Mike Epps
A high-energy comedian whose everyman charm and sharp timing made him a staple of early 2000s urban comedy franchises.
Born 1970 (age 56)·American actor and comedian·Birthday: November 18·Generation X
Biography
Mike Epps honed his comedy in the tough clubs of Atlanta and New York, developing a raw, observational style that caught the eye of Def Comedy Jam. His big break came when he was cast as Ice Cube's hapless cousin, Day-Day, in 'Next Friday,' a role that turned him into a household name and cemented his place in the 'Friday' series legacy. Epps brought a specific, relatable frustration and physical humor to his characters, whether in film or on stage. While known for these comedy hits, he has shown a wider range, from voice work in the 'Open Season' sequels to dramatic turns in projects like 'Resident Evil.' His career is a testament to the durability of pure comedic talent, evolving from a stand-up sensation to a reliable film and television presence who can command both laughter and quiet attention.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mike was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mike Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Mike's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Day-Day Jones in the hit comedy films 'Next Friday' and 'Friday After Next'.
- Performed voice acting as the lead character Boog in 'Open Season 2' and 'Open Season 3'.
- Portrayed the character Black Doug in 'The Hangover' film series.
- Headlined his own Netflix comedy special, 'Mike Epps: Only One Mike'.
Did You Know?
He worked as a stand-up comedian on the 'Def Comedy Jam' tour in the 1990s.
Epps was originally considered for the role of Bubba in 'Forrest Gump' before it went to Mykelti Williamson.
He is a passionate collector of classic cars.
“Comedy comes from the truth of the struggle, from the corner not the penthouse.”
