Omar Epps facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Omar Epps
Epps in 2008
Born	Omar Hashim Epps (1973-07-20) July 20, 1973 (age 52) Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor rapper producer
Years active	1988–present
Spouse(s)	Keisha Epps (m. 2006)
Children	3

Omar Hashim Epps (born July 20, 1973) is an American actor, rapper, and producer. He is well-known for his roles in popular movies like Juice, Higher Learning, The Wood, In Too Deep, and Love & Basketball. Omar Epps has also starred in many TV shows. He played Dr. Dennis Gant on ER, J. Martin Bellamy in Resurrection, and Dr. Eric Foreman on House. He was also Isaac Johnson in Shooter and Detective Malcolm Howard on Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Omar Epps has won many awards for his acting, including nine NAACP Image Awards.

Early Life and Talents

Omar Epps was born in Brooklyn, New York. His parents separated when he was young. He was raised by his mother, Bonnie Maria Epps, who was an elementary school principal. He grew up in different neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

From a young age, Omar showed a creative side. He started writing poetry, short stories, and songs when he was just ten years old. He went to a special high school in New York City called Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. This school is famous for students with artistic talents. Before he became an actor, Omar was part of a rap group called Wolfpack. He started this group with his cousin in 1991.

Acting Career Highlights

Omar Epps began his acting career in movies in 1992. His first big role was playing a DJ in the movie Juice, where he starred alongside rapper 2Pac. The next year, he played an athlete in the college football movie The Program.

In 1994, he took on another sports role in Major League II. He played the character Willie Mays Hayes. After that, he starred as a track and field runner in John Singleton's movie Higher Learning. This film explored college life and its challenges. In 1996, Omar Epps played Kingsley Ofusu in the BBC/HBO film Deadly Voyage. This was a true story about people trying to hide on a ship to reach America. He won an award for best actor at the Monte Carlo Television Festival for this role.

Epps at the Paley Center for Media, Beverly Hills, California, on June 17, 2009

Omar Epps also started acting on television. He appeared as Dr. Dennis Gant, a surgical intern, in the popular medical drama ER. After his time on ER, he returned to movies. In 1997, he had a role in the hit movie Scream 2. Also in 1997, he starred in the HBO movie First Time Felon, playing a character who goes through a reform program and becomes a hero during a flood rescue.

In 1999, Omar Epps starred in The Wood. This movie was a popular comedy about growing up. He played Mike Tarver, who tells the story of a group of friends from their youth to adulthood. He also appeared in In Too Deep, playing an undercover detective.

In 2000, Omar Epps starred in Love & Basketball with Sanaa Lathan. He played Quincy, a basketball player who has a complicated relationship with another talented basketball star, Monica. He also had roles in movies like Dracula 2000 and Big Trouble. He played a leading role in the movie Brother.

In 2004, Omar Epps played Luther Shaw, a boxer, in the movie Against the Ropes. That same year, he was a character in the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY. Also in 2004, he joined the cast of the medical TV show House. He played Dr. Eric Foreman, a smart neurologist who often disagreed with the main character, Dr. House. This role earned him several NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor.

From 2014 to 2015, Omar Epps played agent J. Martin Bellamy in the ABC TV series Resurrection. This show was about people who mysteriously returned from the dead. In July 2020, he starred in the Netflix movie Fatal Affair. Since 2021, he has been playing Detective Malcolm Howard in the Starz crime drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan. In 2024, he appeared in the supernatural horror film The Deliverance.

Personal Life

Omar Epps married singer Keisha Spivey in 2005. Keisha was part of the R&B music group Total. They have two children together, a daughter named K'mari Mae and a son named Amir. Omar also has another daughter named Aiyanna from a previous relationship.

Omar Epps is good friends with actor and comedian Marlon Wayans. They went to high school together at LaGuardia High and both graduated in 1990. Omar even helped produce the theme song for the TV show The Wayans Brothers in the late 1990s.

In 2018, Omar Epps clarified that he is not related to fellow actor Mike Epps. He said they have talked about it and confirmed they are not family.

Omar Epps wrote a book about his life called From Fatherless to Fatherhood. It was released in June 2018. He also helps with a group called RepresentUs. This group works to pass laws against corruption in the United States. In 2020, he narrated a video for them about America's justice system.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Video Games

Music

• Omar Epps Presents... The Get Back (2004)