Iman Crosson (born 1982 or 1983),[1] better known by his stage nameAlphacat, is an American actor, impressionist, and YouTube personality known for hisimpersonations of former U.S. PresidentBarack Obama and his starring role in independent filmAlong the Roadside.
On December 14, 2005, Crosson opened a YouTube account with screen name Alphacat. In July 2008, at the urging of his fellow waiters, Crosson created spoof videos of then-U.S. presidential candidateBarack Obama.[1]
During the summer of the 2008U.S. Presidential election campaign, Crosson's 30-second video wonDenny's Restaurant's nationwide contest for the bestimpressionist of the then-candidateBarack Obama.[2] He said that he "went from unemployed to self-employed in literally a matter of a month." Crosson moved from New York to California, obtained an agent specializing in helping talent cross over from online to mainstream, and was invited to be onAmerica's Got Talent.[1]
On YouTube, Crosson specialized in mashing up his Obama impersonations with hip-hop songs, his spoofs of Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" and T.I.'s "Whatever I Like" being viewed 20 million times each.[3]
After Obama's January 2009 inauguration, Crosson was featured on several entertainment and news television shows, blogs, and newspapers. Crosson was called a "YouTube sensation" byFox News'Neil Cavuto.[4]
Crosson's post-inaugural work included voice-overs inNewsweek'sThe District, a video series in which Crosson narrated Obama's first months inWashington from the President's point of view.[5] Crosson impersonated Obama at the 66th AnnualRadio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner on March 17, 2010.[6]
Crosson was among YouTube content creators who met at the White House in February 2014 with U.S. President Obama to start a dialogue about health insurance awareness and enrollment, as well as anti-bullying, education, and economic opportunity.[7]
In December 2013, Crosson contributed to anAffordable Care Act social media campaign by releasing a video spoof ofSnoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot."[9] In February 2014, YouTube content creators including Crosson met with U.S. President Obama at the White House to discuss ways in which government could connect with the content creators' viewers, concerning awareness of and enrollment in health insurance policies and other issues.[7][10]
^Denny's press release of August 28, 2008, entitled "Americans Select Best Presidential Posers, Denny's 'Vote For Real' Contest Names Best Impersonators" (archive).
^"The District Ep. 1 The Challenges We Face – Newsweek.com" video (archive) which aired on newsweek.com on February 2, 2009, and was posted on YouTube's "NewsweekVideo" channel (archive) on February 4, 2009. The word "District" refers to theDistrict of Columbia (DC), the U.S. capital.The District season finale "'The District' | Ep. 9 | Season Finale -- video.newsweek.com" (archive) aired on March 30, 2009.
Media related toIman Crosson at Wikimedia Commons