Michael Elliot “Mike” Epps is a stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer, and rapper from the United States of America. He is widely regarded as one of the most amusing comic actors to have emerged on the Hollywood scene in recent years. His celebrity grew significantly as a result of his appearances in several Ice Cube films, including Next Friday, How High Friday After Next, and All About the Benjamins. Apart from their collaboration with Ice Cube, each of these films features amusing marijuana-smoking comic characters similar to those portrayed by Epps. He began performing stand-up as a teenager in Indianapolis. He made his film debut in Vin Diesel’s Strays, a dramatic portrayal of relationships and drugs. He also appeared in several other feature films, including Bait and 3 Strikes. He voiced Sonny in Dr. Dolittle 2. As he gained prominence, his comedic abilities blossomed, as evidenced by All About the Benjamins, Friday After Next, The Honeymooners, Talk to Me, The Hangover, and Sparkle. Additionally, he has appeared in numerous videos and guest starred on several rap and hip-hop songs, including Hurricane Chris’ “A Bay Bay.” He also has a song to his name.
Childhood & Adolescence
Epps was born to Mary Reed and Tommy Epps on November 18, 1980, at Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. His natural comedic ability was recognized at a young age, and as a teenager, he began performing stand-up.
Unfortunately, the gifted comedian got himself into trouble when he became involved with gangs, dropped out of high school, and served an 18-month prison sentence for drug charges, forcing him to focus on a career as an entertainer.
Epps relocated to Atlanta and began working at the Comedy Act Theater. He relocated to Brooklyn in 1995 to star in two HBO Def Comedy Jam broadcasts.
He made his film debut in Vin Diesel’s 1997 directorial debut, ‘Strays,’ which follows a drug dealer and hustler who, fed up with his life’s monotony, seeks meaning.
In 2000, he made cameo appearances in the screwball comedy ‘3 strikes’ and in the Jamie Fox starrer ‘Bait’. He voiced Sonny in the 2001 film ‘Dr. Dolittle 2’ and later that year appeared as comical pimp Baby Powder in Method Man and Redman’s How High.
In ‘All About the Benjamins’ (2002), he portrayed a repeat offender collaborating with Ice Cube’s bounty hunter to apprehend a group of diamond thieves who stole a winning lottery ticket.
In 2005, he starred as Ed Norton in the comedy film ‘The Honeymooners.’ It is about Ralph Kramden, a working-class New York bus driver who is constantly devising get-rich-quick schemes.
In 2007, he contributed a minor verse to Hurricane Chris’ song A Bay Bay, which was released as the lead single from the studio album 51/50 Ratchet and peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Epps appeared in a supporting role in the 2007 film ‘Talk to Me,’ a biopic about Ralph “Petey” Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist.
His 2008 album ‘Funny Bidness – Da Album’ featured the song “Big Girls.” He appeared on French Montana’s mixtape ‘Mac wit da Cheese’ and Dom Kennedy’s song “Intro/Hard Work.”
His debut comedy album, ‘Funny Bidness: Da Album,’ was released in 2009 on E1 Music. It debuted at number 98 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 9 on the Top Comedy Albums chart.
He portrayed Black Doug, a friendly, laid-back drug dealer, in the 2009 comedy film ‘The Hangover.’ Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, and Jeffrey Tambor co-star in the film.
After Martin Lawrence declined the role, he lent his voice to the bear character (Boog) in the film Open Season 2, and two years later hosted the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards.
He co-stars with Jordan Sparks and Whitney Houston in the 2012 remake of the musical film Sparkle as Satin, a stand-up comic by day and an evil and abusive drug kingpin by night.
Epps served as the 2012 Super Bowl’s “Super Bowl ambassador” in his hometown of Indianapolis. He appeared in promotional commercials for the Super Bowl Village and made several special appearances during the game.
Significant Works of Mike
Epps was cast as Ice Cube’s co-star in the 2000 stoner comedy film Next Friday and its sequel Friday After Next. Day-Day Jones was a career-defining role for the actor.
In 2010, he released Under Rated & Never Faded, a stand-up comedy special in which he demonstrated his knack for the absurd and his hilarious commentary on culture and adolescence in front of a live audience.
Awards And Achievements
In 2007, Epps shared a Gotham Award with Ensemble Cast for the film ‘Talk to Me.’ Five years later, for Jumping the Broom, he won the Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor.
He has also been nominated for BET Comedy Awards for his supporting roles in The Fighting Temptations and for Black Reel Awards for Sparkle and Jumping the Broom.
Personal History and Legacies
In July 2006, Epps married Michelle McCain; the couple currently resides in Beverly Hills, California. They met on the set of ‘The Fighting Temptations’. Epps has a daughter from a previous relationship, Bria Epps.
He has contributed financially and personally to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation for the Arts in Georgia, which works to provide opportunities for young people through the arts.
Estimated Net Worth
Mike Epps is a comedian, actor, producer, musician, and rap artist from the United States of America. He has a net worth of $5 million. He is best known for his stand-up work with the “Def Comedy Jam” tour and his collaboration with Ice Cube on the “Friday” franchise.
Trivia
This actor has appeared in two films in which his character wins the lottery and has played Reggie in four roles. “I am a survivor of life,” this stand-up comedian and actor declared.
I make an effort to give God the glory and to appreciate what happens to me”.