[1] is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and its sequel, Friday After Next, and also appearing in The Hangover and The Hangover Part III as "Black Doug". He was the voice of Boog in Open Season 2, replacing Martin Lawrence, with whom he starred the comedy Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, playing "Reggie", cousin of Roscoe (played by Lawrence). As of 2010, Epps was the executive producer on a documentary about the life story of a former member of Tupac Shakur's Outlawz, Napoleon: Life of an Outlaw. He is also known for playing Lloyd Jefferson "L.J." Wade in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007).

Early life[]

Epps was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of Mary Reed and Tommie Epps.[2][3] In his adulthood Epps moved to Brooklyn to star in Def Comedy Jam in 1994. Epps ended up on the Def Comedy Jam tour and starred in two of HBO's Def Comedy Jam broadcasts.[4] His first cousin is actor Omar Epps (Omar's mother and Mike's father are brother and sister).[5]

Career[]

Stand-up comedy[]

Epps began his professional career by joining the Def Comedy Jam tour in 1995 and starred in two of HBO's Def Comedy Jam broadcasts. He has been criticized by disability campaigners for mocking physically and mentally disabled children.[6]

Film career[]

Epps' first on-screen appearance came in Vin Diesel's directorial debut, Strays in 1997. In 1999, Epps was then cast as Ice Cube's co-star (effectively, Chris Tucker's replacement) in the sequel, Next Friday. This came after weeks of auditions after Ice Cube attended a stand-up set Epps did, and then asked Epps to try out for the role of Day-Day Jones.[citation needed] His role as Day-Day Jones was a breakthrough for the new actor, who was already familiar to much of the audience from his stand-up work[citation needed]. Later that year, Epps had a cameo in 3 Strikes, and supported Jamie Foxx in Bait.

Epps had a voice role in the 2001 movie Dr. Dolittle 2 as Sonny the Bear and finished the year with a featured role as comical pimp Baby Powder in How High, starring Method Man and Redman. Epps reunited with Ice Cube in 2002 as the bumbling thief to Ice Cube's bounty hunter in All About the Benjamins, and again re-teamed with Cube in Friday's second sequel Friday After Next. Epps also voiced another bear character (Boog) in the 2008 film Open Season 2 after Martin Lawrence declined the role. In 2010, Epps also released a stand-up comedy special, Under Rated & Never Faded, and hosted the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards. Epps' name has become synonymous with a particular style of humor, through his appearance with several other African-American artists in the same genre.[citation needed] Aside from featuring Cube, the common thread of these films was the hilarious prominence of marijuana-smoking comic characters, like the ones portrayed by Epps.

Epps most recently starred alongside Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston in the 2012 remake of Sparkle, in his first non-comedic role as the main antagonist, Satin, a stand-up comic by day, an evil and abusive drug kingpin by night, who is engaged in an affair with the titular character's sister. Epps' performance was well received by critics and audiences. Epps is currently working on a baseball-themed movie, entitled Bad Behavior, alongside the teen quartet Mindless Behavior, in which he plays their coach, André Parker. On August 26, 2014, it was announced that Epps landed the coveted role of Richard Pryor in the upcoming biopic directed by Lee Daniels,[7] despite Nick Cannon very publicly campaigning for the role and Pryor's family stating that Marlon Wayans or Terrence Howard should get the role.[8] Epps will star alongside Oprah Winfrey, who will play Pryor's abusive grandmother Marie Carter.[9]

Music[]

Epps had a small part in the 2007 song A Bay Bay by Hurricane Chris, doing the Rick James move. He appeared in the music video "Gangsta Nation" by Westside Connection. He also hosted a Jim Jones and Skull Gang album entitled Jim Jones & Skull Gang Present A Tribute To Bad Santa Starring Mike Epps. Epps has also made a song called "Trying to Be a Gangsta" with Pooh Bear.

Epps also hosted G Unit's 2008 mixtape Elephant In The Sand, appearing on the track Hollow Thru Him. Epps also has a song called "Big Girls", which came out in 2008. It was originally recorded by Bow Wow featuring Yung Joc. The song is currently on iTunes and can be found on his album, Funny Bidness: Da Album, which was released October 27, 2009. Epps also has featured in rapper French Montana's Mac Wit Da Cheese mixtape, which was released on April 19, 2009. Epps has also featured on the Dom Kennedy song "Intro/Hard Work" on his FutureStreet/DrugSounds mixtape.[10]

Part of his stand-up comedy in Under Rated & Never Faded was sampled for the song "I'm On Everything" by Bad Meets Evil on their first EP, Hell: The Sequel[11] and on the track "Runaway", from J. Cole's second album Born Sinner. Mike Epps was also known in his hometown of Indianapolis as the CEO of Naptown Records.[citation needed] In 2006 he signed local artist Philthyphil.[citation needed] This artist had just been released from prison after serving three years for a drug indictment in which he was the suspected distributor of large amounts of narcotics.[citation needed] The record deal which was reportedly worth $175,000 was later terminated after Phillip "Philthyphil" White was charged with first-degree murder in Oakland, CA in 2007.[12] Reports state that Phillip "Philthyphil" White was also said to be the sole mastermind behind the drug distribution which ran as far as Atlanta, Georgia and his hometown of Muncie, Indiana.[citation needed] Epps appears in the Tee Grizzley music video of "No Effort".[13] He also appears in 21 Savage's "Bank Account" music video.[14]

Super Bowl XLVI[]

Epps served as the "Super Bowl ambassador" in his native Indianapolis for the 2012 Super Bowl. He was featured in commercials promoting the Super Bowl Village and he made special appearances in the Village during the week of the Super Bowl.[15]

2014 Atlanta incident[]

On June 1, 2014, Epps purportedly assaulted fellow stand-up comedian LaVar Walker outside of the Uptown Comedy Club. It was stated Epps and two of his bodyguards did this in response to Walker making a parody video about Epps and comedian Kevin Hart. Epps allegedly struck him in the face and kicked him in the stomach and back, while one of the other two men threw the victim's cellphone and crushed his prescription glasses. Atlanta Police issued a warrant for Epps' arrest two days later on June 3.[16]

Kangaroo incident[]

Around mid-2017, Epps received criticism for bringing a kangaroo onto the stage during one of his shows. Many noted the animal looked distressed, with Epps grabbing and holding it against its will. Epps later apologized, saying it was completely unscripted and that he would never hurt an animal.[17]

Personal life[]

Epps is married to OWN Network executive and Iyanla: Fix My Life producer Kyra Robinson.[18] Epps and Robinson married in Newport Beach, California in June 2019.[19] Epps was previously married to Mechelle McCain, whom he married in July 2006. Epps and McCain lived in Beverly Hills, California together until they divorced in September 2017.[20]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Note
1996 Vera's Initiation Simon Short
1997 Strays Mike
1998 Pimps Up, Ho's Down Himself Documentary
1999 Shelly Fisher Esquire Jones TV movie
2000 Next Friday 'Day-Day' Jones
3 Strikes Crackhead
Bait Stevie Sanders
2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Sonny (Kodiak Bear) Voice only
How High Baby Powder
2002 All About the Benjamins Reginald Wright
Friday After Next Day-Day / Old Man with Shotgun
2003 Malibu's Most Wanted Rap-Battle Host
The Fighting Temptations Lucius
2004 Still 'Bout It Bobby Ray Video
Resident Evil: Apocalypse Lloyd Jefferson 'L.J.' Wade
2005 Guess Who The Cab Driver
The Honeymooners Ed Norton
Roll Bounce Byron
2006 Something New Walter
2007 Talk to Me Milo Hughes
Resident Evil: Extinction Lloyd Jefferson 'L.J.' Wade
2008 Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Reggie Jenkins
Hancock Criminal
Bigg Snoop Dogg Presents: The Adventures of Tha Blue Carpet Treatment Himself Voice only
Open Season 2 Boog Voice only
Soul Men Duane Henderson
2009 Next Day Air Brody
The Hangover Doug 'Black Doug'
Janky Promoters Jellyroll
2010 Love Chronicles: Secrets Revealed Black Video
Lottery Ticket Reverend Taylor
Ghetto Stories Lawn Service Worker
Faster Grone
2011 Jumping the Broom Willie Earl
35 and Ticking Harold
2012 Mac & Devin Go to High School Boyce Armstrong
Sparkle 'Satin' Struthers
2013 Repentance Ben Carter
The Hangover Part III Doug 'Black Doug'
2014 School Dance Principal Jimmy Rodgers
2015 Bessie Richard TV movie
7th and Westlake Guy
Stealing Cars Sheriff Bryan Till
2016 Fifty Shades of Black Ron
Meet the Blacks Carl Black
Nina Richard Pryor
Term Life Darryl Mosley
What are the Chances? Next door neighbor
2017 Girls Trip Absinthe Dealer
Where's the Money Dre
2018 Acts of Violence Max Livington
Love Jacked Rufus
Death Wish Dr. Chris Salgado
Supercon Gil Burkhaulter
Don't Get Caught The Next Door Neighbor Video
Uncle Drew Louis
2019 The Last Black Man in San Francisco Bobby
Troop Zero Dwayne Boudraux
The Trap 'Dutch'
How High 2 Baby Powder TV movie[21]
The Cat and the Moon Cal
Dolemite Is My Name Jimmy
2021 The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 Carl Black

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1999 The Sopranos Jerome Episode: "46 Long"
2002 All About the Stunts
2004 Judge Mooney Dion TV Series
2005 106 & Park 1 episode
2005 Letter to the President
1995–2006 Def Comedy Jam 5 episodes
2006 Inappropriate Behavior
2006 The Unsuccessful Thug Himself TV Series
2006 The Boondocks Moe "Mo Gunz" Jackson Episode: "Wingmen"
2009–2012 BET Hip Hop Awards Himself/Host
2013 Wild 'n Out Himself
2014 Ridiculouness Himself/L.J.
2014–2015 Survivor's Remorse Uncle Julius
2015 That's Racist with Mike Epps Himself
2016 Uncle Buck Buck Russell
2020 BlackAF Uncle Ray 1 episode
2021 The Upshaws Bennie Upshaw 10 episodes

Comedy Special[]

Year Title Role Note
2015 Mike Epps: Don't Take It Personal Himself Stand-up comedy special

Music videos[]

Discography[]

Studio albums
Collaboration albums
Guest Appearances

Singles[]

  • "Big Girls" (2008)
  • "Trying to Be a Gangsta" (2009)
  • "Aint Chu You?" (2009)

References[]

  1. ^ "Mike Epps Biography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  2. ^ Bonnie Britton, "Epps offers encouragement", Indianapolis Star, January 20, 2000.
  3. ^ Bonnie Britton, "Mike Epps is our homie, not Gary's, actor's dad says", Indianapolis Star, September 24, 2000.
  4. ^ Mike Epps. VSU Multi-Purpose Center (October 13, 2017). Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  5. ^ "Familiar Stranger: Comedian Mike Epps". Washington Post. February 24, 2010.
  6. ^ ABA Publishing. Americanbar.org. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  7. ^ "Richard Pryor Movie – Mike Epps Gets the Lead, Not Nick Cannon". TMZ. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "Richard Pryor Jr.: Nick Cannon Should Play My Dad ... If I Can't (VIDEO)". TMZ. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Oprah Winfrey – I'm Gonna Be a Whorehouse Madam in Richard Pryor Movie". TMZ. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  10. ^ DOM KENNEDY Mike Epps. Youtube
  11. ^ (New Music) Eminem Feat. Royce Da 5'9 – I'm On Everything Archived April 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. JustShady.com (May 27, 2011). Retrieved on September 1, 2012.
  12. ^ "Man shot to death Friday night while driving car in East Oakland". East Bay Times. June 30, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Tee Grizzley Shares "No Effort" Video With Mike Epps". The FADER. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  14. ^ Mike Epps Carries Around Enormous Teddy Bear in 21 Savage's 'Bank Account' Video. Billboard. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  15. ^ Super Bowl Village Archived January 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Arrest Warrant Issued For Mike Epps – Black America Web". Black America Web. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  17. ^ "US entertainer Mike Epps apologises after bringing kangaroo on stage in Detroit – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  18. ^ Mike Epps Weds Kyra Robinson In Star-Studded Ceremony. MadameNoire. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  19. ^ Grant, Jasmine. (June 24, 2019) Mike Epps and Kyra Robinson Are Married!. Essence. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  20. ^ Mike Epps's Wife Puts Him on Blast Again Over Their Messy Divorce | Mike Epps | Celebrities. BET (May 18, 2017). Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  21. ^ Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie (March 7, 2019). "'How High 2': Mike Epps To Reprise Baby Powder Role In MTV Sequel; Premiere Date Set". Deadline Hollywood.

External links[]

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