Mekhi Phifer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mekhi Phifer
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Phifer at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con
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| Born | December 29, 1974 New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| 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.
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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.
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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
- 1994: "Flava in Ya Ear" by Craig Mack
- 1996: "Wu Wear" by Wu-Tang Clan
- 1996: "So Many Ways" by The Braxtons
- 1996: "Nobody" by Keith Sweat featuring Athena Cage
- 1996: "Don't Let Go (Love)" by En Vogue
- 1998: "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica
- 1999: "BOOM" by Royce da 5'9"
- 2002: "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
- 2003: "Many Men (Wish Death)" by 50 Cent
- 2003: "Without Me" by Eminem
- 2004: "Just Lose It" by Eminem
See also
In Spanish: Mekhi Phifer para niños
