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Mike Epps

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Mike Epps
Epps holding a microphone, smiling
Epps in 2013
Birth nameMichael Elliot Epps
Born (1970-11-18) November 18, 1970 (age 53)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Medium
  • Stand-up
  • film
  • television
Years active1994–present
Genres
Spouse
Mechelle McCain
​
​
(m. 2006; div. 2017)​
Kyra Robinson
​
(m. 2019)​
Children7
Websitewww.mikeepps.com

Michael Elliot Epps (born November 18, 1970)[1] is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He played Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and its sequel, Friday After Next, and also appeared in The Hangover and The Hangover Part III as "Black Doug". He was the voice of main character Boog in Open Season 2, replacing Martin Lawrence, with whom he starred in the comedy Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, playing "Reggie", cousin of Roscoe (played by Lawrence). He played Lloyd Jefferson "L.J." Wayne in the films Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007). He has had starring roles in the sitcoms Uncle Buck and The Upshaws.

Early life

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Epps was born and raised in Indianapolis, 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.[4]

Career

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Stand-up comedy

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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.[5]

Acting

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Epps' first on-screen appearance came in Vin Diesel's second directorial film, Strays in 1997. In 1999, Epps was then cast as Ice Cube's co-star in the sequel, Next Friday. This followed 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.[6] Later that year, Epps had a cameo in 3 Strikes, and supported Jamie Foxx in Bait.

Epps had a voice role in the 2001 film 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 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. In 2014, Epps landed the coveted role of Richard Pryor in a planned Pryor biopic to be directed by Lee Daniels;[7][8] however, the project has remained in development hell. Epps did portray Pryor in the 2016 Nina Simone biopic Nina and in an episode of the HBO drama series Winning Time about the L.A. Lakers.[9]

Epps had a starring role in the 2016 comedy horror film Meet the Blacks and its 2021 sequel The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2. He also starred as the title character in the single-season 2016 sitcom Uncle Buck. Since 2021, he has been a main cast member on the Netflix sitcom The Upshaws.

Music

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Epps "hosted" the Jim Jones and Skull Gang album 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]

Epps has made cameo appearances in many music videos, mostly by hip hop artists, including "Gangsta Nation" (2003) by Westside Connection, "A Bay Bay" (2007) by Hurricane Chris, "No Effort" (2017) by Tee Grizzley,[13] and "Bank Account" (2017) by 21 Savage.[14]

Super Bowl XLVI

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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]

Controversies

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Epps has been criticized by disability campaigners for mocking physically and mentally disabled children in his stand-up act.[16]

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.[17]

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 should have never hurt an animal.[18]

Personal life

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Epps married OWN Network executive and Iyanla: Fix My Life producer Kyra Robinson, in Newport Beach, California, in June 2019.[19][20] He was previously married to Mechelle McCain, whom he wed in July 2006. The pair lived in Beverly Hills, California together until they divorced in September 2017.[21]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 Vera's Initiation Simon Short
1997 Strays Mike
1999 Shelly Fisher Esquire Jones Television film
2000 Next Friday 'Day-Day' Jones
3 Strikes Crackhead
Bait Stevie Sanders
2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Sonny Voice
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 Resident Evil: Apocalypse Lloyd Jefferson 'L.J.' Wayne
2005 Letter to the President Himself Direct-to-video
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
The Grand Reggie Marshall
Bigg Snoop Dogg Presents: The Adventures of Tha Blue Carpet Treatment Himself Voice, direct-to-video
Open Season 2 Boog Voice, direct-to-video
Soul Men Duane Henderson
2009 Next Day Air Brody
The Hangover 'Black Doug'
Janky Promoters Jellyroll
2010 Love Chronicles: Secrets Revealed Black Direct-to-video
Lottery Ticket Reverend Taylor
Ghetto Stories Lawn Service Worker
Faster Roy 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 'Black Doug'
2014 School Dance Principal Jimmy Rodgers
2015 Bessie Richard Television film
7th and Westlake —
Stealing Cars Sheriff Emmit 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 Uncle Drew Louis
Acts of Violence Max Livington
Love Jacked Rufus
Death Wish Dr. Chris Salgado
Supercon Gil Burkhaulter
Don't Get Caught Next Door Neighbor Direct-to-video
2019 The Last Black Man in San Francisco Bobby
Troop Zero Dwayne Boudraux
The Trap Dutch
How High 2 Baby Powder[22] Television film
The Cat and the Moon Cal
Dolemite Is My Name Jimmy
2020 A Compton Story Narrator Short
2021 The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 Carl Black
2022 On the Come Up DJ Hype
2023 You People Uncle EJ
Young. Wild. Free. Lamont
2024 The Underdoggs Kareem [23]
Madame Web O'Neil

Television

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Mike Epps television work
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Def Comedy Jam Himself Episode: "Episode #5.9"
1999 The Sopranos Jerome Episode: "46 Long"
2004 Def Poetry Jam Himself Episode: "Episode #4.7"
Judge Mooney Dion TV series
2005 It's the Shoes Himself Episode: "Quentin Richardson and Mike Epps"
2006 Def Comedy Jam Himself Host
The Boondocks Moe "Mo Gunz" Jackson (voice) Episode: "Wingmen"
2009 World's Dumbest Himself Episode: "Drivers 12"
2009–2012 BET Hip Hop Awards Himself Host
2010 Funk Flex Full Throttle Himself Episode: "Episode #1.2"
2014 Ridiculouness Himself Episode: "Mike Epps"
Real Husbands of Hollywood Himself Episode: "A Blurred 47 1/2 Hours"
2014–2016 Survivor's Remorse Uncle Julius Main cast (seasons 1–2); recurring cast (season 3)
2015 That's Racist with Mike Epps Himself Host
2016 Uncle Buck Buck Russell Main cast
2017 All Def Movie Awards Himself Host
Hollywood Game Night Himself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Keep It Unreal"
Hip Hop Squares Himself Episode: "Kent Jones vs. Nick Young"
Star Jay Holland Episode: "The Winner Takes it All"
2020 You Ain't Got These Himself Episode: "Intro"
This Is Stand-Up Himself Episode: "Episode #1.2"
Stumptown Antonio Price Episode: "Reality Checks Don't Bounce"
BlackAF Uncle Ray Episode: "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery"
2021 Superstar Himself Episode: "Richard Pryor"
2021–present The Upshaws Bennie Upshaw Main cast
2022 Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Richard Pryor Episode: "Memento Mori"
2023 I'm a Virgo Martisse Main cast
2024 Lady in the Lake TBA Upcoming miniseries

Comedy specials

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Mike Epps comedy specials
Year Title Notes
2006 Mike Epps: Inappropriate Behavior
2009 Mike Epps: Under Rated... Never Faded & X-Rated
2015 Mike Epps: Don't Take It Personal Netflix
2019 Mike Epps: Only One Mike
2022 Mike Epps: Indiana Mike
2024 Mike Epps: Ready to Sell Out

Music videos

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Mike Epps music video work
Year Song Artist
2002 "How Come You Don't Call Me" Alicia Keys
"Nothin'" NORE
"Whatchulookinat" Whitney Houston
2003 "Gangsta Nation" Westside Connection
2004 "Never Forget" Napoleon
2005 "ASAP" T.I.
2006 "What You Know" T.I.
"Why We Thugs" Ice Cube
2007 "Ay Bay Bay" Hurricane Chris
"Baby" Angie Stone featuring Betty Wright
2008 "I'm Lit" Square Off
2009 "I Don't Know Y'all" Young Dro
2011 "Mrs. Right" Mindless Behavior featuring Diggy Simmons
"I'm on Everything" Bad Meets Evil
2013 "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" Kendrick Lamar
2014 "No Flex Zone!" Rae Sremmurd
2015 "Ayo" Chris Brown and Tyga
2017 "No Effort" Tee Grizzley
"Bank Account" 21 Savage
2019 "Let Bygones Be Bygones" Snoop Dogg

Documentaries

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Mike Epps documentary work
Year Title
1998 Pimps Up, Ho's Down
2011 Phunny Business: A Black Comedy
I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac
2013 Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
2015 Sneakerheadz
2016 Dying Laughing
2019 I Am Richard Pryor
Napoleon: Life of an Outlaw

Discography

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Albums

Singles

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

Guest appearances

References

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  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 returns to Fayetteville tonight". fayobserver.com.
  5. ^ Mike Epps. VSU Multi-Purpose Center (October 13, 2017). Retrieved on March 17, 2020
  6. ^ "Catching Up With...: Mike Epps". backstage.com.
  7. ^ "Richard Pryor Movie – Mike Epps Gets the Lead, Not Nick Cannon". TMZ. August 26, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "Richard Pryor Jr.: Nick Cannon Should Play My Dad ... If I Can't (VIDEO)". TMZ. July 17, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Mike Epps Set As Richard Pryor, Three Others Cast In HBO's L.A. Lakers Drama Series". Deadline. June 21, 2021.
  10. ^ DOM KENNEDY Mike Epps, April 6, 2009, archived from the original on September 22, 2021, retrieved September 23, 2021
  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. ^ ABA Publishing. Americanbar.org. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  17. ^ "Arrest Warrant Issued For Mike Epps – Black America Web". Black America Web. June 3, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ Mike Epps Weds Kyra Robinson In Star-Studded Ceremony. MadameNoire. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  20. ^ Grant, Jasmine. (June 24, 2019) Mike Epps and Kyra Robinson Are Married!. Essence. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 4, 2022). "Snoop Dogg's MGM Comedy 'The Underdoggs' Sets Ensemble With Tika Sumpter, Mike Epps, Andrew Schulz & George Lopez". deadine.com. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
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