Mike Epps (special Event)

Mike Epps has generated quite a buzz among his peers and within the industry for being one of the funniest comedic actors to emerge into the Hollywood scene. Now, as he continues honing his skills for his existing comedic audience, Epps ventures into a new realm of entertainment with his first dramatic role, proving his uninhibited versatility and limitless potential as a crossover talent phenomenon. Epps has recently reprised his role as "LJ" in Sony's box-office franchise hit, Resident Evil: Extinction and also in Zak Penn's "The Grand," an improvisational comedy focused around a live poker tournament. Ever the comedic chameleon, Epps recently took on a dramatic role, opposite Don Cheadle in "Talk To Me," the Kasi Lemmons drama/biography of radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene.
A native of Indiana, Epps has steadily climbed his way up the comedy ranks for the last eleven years . His comedic talent was first recognized by a national audience in 1995 when he appeared on the Def Comedy Jam tour and appeared on HBO's Def Comedy Jam broadcasts. Epps moved to Los Angeles after his successful performance at the 1999 Laffapalooza festival in Atlanta. During his performance at LA's Comedy Store, Epps captured the attention of Ice Cube, leading to his being cast in the co-starring role of Day-Day in his feature film debut, 2000's hit comedy "Next Friday." Epps was quickly catapulted into the world of film, also appearing in "Bait" with Jamie Foxx, "How High" with Method Man and Redman and was the voice of Moe Mo Gunz Jackson in "The Boondocks" and Sonny in "Dr. Dolittle 2."
Since 2000, Epps has taken immeasurable strides in the comedic film circuit; in March 2002, Epps was seen starring opposite Ice Cube in New Line Cinema's "All About the Benjamins." Epps also reprised his role as Day-Day in "Friday After Next," the third installment of the "Friday" series.
In 2003, Epps appeared in the Paramount comedy "The Fighting Temptations" alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles, and went on to take part in Sony Picture's blockbuster sequel, "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" in 2004, starring Milla Jovovich. Epps' dexterity in the realm of horror and action can again be seen nationally on September 21st in Screen Gems' "Resident Evil: Extinction," the third film in the wildly successful Resident Evil trilogy.
In September of 2005 Epps played the comedic relief as a loud mouthed garbage man in Fox Searchlight's "Roll Bounce," a film set in the late 1970s about the roller skating lifestyle. "Roll Bounce," also starred Bow Wow, Chi McBride, and Nick Cannon. Epps starred in two classic re-makes- he was first seen in Columbia Pictures' well received, "Guess Who," starring Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac which was released in March of 2005. He then took on a starring role in Paramount Picture's remake of "The Honeymooners," in which Epps played comedic legend, Ed Norton, alongside Cedric the Entertainer as Ralph Kramden. Later that same year, Epps then went on to play a pivotal role in the Focus Features romantic comedy, "Something New," starring Sanaa Lathan.
Keeping with the sanctity of his beloved stand-up, Epps has been performing his comedy act, The Mike Epps on the Edge Tour, to sold-out theatres and arenas across the country. Epps's one hour comedy special, "Inappropriate Behavior," aired on HBO; followed by its subsequent release on DVD. Epps transitioned from his comedy special with HBO to hosting duties as the new host of HBO's Def Comedy Jam, which aired this past Fall.
Epps is also set to portray Richard Pryor in his upcoming biopic, based on his daughter Rain Pryor's book Jokes My Father Never Told Me. He is currently filming "The Better Man" opposite Martin Lawrence, set for release in early 2008.