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Mekhi Phifer
Mekhi Phifer at 2011 Comic-Con International (5983164175) (cropped).jpg
Phifer at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1974-12-29) December 29, 1974 (age 50)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1994–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1999; div. 2003)
Reshelet Barnes Phifer
(m. 2013)
Children 2

Mekhi Phifer (born December 29, 1974) is an American actor. He started his acting career in the mid-1990s. He became known for roles in movies like Clockers, Soul Food, and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.

In 2002, he acted alongside Eminem in the movie 8 Mile. His most famous TV role was Dr. Greg Pratt on the medical drama ER. He was on ER from 2002 to 2008. Later, in 2013, he joined the show House of Lies. He also played CIA officer Rex Matheson in the science fiction show Torchwood: Miracle Day from 2011. In 2024, he starred in the action film Long Gone Heroes.

Early Life

Mekhi Phifer was born in Harlem, New York City, on December 29, 1974. He grew up with his mother, Rhoda Phifer, who was a high school teacher.

Acting Career

In 1994, when he was 19, Mekhi Phifer went to an open audition for director Spike Lee's movie Clockers. He got the main role, beating out over a thousand other people. After that, he appeared in the comedy High School High. He also co-starred in the horror film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. In 2002, he starred in the movie Paid in Full.

He played Dr. Gregory Pratt on the NBC medical drama ER. He joined the show in April 2002. Phifer left ER in September 2008. His character had a dramatic exit from the show. During his six years on ER, he was nominated twice for an NAACP Image Award.

US Navy 041211-N-8273J-197 Television and movie actor Mekhi Phifer poses for a photo on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during a recent tour of the ship
Phifer on the flight deck of USS Nimitz in 2004

Phifer has also been in other TV projects. These include the film The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) and Brian's Song (2001). In Brian's Song, he played former Chicago Bear player Gale Sayers. He also gained attention for his role with singer Beyoncé Knowles in the MTV film Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001).

He had a recurring role in Homicide: Life on the Street. He also appeared as a guest star in New York Undercover. He received an NAACP Image Award nomination for the TV film A Lesson Before Dying. In 2009, Phifer started a guest role on the drama Lie to Me.

Some of Phifer's other movie roles include Soul Food and O. He also appeared in Impostor. He was in Paid in Full, where he played Mitch. He also starred in 8 Mile with Eminem. Eminem even mentioned him in his famous song "Lose Yourself".

In June 2011, Phifer starred as CIA agent Rex Matheson in Torchwood: Miracle Day. This was the fourth season of the TV show Torchwood. In December of that year, he also performed on Broadway in the play Stick Fly.

Phifer played Agent Collins in the fourth season of White Collar. He also made a guest appearance on the sitcom Husbands. In 2016, he joined the TV show Frequency as a regular cast member.

Personal Life

Mekhi Phifer has a son with his former wife, actress Malinda Williams. His second son was born in 2007. On March 30, 2013, Phifer married his longtime girlfriend, Reshelet Barnes, in Beverly Hills, California.

Other Activities

Phifer won the fourth tournament of Celebrity Poker Showdown. He beat other celebrities like Matthew Perry and Neil Patrick Harris. He also plays poker for charity. Phifer is the chairman of the board of trustees for The Vine Group USA. This group helps provide educational resources to universities in Africa.

Phifer owns several Athlete's Foot shoe stores in California. In January 2011, he started his own company called Third Reel Films. This company helps filmmakers show their work to people in the entertainment industry.

Film Roles

Year Title Role Notes
1995 The Tuskegee Airmen Lewis Johns Television film
Clockers Ronald 'Strike' Dunham
1996 Girl 6 Himself
High School High Griff McReynolds
Sureshot Kevin
1997 SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground Man in Hallway Television film
Soul Food Lem Van Adams
Hav Plenty Harold
1998 Hell's Kitchen Johnny
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Tyrell Martin
1999 A Lesson Before Dying Jefferson Television film
Uninvited Guest Silk
2000 Shaft Trey Howard
2001 Carmen: A Hip Hopera Derek Hill Television film
O Odin "O" James
Impostor Cale
Brian's Song Gale Sayers Television film
Head Games John Ambrose, Jr. 'John John'
2002 The Other Brother Martin
Paid in Full Mitch
8 Mile David "Future" Porter
2003 Honey Chaz
2004 Dawn of the Dead Andre
2005 Slow Burn Isaac Duperde
2006 Puff, Puff, Pass Big Daddy
2007 This Christmas Gerald
2008 Nora's Hair Salon 2: A Cut Above Dr. Terry
2009 A Day in the Life King Khi
2010 Tenement Tyrese Harris
2011 Flypaper Darrien
Last Man Standing Jeremy Davis Television film
2013 The Suspect The Suspect
The Love Section James Johnson
2014 Divergent Max
A Day Late and a Dollar Short Lewis Television film
2015 The Divergent Series: Insurgent Max
2016 Pandemic Gunner
The Divergent Series: Allegiant Max
2017 Chocolate City: Vegas Strip Best Valentine
2018 A Talent for Trouble Mekhi Phifer
Canal Street Prosecutor A.J Canton
2019 Obsession Sonny
2024 Lights Out Max Bomer
The Supremes At Earl's All-You-Can-Eat James Henry
Long Gone Heroes Moreao
The Silent Hour Mason Lynch
TBA New Jersey's Finest Steve Sugar Pre-production
10-13 Dave Harris

Television Roles

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Models Inc. Model #2 Episode: "By Crook or by Hook"
1995–96 New York Undercover Dion Broat / Sekou 2 episodes
1996–98 Homicide: Life on the Street Nathaniel Lee "Junior Bunk" Mahoney 3 episodes
2002–08 ER Dr. Gregory Pratt Recurring cast: season 8, main cast: season 9–14, guest: season 15
2004 Punk'd Himself Episode: "Episode #3.6"
2005 Curb Your Enthusiasm Omar Jones Recurring cast: season 5
2008 The Black Poker Stars Invitational Himself TV series
2009–11 Lie to Me Ben Reynolds Recurring cast: season 1, main cast: season 2
2011 Torchwood Agent Rex Matheson Main cast: season 4
2012 Psych Drake Episode: "Let's Doo-Wop It Again"
White Collar Kyle Collins Episode: "Wanted" & "Most Wanted"
Husbands Mark Episode: "The Straightening"
2014 House of Lies Andrew "Dre" Collins Recurring cast: season 3
2015 Key & Peele Cousin Episode: "Hollywood Sequel Doctor"
2016 Roots Jerusalem Episode: "Part 4"
Secret City US Ambassador to Australia Moreton Main cast: season 1
2016–17 Frequency Satch Reyna Main cast
2017 Match Game Himself/Celebrity Panelist TV series
2018 Chicago P.D. Joe Baker Episode: "Captive"
The Bobby Brown Story Tommy Brown 2 episodes
2019–23 Truth Be Told Markus Killebrew Main cast
2020–22 Love, Victor Harold Brooks Recurring cast
2025 Law & Order Lyman Ross Episode: "Greater Good"

Music Videos

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Mekhi Phifer para niños

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