Mike Epps

Michael Elliot Epps[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 (replacing Martin 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) respectively.

Mike Epps
Epps in 2013 in Houston, Texas
Birth nameMichael Elliot Epps
BornNovember 18, 1970 (age 49)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Medium
  • Film
  • television
  • stand-up
NationalityAmerican
Years active1989–present
Genres
SpouseMechelle McCain (2006–2017)
Kyra Robinson (2019-)
Children6
Websitewww.mikeepps.com

Early life

Epps was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of Mary Reed and Tommy 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]

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.[5]

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. 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 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. 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 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,[6] despite Nick Cannon very publicly campaigning for the role and Pryor's family stating that Marlon Wayans or Terrence Howard should get the role.[7] Epps will star alongside Oprah Winfrey, who will play Pryor's abusive grandmother Marie Carter.[8]

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 is also featured on the Dom Kennedy song "Intro/Hard Work" on his FutureStreet/DrugSounds mixtape.[9]

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[10] 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. In 2006 he signed local artist Philthyphil. 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. 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.[11] 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. Epps appears in the Tee Grizzley music video of "No Effort".[12] He also appears in 21 Savage's "Bank Account" music video.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16]

Personal life

Epps is married to OWN Network executive and Iyanla: Fix My Life producer Kyra Robinson.[17] Epps and Robinson married in Newport Beach, California in June 2019.[18] 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.[19]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Note
1997StraysMikeys
2000Next FridayDay-Day Jones
20003 StrikesCrackhead
2000BaitStevie Sanders
2001Dr. Dolittle 2Sonny (Kodiak Bear)Voice only
Credited as Michael E. Epps
2001How HighBaby Powder
2002All About the BenjaminsReginald WrightCredited as Michael Epps
2002Friday After NextDay-Day Jones / Old Man with Shotgun
2003Malibu's Most WantedDJ at club
2003The Fighting TemptationsLucius
2004Still 'Bout ItBobby Ray
2004Resident Evil: ApocalypseLloyd Jefferson "L.J." Wade
2005The HoneymoonersEd Norton
2005Roll BounceByron
2006Something NewWalter
2007Talk to MeMilo Hughes
2007Resident Evil: ExtinctionLloyd Jefferson "L.J." Wade
2008Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsReggie Jenkins
2008HancockCriminalUncredited cameo
2008Shelly FisherEsquire Jones
2008Bigg Snoop Dogg Presents: The Adventures of Tha Blue Carpet Treatment
2008Soul MenDuane Henderson
2008Open Season 2BoogDirect-to-video
Voice only
2009Next Day AirBrody
2009The HangoverBlack Doug
2009Janky PromotersJellyroll
2010Love Chronicles: Secrets RevealedThomas Black
2010Lottery TicketReverend Taylor
2010Ghetto StoriesLawn Service WorkerCameo
2010FasterGrone
2011Jumping the BroomWillie EarlNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
2012SparkleSatin Struthers
2012Mac & Devin Go to High SchoolMr. Armstrong
2013The Hangover Part IIIBlack Doug
2014RepentanceBen Carter
2014School DancePrincipal Rodgers
2015BessieRichard
2015Mike Epps: Don't Take It PersonalHimselfStand-up comedy special
2015Stealing CarsSheriff Till
20157th and WestlakeGuy
2016NinaRichard Pryor
2016Meet the BlacksCarl Black
2016Fifty Shades of BlackRon StealeHannah's father
2016Term LifeDaryl Mosley
2016What are the Chances?Next Door Neighbor
2017Girls TripSeller
2017Where's the MoneyDre Goodlow
2018Acts of ViolenceMax Livington
2018Death WishDr. Chris Salgado
2018Love JackedRufus
2018Supercon (film)Gil Bartell
2018Don't Get CaughtThe Next Door Neighbor
2018Uncle DrewLouis
2019Meet the Blacks 2: The House Next DoorCarl Black
2019The Last Black Man in San FranciscoBobby
2019The Cat and the MoonCal
2019Troop ZeroDwayne Boudraux
2019The TrapDutchInternet release
2019Dolemite Is My NameJimmy Lynch
2020Last FridayDay-Day Jones

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
2009–2012 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
2019 How High 2 Baby Powder Television film[20]
2020 BlackAF Uncle Ray 1 episode

Music videos

Discography
Studio albums
Collaboration albums
Guest Appearances

Singles
  • "Big Girls" (2008)
  • "Trying to Be a Gangsta" (2009)
  • "Aint Chu You?" (2009)
gollark: It's mildly easier to read and more extensible.
gollark: Just rewrite all the tools which deal with this in Rust and use a toml library.
gollark: ```toml[username]id = 1000datathing = "ææææ"home = "/home/username"```or```toml[1000]username = "bees"home = "/whatever```
gollark: * obviously yes
gollark: Maybe all this data should just be a single SQLite file. That would be neat.

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 2020-03-17.
  5. ABA Publishing. Americanbar.org. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  6. "Richard Pryor Movie – Mike Epps Gets the Lead, Not Nick Cannon". TMZ. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  7. "Richard Pryor Jr.: Nick Cannon Should Play My Dad ... If I Can't (VIDEO)". TMZ. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  8. "Oprah Winfrey – I'm Gonna Be a Whorehouse Madam in Richard Pryor Movie". TMZ. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  9. DOM KENNEDY Mike Epps. Youtube
  10. (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 2012-09-01.
  11. "Man shot to death Friday night while driving car in East Oakland". East Bay Times. June 30, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  12. "Tee Grizzley Shares "No Effort" Video With Mike Epps". The FADER. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  13. Mike Epps Carries Around Enormous Teddy Bear in 21 Savage's 'Bank Account' Video. Billboard. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  14. Super Bowl Village Archived January 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Arrest Warrant Issued For Mike Epps – Black America Web". Black America Web. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  16. "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.
  17. Mike Epps Weds Kyra Robinson In Star-Studded Ceremony. MadameNoire. Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
  18. Grant, Jasmine. (June 24, 2019) Mike Epps and Kyra Robinson Are Married!. Essence. Retrieved on 2020-03-17.
  19. Mike Epps’s Wife Puts Him on Blast Again Over Their Messy Divorce | Mike Epps | Celebrities. BET (May 18, 2017). Retrieved on 2020-03-17.
  20. 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.
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