RETURN TO INDEX
Born Name:
Michael Elliot Epps
Born Date:
November 18, 1970
Born Place:
Indianapolis, Indiana
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations:
Stand-up comedian, actor, producer
Brief Biography:
Michael Elliot Epps best known for his breakthrough role as Day-Day Jones in Next Friday (2000) and its sequel Friday After Next (2002). Rising to fame through the Def Comedy Jam circuit in the mid-1990s, Epps has since become a staple in Hollywood comedy, starring in hits like The Hangover and the Netflix sitcom The Upshaws.
Early Life and Education:
Early Talent: Recognized as the "class clown," he began performing stand-up as a teenager at local clubs.
Education: Epps famously returned to complete his education later in life, receiving his high school diploma from Arsenal Tech High School in 2016 at the age of 45.
Career Milestones:
Breakthrough: After moving to Atlanta and then New York, he joined the Def Comedy Jam tour in 1995. His film debut was in Vin Diesel's Strays (1997), but his career skyrocketed when Ice Cube cast him in Next Friday.
Major Roles:
Film: All About the Benjamins (2002), Resident Evil franchise as L.J. (2004–2007), and The Hangover series as "Black Doug".
Television: Lead roles in the Uncle Buck (2016) sitcom and the ongoing Netflix hit The Upshaws.
Dramatic Turn: Received critical acclaim for playing the antagonist Satin in the 2012 remake of Sparkle.
Accolades: Won several NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (2011) and Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series (2024).