Omar Epps
{{short description|American actor and musician (born 1973)}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Omar Epps
| image = Omar Epps.jpg
| caption = Epps in 2008
| birth_name = Omar Hashim Epps
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|7|20}}
| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
| spouse = {{married|Keisha Epps|2006}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Actor
- rapper
- producer}}
| children = 3
| years_active = 1988–present
}}
Omar Hashim Epps (born July 20, 1973) is an American actor, rapper, and producer. Epps's film roles include Juice, Higher Learning, The Wood, In Too Deep, and Love & Basketball. His television work includes the role of Dr. Dennis Gant on the medical drama series ER, J. Martin Bellamy in Resurrection, Dr. Eric Foreman on the Fox medical drama series House from 2004 to 2012, Isaac Johnson in the TV series Shooter from 2016 to 2018, and Detective Malcolm Howard on the Starz crime drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan. He has been awarded nine NAACP Image Awards, two Teen Choice Awards, one MTV Movie Award, one Black Reel Award, and one Screen Actors Guild Award.
Early life
Omar Epps was born in Brooklyn. His parents divorced during childhood, and he was raised by his mother, Bonnie Maria Epps, an elementary school principal. He lived in several Brooklyn neighborhoods while growing up (Bedford–Stuyvesant, East New York, and East Flatbush). He began writing poetry, short stories, and songs at the age of ten. He attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, New York City's highly selective public high school for students with artistic talent. Before he started acting, he belonged to a rap group called Wolfpack, which he formed with his cousin in 1991.
Career
In 1992, Epps made his feature film debut playing a DJ alongside rapper 2Pac as the star of cinematographer Ernest Dickerson's directorial film debut Juice.{{cite web |title=Omar Epps reveals how he and Tupac ad-libbed their way through 'Juice' — and the rap hit that was born on set |date=18 July 2018 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/omar-epps-talks-working-tupac-juice-song-actor-inspired-write-set-150031384.html |publisher=yahoo |access-date=15 October 2020}} The following year, Epps played one of several roles as an athlete, the first as a running back in the college football drama The Program alongside James Caan. In 1994, he returned to sports, as co-star of Major League II, taking over the role of center fielder Willie Mays Hayes from its originator, Wesley Snipes. His next athletic endeavor was playing a track and field star in John Singleton's Higher Learning, a look at the politics and racial tensions of college life.{{cite web |title=Higher Learning: in praise of John Singleton's forgotten masterwork |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/04/higher-learning-john-singletons-forgotten-masterwork |work=The Guardian |date=4 May 2019 |access-date=15 October 2020}} Epps led the cast in the 1996 BBC/HBO film Deadly Voyage, as a Ghanaian attempting to hide with other stowaways on a major commercial vessel leaving Africa. He won the best actor award at the Monte Carlo Television Festival for portraying Kingsley Ofusu in this true story about the plight of undocumented African stowaways hoping to reach America.{{cite web |title=The cruellest voyage |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/dec/03/immigration.uk |work=The Guardian |date=3 December 2007 |access-date=15 October 2020}}
File:Omar Epps 2009.jpg for Media, Beverly Hills, California, on June 17, 2009]]
In his network television debut, Epps guest starred as Dr. Dennis Gant, a surgical intern struggling with depression, on the hit medical drama ER for several episodes in its third season.{{cite web |title=10 episodes that will remind you why ER was the top drama of the '90s |date=22 August 2012 |url=https://www.avclub.com/10-episodes-that-will-remind-you-why-er-was-the-top-dra-1798232974 |publisher=avclub |access-date=15 October 2020}} After his television work on ER, Epps returned to film in 1997 with a role as a giddy moviegoer, on a date with a woman played by Jada Pinkett Smith, who ends up an early victim of a psychopathic slasher in the blockbuster sequel Scream 2.{{cite news |title=Why 'Scream 2' Is Still One of the Best Horror Sequels of All Time |newspaper=Thrillist |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/scream-2-ending-explained-twist-netflix |publisher=thrillist.com |access-date=15 October 2020}} Also in 1997, Epps starred in the fact-based HBO movie First Time Felon as a small-time criminal who goes through Chicago's boot camp reform system and undertakes a heroic flood rescue, only to be faced with the adjustment of re-entering society with the mark of ex-con. In 1999, Epps was cast as Linc in The Mod Squad. While The Mod Squad proved a critical and box-office bust, Epps's later 1999 effort The Wood offered him a serious and multi-dimensional role as Mike Tarver, narrator and lead of this critically-acclaimed coming-of-age ensemble comedy.{{Cite web |title=The Wood
|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-wood-1999|access-date=2022-10-22 |website=rogerebert.com |language=en}} Following a group of middle-class African Americans from youth to adulthood, the debut effort from director-screenwriter Rick Famuyiwa co-starred Richard T. Jones and Taye Diggs. Also in 1999, Epps was featured alongside Stanley Tucci and LL Cool J, playing an undercover detective who finds himself caught up in the illegal goings-on he is investigating in In Too Deep.
In 2000, Epps starred in Love & Basketball, featuring Alfre Woodard and Sanaa Lathan. He portrayed Quincy, the NBA hopeful who has a stormy relationship with an equally adept female basketball star Monica, played by Lathan.{{cite web |title='Love & Basketball': An oral history of the film that changed the game |date=21 April 2020 |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/29069339/an-oral-history-love-basketball-20-years-later |publisher=espn |access-date=15 October 2020}} Epps followed with supporting roles in a wide range of films, including Dracula 2000, Big Trouble, and the telepic Conviction. He had a leading role as a gangster in Brother, a movie by the celebrated Japanese actor/director Takeshi Kitano.
In 2004, Epps played drug-dealer-turned-prizefighter Luther Shaw who falls under the tutelage of boxing promoter Jackie Kallen (Meg Ryan) in the film biopic Against the Ropes. That same year, Epps was a character in the video game Def Jam Fight for NY. Epps also returned to a top-rated medical television drama in 2004, with his role as the brilliant neurologist, Dr. Eric Foreman, who stands his ground medically against the routine barbs of the irascible Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) on the award-winning Fox television series House.{{cite web |title=Robert Sean Leonard, Omar Epps Set To Return To 'House'; Series' Renewal Imminent |date=10 May 2011 |url=https://deadline.com/2011/05/robert-sean-leonard-omar-epps-set-to-return-to-house-series-renewal-imminent-130051/ |publisher=Deadline |access-date=15 October 2020}} The role in the long-running series earned him an NAACP Image Award in 2007, 2008 and 2013 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Rachel |date=2019-11-06 |title='This Is Us': Who Plays Deja's Boyfriend, Malik's Parents? |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/this-is-us-who-plays-dejas-boyfriend-maliks-parents.html/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Showbiz Cheat Sheet |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Omar Epps |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/omar-epps/bio/3030389614/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}
In 2014, Epps took on the role of agent J. Martin Bellamy in the ABC television series, Resurrection.{{cite web |title=Omar Epps says "Resurrection" finale will make you rethink entire season |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/omar-epps-says-resurrection-finale-will-make-you-rethink-entire-season/ |work=cbs news |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=15 October 2020}} The series focuses on a number of individuals who return from the dead, and change the lives of their families and friends in Arcadia, Missouri.{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/omar-epps-7284|title=Omar Epps Biography|website=Biography.com|date=May 21, 2014|access-date=2016-12-26|archive-date=2016-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206224345/http://www.biography.com/people/omar-epps-7284|url-status=dead}}
In July 2020, Epps starred in the Netflix psychological thriller Fatal Affair.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/nia-long-omar-epps-stephen-bishop-fatal-affair-netflix-1202750773/|title=Nia Long To Produce & Star Alongside Omar Epps And Stephen Bishop In Netflix Film 'Fatal Affair'|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 2, 2019|access-date=July 3, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/fatal-affair-netflix-trailer-nia-long-omar-epps/|title=The Trailer for Netflix's 'Fatal Affair' Delivers Cheesy Domestic Thriller Realness|last=Lawrence|first=Gregory|work=Collider|date=July 1, 2020|access-date=July 3, 2020}} Since 2021, Epps has appeared as Detective Malcolm Howard in the Starz crime drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan.
In 2022, it was announced that Epps would star in the Lee Daniels-directed supernatural horror The Deliverance alongside Mo'Nique, Andra Day, Miss Lawrence, and Tasha Smith.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Monique |title=Lee Daniels' 'The Deliverance,' Starring Mo'Nique After Years-Long Feud, Adds Omar Epps, Miss Lawrence And More To Cast |url=https://test.shadowandact.com/lee-daniels-the-deliverance-starring-monique-after-years-long-feud-adds-omar-epps-miss-lawrence-and-more-to-cast |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Shadow and Act |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Massoto |first=Erick |date=2022-07-14 |title=Lee Daniels' Netflix Horror 'The Deliverance' Adds Omar Epps, Demi Singleton, and More |url=https://collider.com/the-deliverance-cast-omar-epps-demi-singleton-lee-daniels-netflix/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Collider |language=en-US}} The film was released in select theaters and on Netflix in August 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/the-deliverance-trailer-andra-day-lee-daniels-netflix/|title='The Deliverance' Trailer: Andra Day Fights For Souls Of Her Children In Lee Daniels Exorcism Pic For Netflix |first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=July 16, 2024}}
Personal life
From 1999 to 2001, Epps dated actress Sanaa Lathan, whom he met while filming The Wood. The pair did not disclose their relationship to Love & Basketball director Gina Prince-Bythewood until they were on the set of the film, fearing that "she could have a beef about it".{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/29069339/an-oral-history-love-basketball-20-years-later|title=
'Love & Basketball': An oral history of the film that changed the game|website=Espn|date=April 21, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2021}}
Epps married singer Keisha Spivey, from the R&B group Total, in 2006. They have two children, daughter K'mari Mae and son Amir. He also has a daughter, Aiyanna, from a previous relationship.{{cite web|url=http://www.essence.com/galleries/black-love-keisha-and-omar-epps-beautiful-love-story#462381|title=Black Love: Keisha and Omar Epps' Beautiful Love Story|author=Penn, Charli|website=Essence|date=March 11, 2014|access-date=November 16, 2016}}
Epps and actor/comedian Marlon Wayans are longtime friends. They met as high school classmates at LaGuardia High, both graduating in 1990.{{cite web|url=https://alumniandfriends.org/our-community/notable-alumni/|title=Notable Alumni|author=LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts|website=Alumni and Friends of LaGuardia High School|date=2003|access-date=December 27, 2016}} The 1997−1999 theme song used for the sitcom The Wayans Brothers was co-produced by Epps, with Marlon and Shawn Wayans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/article/08xki7/10-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-wayans-bros-show|title =10 Things You Might Not Know About 'The Wayans Bros.' Show|website =BET}}
In a 2018 interview, Epps denied the long-standing rumor that he is related to fellow actor Mike Epps, saying, "Me and Mike Epps ain't related, though, we spoke like, 'Where you from? Where you from?'"{{Cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=0HskvMfR7t0|title =Omar Epps Talks Tupac's Influence, Getting Lead Role in "Juice", Fatherhood + More!|website =YouTube}}
Epps authored an autobiography titled From Fatherless to Fatherhood that was released by Lulu Publishing in June 2018.[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40363536-from-fatherless-to-fatherhood From Fatherless to Fatherhood by Omar Epps]
Epps serves on the Cultural Council of RepresentUs, a nonprofit organization that focuses on passing anti-corruption laws in the United States. In June 2020, he narrated an educational video for the organization about America's criminal justice system.{{cite web|url=https://represent.us/justice-for-sale/|title=Unbreaking America: Justice for Sale|author=RepresentUs|website=RepresentUs|date=2020|access-date=June 17, 2020}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1988
|The Green Flash |Charlie |Short film |
| 1992
|Q | |
| rowspan="2" |1993
|Hunter | |
| The Program
|Darnell Jefferson | |
| 1994
|Willie Mays Hayes | |
| 1995
|Malik Williams | |
| rowspan="2" |1996
|The Deadly Voyage |Kingsley | |
| Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
|Malik |Cameo |
| rowspan="2" |1997
|Phil Stevens | |
| First Time Felon
|Greg Yance | |
| 1998
|Blossoms and Veils |Thee | |
| rowspan="4" |1999
|Wayne Hoobler | |
| The Mod Squad
|Linc | |
| The Wood
|Mike | |
| In Too Deep
|Jeff Cole / J Reid | |
| rowspan="3" |2000
|Quincy McCall |Nominated {{ndash}} Black Reel Award for Best Theatrical Actor |
| Brother
|Denny | |
| Dracula 2000
|Marcus | |
| 2001
|JB | |
| 2002
|FBI Agent Alan Seitz | |
| rowspan="2" |2004
|Luther Shaw | |
| Alfie
|Marlon | |
| 2009
|O | |
| 2016
|Malachi | |
| 2018
|John | |
| rowspan="2" |2019
|Det. Mike Denver | |
| 3022
|John Laine | |
| 2020
| David Hammond | |
| 2022
| The Devil You Know | Marcus Cowans | |
| 2024
| Melvin | |
=Television=
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2004
| O.E. |
Discography
- Omar Epps Presents... The Get Back (2004)
References
{{reflist|refs=
|title=Omar Epps
|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/530856/Omar-Epps/biography
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110083005/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/530856/Omar-Epps/biography
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2011-01-10
|department=Movies & TV Dept.
|work=The New York Times
|date=2011
|access-date=2010-08-28}}
|date=January 2009
|title=The Big M: Mike in the House
|journal=Playboy
|volume=56
|issue=1
|page=19
|publisher=Playboy
|quote=I grew up all over Brooklyn – Bed Stuy, East New York, Flatbush...}}
}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|4898}}
- {{Twitter}}
- {{facebook|OmarEpps}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Epps, Omar}}
Category:Male actors from Brooklyn
Category:American male child actors
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:21st-century American male rappers
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni
Category:Rappers from Brooklyn
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:20th-century African-American male actors
Category:21st-century African-American male actors
Category:20th-century American rappers
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:20th-century American male musicians
Category:21st-century American male musicians