Mike Epps

Mike Epps

Epps in Houston, Texas on February 1, 2013
Birth name Michael Elliot Epps
Born (1970-11-18) November 18, 1970
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Medium
  • Film
  • television
  • stand-up
Nationality American
Years active 1989–present
Genres
Spouse Mechelle McCain (m.2006)
Children 4
Website www.mikeepps.com

Michael Elliot "Mike" Epps (born November 18, 1970)[1] is an American stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer, and rapper. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and its sequel, Friday After Next, and also appearing in The Hangover as "Black Doug". He was the voice of Boog in Open Season 2 (the sequel to Open Season), but was replaced by Matthew J. Munn in Open Season 3. 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 L.J. in Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Resident Evil: Extinction in 2004 and 2007 respectively.

Early life

Epps was born at Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of Mary Reed and Tommy Epps.[2][3] Epps' natural comedic ability was encouraged at an early age, and he began performing stand-up as a teenager. Epps moved to Atlanta where he worked at the Comedy Act Theater, before moving to Brooklyn to star in Def Comedy Jam in 1995. Epps ended up on the Def Comedy Jam tour and starred in two of HBO's Def Comedy Jam broadcasts.

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.

Movie 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. 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 . 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 got to voice 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. 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 in 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 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,[4] despite Nick Cannon very publicly campaigning for the role and Pryor's family stating that Marlon Wayans or Terrence Howard should get the role.[5] Epps will star alongside Oprah Winfrey, who will play Pryor's abusive grandmother Marie Carter.[6]

Music

Epps recently had a small part in the 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 is also featured on the Dom Kennedy song "Intro/Hard Work" on his FutureStreet/DrugSounds mixtape.[7]

Part of his standup 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.[8] Also on Runaway, Born Sinner the second album from rapper J. Cole.

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.[9]

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.[10]

Personal life

Epps married Mechelle McCain in July 2006; they currently live in Beverly Hills, California. He met her while filming The Fighting Temptations (in which they appeared alongside Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Beyoncé). McCain had a minor, non-speaking role in the movie as Epps' character's girlfriend.

Filmography

Year Title Role Note
1997 Strays Mikeys
2000 Next Friday Day-Day Jones
2000 3 Strikes Crackhead
2000 Bait Stevie Sanders
2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Sonny Voice only
Credited as Michael E. Epps
2001 How High Baby Powder
2002 All About the Benjamins Reginald Wright Credited as Michael Epps
2002 Friday After Next Day-Day Jones/Old Man with Shotgun
2003 The Fighting Temptations Lucius
2004 Still 'Bout It Bobby Ray
2004 Resident Evil: Apocalypse L.J.
2005 The Honeymooners Ed Norton
2005 Roll Bounce Byron
2006 The Unsuccessful Thug
2006 Something New Walter
2007 Talk to Me Milo Hughes
2007 Resident Evil: Extinction L.J.
2008 Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Reggie Jenkins
2008 Shelly Fisher Esquire Jones
2008 Bigg Snoop Dogg Presents: The Adventures of Tha Blue Carpet Treatment
2008 Soul Men Duane Henderson
2008 Open Season 2 Boog Direct-to-video
Voice only
Replacing Martin Lawrence
2009 Next Day Air Brody
2009 The Hangover Black Doug
2009 Janky Promoters Jellyroll
2010 Love Chronicles: Secrets Revealed Thomas Black
2010 Lottery Ticket Reverend Taylor
2010 Ghetto Stories Janitor Cameo
2010 Faster Grone
2011 Jumping the Broom Willie Earl
2012 Sparkle Satin
2012 Mac & Devin Go to High School Mr. Armstrong
2013 The Hangover Part III Black Doug
2014 Repentance Ben Carter
2014 School Dance Principal Rodgers
2015 Bessie Richard
2015 Mike Epps: Don't Take It Personal Himself
2015 Stealing Cars Sheriff Till
2016 Nina Richard Pryor
2016 Meet the Blacks Carl Black
2017 Death Wish Dr. ChrisSalGado

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 The Sopranos Jerome
1999 Pimps Up, Ho's Down
2002 All About the Stunts
2005 106 & Park 1 episode
2005 Letter to the President
1995–2006 Def Comedy Jam 5 episodes
2006 Inappropriate Behavior
2006 The Unsuccessful Thug
2006 The Boondocks Moe "Mo Gunz" Jackson
2009-present BET Hip Hop Awards Himself/Host
2013 Wild 'n Out Himself
2014 Ridiculouness Himself/L.J.
2014-present Survivor's Remorse Uncle Julius
2015 Being Mary Jane Chris Warren Season 2
2016 Uncle Buck Buck Russell

Music videos

Discography

Studio albums
Collaboration albums
Guest Appearances

Singles

References

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