Mike Epps

Michael Elliot Epps (born November 18, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He played Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and its sequel, Friday After Next, and also appeared in The Hangover and The Hangover Part III as "Black Doug". He was the voice of main character Boog in Open Season 2, replacing Martin Lawrence, with whom he starred in the comedy Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, playing "Reggie", cousin of Roscoe (played by Lawrence). He played Lloyd Jefferson "L.J." Wayne in the Resident Evil films (2004–2007) and O'Neil in the Sony's Spider-Man Universe film Madame Web. He has had starring roles in the sitcoms Uncle Buck and The Upshaws.

Early life Epps was born and raised in Indianapolis, the son of Mary Reed and Tommie Epps. In his adulthood, Epps moved to Brooklyn to star in Def Comedy Jam in 1994.

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.

Acting Epps' first on-screen appearance came in Vin Diesel's second directorial film, Strays in 1997. In 1999, Epps was then cast as Ice 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. Later that year, Epps had a cameo in 3 Strikes, and supported Jamie Foxx in Bait.

Epps had a voice role in the 2001 film 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. He played Lloyd Jefferson "L.J." Wayne in the films Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007). Epps also voiced another bear character (Boog) in the 2008 film Open Season 2 after Martin Lawrence declined the role; he previously worked with Lawrence in the comedy Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008), playing "Reggie", cousin of Roscoe (played by Lawrence). He played "Black Doug" in The Hangover (2009) and The Hangover Part III (2013). In 2010, Epps also released a stand-up comedy special, Under Rated & Never Faded, and hosted the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards.

Epps 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. In 2014, Epps landed the coveted role of Richard Pryor in a planned Pryor biopic to be directed by Lee Daniels; however, the project has remained in development hell. Epps did portray Pryor in the 2016 Nina Simone biopic Nina and in an episode of the HBO drama series Winning Time about the L.A. Lakers.

Epps had a starring role in the 2016 comedy horror film Meet the Blacks and its 2021 sequel The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2. He also starred as the title character in the single-season 2016 sitcom Uncle Buck. Since 2021, he has been a main cast member on the Netflix sitcom The Upshaws.

Music Epps "hosted" the Jim Jones and Skull Gang album 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 has also featured on the Dom Kennedy song "Intro/Hard Work" on his FutureStreet/DrugSounds mixtape.

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 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.

Epps has made cameo appearances in many music videos, mostly by hip hop artists, including "Gangsta Nation" (2003) by Westside Connection, "A Bay Bay" (2007) by Hurricane Chris, "No Effort" (2017) by Tee Grizzley, and "Bank Account" (2017) by 21 Savage.

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.

Controversies Epps has been criticized by disability campaigners for mocking physically and mentally disabled children in his stand-up act.

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.

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.

Personal life Epps married OWN Network executive and Iyanla: Fix My Life producer Kyra Robinson, in Newport Beach, California, in June 2019. He was previously married to Mechelle McCain, whom he wed in July 2006. The pair lived in Beverly Hills, California together until they divorced in September 2017.

Filmography

Film 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 Uncredited 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 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 2026 72 Hours Officer Williard

Television 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 Episode: "Wingmen" 2007 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s Himself Main Guest 2009 World's Dumbest Himself Episode: "Drivers 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" 2014–2016 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" 2018–2022 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 2020–2024 Xploshi Entertainment Shorts Various Roles (voice) Recurring cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3-4 & 6 2021 Superstar Himself Episode: "Richard Pryor" 2021–2026 The Upshaws Bennie Upshaw Main cast 2022 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"

Video games Year Title Role 2017 Cat Quest Teddy Bear (voice) 2019 Cat Quest II 2024 Cat Quest III

Comedy specials

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 2026 Mike Epps: Delusional

Music videos 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 featuring Betty Wright 2008 "I'm Lit" Square Off 2009 "I Don't Know Y'all" Young Dro 2011 "Mrs. Right" Mindless Behavior featuring Diggy 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 and Tyga 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

Documentary 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

Discography Albums A Tribute to Bad Santa Starring Mike Epps (with Jim Jones and Skull Gang, 2008) Funny Bidness: Da Album (2009) Omar Ray Life & Timez of Suge Gotti, Vol. 1 (2012)

Singles "Big Girls" (2008) "Trying to Be a Gangsta" (2009) "Aint Chu You?" (2009)

Guest appearances 2009: "I'm a Go and Get My..." with (Busta Rhymes) on Back on My B.S. 2011: “I’m on Everything” with (Bad Meets Evil) on Hell: The Sequel 2016: "2011 BET Cypha" with (Termanology, French Montana, Wais P, Rico Staxx, & Cross) on Cameo King III