Mike Epps | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Epps in 2013 | |
| Born | Michael Elliot Epps (1970-11-18)November 18, 1970 (age 55) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 7 |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Medium |
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| Genres | |
| Website | www |
Michael Elliot Epps (born November 18, 1970)[1] is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He played Day-Day Jones inNext Friday and its sequel,Friday After Next, and also appeared inThe Hangover andThe Hangover Part III as "Black Doug". He was the voice of main character Boog inOpen Season 2, replacingMartin Lawrence, with whom he starred in the comedyWelcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, playing "Reggie", cousin of Roscoe (played by Lawrence). He played Lloyd Jefferson "L.J." Wayne in theResident Evil films (2004–2007) and O'Neil in theSony's Spider-Man Universe filmMadame Web (2024). he has had starring roles in the sitcomsUncle Buck andThe Upshaws.
Epps was born and raised inIndianapolis, the son of Mary Reed and Tommie Epps.[2][3] In his adulthood, Epps moved toBrooklyn to star inDef Comedy Jam in 1994.[4]
Epps began his professional career by joining theDef Comedy Jam tour in 1995 and starred in two ofHBO'sDef Comedy Jam broadcasts.[5]
Epps' first on-screen appearance came inVin Diesel's second directorial film,Strays in 1997. In 1999, Epps was then cast asIce 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 in3 Strikes, and supportedJamie Foxx inBait.
Epps had a voice role in the 2001 filmDr. Dolittle 2 as Sonny the Bear and finished the year with a featured role as comical pimp Baby Powder inHow High, starringMethod Man andRedman. Epps reunited with Ice Cube in 2002 as the bumbling thief to Ice Cube's bounty hunter inAll About the Benjamins, and again re-teamed with Cube in Friday's second sequelFriday After Next. He played Lloyd Jefferson "L.J." Wayne in the filmsResident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) andResident Evil: Extinction (2007). Epps also voiced another bear character (Boog) in the 2008 filmOpen Season 2 afterMartin Lawrence declined the role; he previously worked with Lawrence in the comedyWelcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008), playing "Reggie", cousin of Roscoe (played by Lawrence). He played "Black Doug" inThe Hangover (2009) andThe Hangover Part III (2013). In 2010, Epps also released a stand-up comedy special,Under Rated & Never Faded, and hosted the2010 BET Hip Hop Awards.
Epps starred alongsideJordin Sparks andWhitney Houston in the 2012 remake ofSparkle, 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 ofRichard Pryor in a planned Pryor biopic to be directed byLee Daniels;[7][8] however, the project has remained indevelopment hell. Epps did portray Pryor in the 2016Nina Simone biopicNina and in an episode of theHBO drama seriesWinning Time about theL.A. Lakers.[9]
Epps had a starring role in the 2016 comedy horror filmMeet the Blacks and its 2021 sequelThe House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2. He also starred as the title character in the single-season 2016 sitcomUncle Buck. Since 2021, he has been a main cast member on theNetflix sitcomThe Upshaws.
Epps "hosted" theJim Jones andSkull Gang albumJim 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 hostedG Unit's 2008 mixtapeElephant 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 byBow Wow featuringYung Joc. The song is currently oniTunes 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'sMac Wit Da Cheese mixtape, which was released on April 19, 2009. Epps has also featured on theDom Kennedy song "Intro/Hard Work" on hisFutureStreet/DrugSounds mixtape.[10]
Part of his stand-up comedy inUnder Rated & Never Faded was sampled for the song "I'm On Everything" byBad Meets Evil on their first EP,Hell: The Sequel[11] and on the track "Runaway", fromJ. Cole's second albumBorn 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 manymusic videos, mostly byhip hop artists, including "Gangsta Nation" (2003) byWestside Connection, "A Bay Bay" (2007) byHurricane Chris, "No Effort" (2017) byTee Grizzley,[13] and "Bank Account" (2017) by21 Savage.[14]
Epps served as the "Super Bowl ambassador" in his nativeIndianapolis for the2012 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]
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 comedianLaVar 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 comedianKevin 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 controversy 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]
Epps marriedOWN Network executive andIyanla: Fix My Life producer Kyra Robinson, inNewport Beach, California, in June 2019.[19][20] He was previously married to Mechelle McCain, whom he wed in July 2006. The pair lived inBeverly Hills, California together until they divorced in September 2017.[21]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Vera's Initiation | Simon | Short |
| 1997 | Strays | Mike | |
| 1999 | Shelly Fisher | Esquire Jones | TV movie |
| 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.' Wade | |
| 2005 | Letter to the President | Himself | 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 | ||
| The Adventures of Tha Blue Carpet Treatment | Himself (voice) | Video | |
| Open Season 2 | Boog (voice) | ||
| Soul Men | Duane Henderson | ||
| 2009 | Next Day Air | Brody | |
| The Hangover | 'Black Doug' | ||
| Janky Promoters | Jellyroll | ||
| 2010 | Love Chronicles: Secrets Revealed | Black | 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 | TV movie |
| 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 | Video | |
| 2019 | The Last Black Man in San Francisco | Bobby | |
| Troop Zero | Dwayne Boudraux | ||
| The Trap | Dutch | ||
| How High 2 | Baby Powder[22] | TV movie | |
| Every StoryTime Animation | DimDom (voice) | Short | |
| 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 | |
| Madame Web | O'Neil | ||
| 2025 | Trouble Man | Ree Ree |
| 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 | Main Host |
| The Boondocks | Moe "Mo Gunz" Jackson (voice) | Episode: "Wingmen" | |
| 2007 | 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s | Himself | Main Guest |
| 2009 | World's Dumbest | Himself | Episode: "Drivers 12" |
| 2009–12 | BET Hip Hop Awards | Himself/Host | Main 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" | |
| 2014–16 | Survivor's Remorse | Uncle Julius | Main Cast: Season 1–2, Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2015 | That's Racist with Mike Epps | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| 2016 | Uncle Buck | Buck Russell | Main Cast |
| 2017 | All Def Movie Awards | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| Hollywood Game Night | Himself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Keep It Unreal" | |
| Hip Hop Squares | Himself/Center Square | Episode: "Kent Jones vs. Nick Young" | |
| Star | Jay Holland | Episode: "The Winner Takes it All" | |
| 2018–22 | Mokey's Show | Sucks (voice) | Recurring Cast: Season 4, Guest: Season 5 |
| 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" | |
| 2020–24 | Xploshi Entertainment Shorts | Various Roles (voice) | Recurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3-4 & 6 |
| 2021 | Superstar | Himself | Episode: "Richard Pryor" |
| 2021– | The Upshaws | Bennie Upshaw | Main Cast |
| 2022 | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty | Richard Pryor | Episode: "Pieces of a Man" |
| 2023 | I'm a Virgo | Martisse | Recurring Cast |
| 2024 | ComicView | Himself/Host | Episode: "DC Young Fly & Tony Roberts" |
| The Equalizer | J.J. Cranson | Episode: "All Bets Are Off" |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Cat Quest | Teddy Bear (voice) |
| 2019 | Cat Quest II | |
| 2024 | Cat Quest III |
| 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 |
| 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 featuringBetty Wright | |
| 2008 | "I'm Lit" | Square Off |
| 2009 | "I Don't Know Y'all" | Young Dro |
| 2011 | "Mrs. Right" | Mindless Behavior featuringDiggy 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 andTyga |
| 2017 | "No Effort" | Tee Grizzley |
| "Bank Account" | 21 Savage | |
| 2019 | "I'm on 3.0" | Trae tha Truth |
| "Let Bygones Be Bygones" | Snoop Dogg | |
| 2024 | "It's My Ego" | Ice Cube |
| 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 |
Albums
Singles
Guest appearances
Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
Data from Wikidata
