Mike Epps

MIKE EPPS is generating an extraordinary amount of buzz among his peers for being not only one of the funniest comic actors in town, but also for his burgeoning dramatic talent. Mike can be seen in the fifth season of the Netflix comedy “The UpShaws” which he stars in and produces.. The show is set in his hometown of Indiana about a working class family. The show has been nominated for seven 2024 NAACP Image Awards with Mike winning for “Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.” The show was also nominated for two People’s Choice Awards nominations. Mike can also be seen in the Amazon Prime show “I am a Virgo” which premiered at the SXSW festival and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and a Gotham Award. In February 2024 his seventh stand up special “Ready to Sell Out” premiered on Netflix with the New York Times calling him “unquestionably a star.” He can currently be seen in the Amazon MGM comedy “The Underdoggs” which debuted in homes in more than 240 countries and territories around the globe. Mike stars alongside star and director Snoop Dogg, George Lopez, and Tika Sumpter. He can also be seen in the HBO Max series “Winning Time” ; the Netflix comedy special “Snoop Dogg’s F*cn Around ” The Marvel film “Madam Web” and in “The Come Up” for director Sanaa Lathan on Paramount+. Mike can also be seen in the HGTV special “Buying Back the Block.” The show followed Mike and his wife Kyra who bought several homes on his childhood block in Indianapolis, with the goal to revitalize the neighborhood and bring back the charm, community and character that Mike valued growing up. One of the houses belonged to his grandmother. In the last couple years he has been seen in the Amazon feature “Troup Zero” starring opposite Viola Davis, Allison Janney, and Jim Gaffigan; and in the A24 film “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” which both premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. In 2019, his fifth stand up special “Just One Mike” premiered on Netflixs and he starred opposite Eddie Murphy in the comedy “Dolemite is my Name” which was nominated for Golden Globe, Broadcast Film Critic Awards and a NAACP Image Award. In 2017 Harper Collins published his first book, Unsuccessful Thug about his life growing up around violence and how comedy gave him a better life. Mike was seen in the HBO-Emmy Winning biopic “Bessie” based on Bessie Smith, played by Queen Latifah. The film chronicles how Smith overcame her tempestuous personal life to become one of the most acclaimed performing and recording artists of the 1920s and ’30s, earning the nickname Empress of the Blues. Mike plays Richard Morgan, a bootlegger and romantic interest to Bessie Smith. The film also won a Critics Choice Award for “best mini series/ movie” as well as a Primetime Emmy for “Television Movie or Limited Series.” Mike was seen in three seasons of the Starz series “Survivor’s Remorse” produced LeBron James and Mike O’Malley which he won a 2016 NAACP Image award for “Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series” for his portrayal as Uncle Julius. In 2011, he was awarded an NAACP Image Award for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in the Sony Pictures film, “Jumping the Broom.” He continued to receive critical praise for his dramatic turn in 2012 with “Sparkle,” opposite Whitney Houston and Jordan Sparks. In 2016 he further pursued his dramatic side with two important roles: starring opposite Forest Whitaker and Anthony Mackie in the Lionsgate thriller, “Repentance,” being released through Lionsgate/Codeblack Entertainment., followed by the independent Nina Simone biopic, “Nina,” starring Zoe Saldana. In “Nina,” he plays the legendary Richard Pryor, who opened for the singer in the early 60’s. He is also currently on a national stand up tour and since 2000, Epps steadily climbed his way up the stand-up comedy ranks when he was recognized by a national audience in 1995 for appearing on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam (which, years later, he would go on to host). During a performance at LA’s Comedy Store, Epps caught the attention of Ice Cube. This led to the first of three feature films they would do together: the cult hits “Next Friday,” “Friday after Next,” and “All About the Benjamins.” Other features include the Hangover franchise, “Girls Trip” “Faster,” “Hancock,” “Lottery Ticket,” “Next Day Air,” “Roll Bounce,” “The Fighting Temptations”, the Resident Evil franchise, “Bait”, “How High,” “Dr.Dolittle 2”, “Talk to Me”, and “Guess Who?” Epps has been seen in over 40 cities and 3 continents doing standup.