Craig Grant facts for kids

Craig O'Neil Grant (born December 18, 1968 – died March 24, 2021) was an American poet and actor. He was also known as Craig muMs Grant or muMs the Schemer. Many people remember him best for playing Arnold "Poet" Jackson in the HBO TV series Oz.

Life and Career

Craig Grant was born in New York City and grew up in the Bronx. His father, Samuel, worked as a locksmith and carpenter. His mother, Theresa, was a teacher. Craig went to Mount St. Michael Academy High School in the Bronx.

Early Life and Becoming "muMs"

Craig first became well-known as a poet and performer. This happened when he was in a documentary called SlamNation. The film followed him and other poets from the 1996 Nuyorican Poetry Slam Team. They competed in the 1996 National Poetry Slam, which is a competition where poets perform their original work.

Craig started using the name "muMs" when he was 20 years old. At that time, he was performing in a rap group. Because he had a slight lisp from childhood, a friend suggested he call himself "Mumbles." Craig shortened this to "muMs." He said it stood for "manipulator under Manipulation shhhhhhh!"

A Poet's Voice

A writer named Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz described Craig's poetry. She said his writing was "street poetry at its purest." It was thoughtful and precise, but also funny. His poems spoke honestly about his life, his friends, and the city he loved.

muMs performed his poetry on the HBO show Def Poetry Jam for three seasons. This show featured many talented poets. He was also a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company in New York City. In 2007, muMs acted in a play called A View from 151st Street. This play was about people trying to rebuild their lives after a difficult event.

In 2014, muMs wrote and performed a show called "A Sucker Emcee." This show combined hip-hop and slam poetry. It was based on his own memories and experiences. In 2015, his play "Paradox of the Urban Cliché" was performed. It was about a young couple living in Harlem. Also in 2015, muMs acted in another play called "The Insurgents."

Acting Roles

Craig Grant also had many acting roles. In 2016, he was a guest star in the Netflix series Luke Cage. He played a character named Reggie "Squabbles." He also appeared as a recurring character, Ricardo, in three episodes of the web series Horace and Pete.

He worked with director Steven Soderbergh on two films. Craig also had supporting roles in other movies. These included Bringing Out the Dead, Bamboozled, Birdman, and Good Time.

His Final Years

Craig Grant passed away in Wilmington, North Carolina, on March 24, 2021. He was 52 years old. His manager, Sekka Scher, stated that he died due to complications from diabetes.

What He Starred In

Movies

TV Shows

Video Games