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Omar Epps
| Omar Epps | |
 | |
| Birth name | Omar Hashim Epps |
| Born | July 20, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Notable Roles | Dr. Eric Foreman in House, M.D. |
| Notable Episodes | House, M.D.: 1x08 - Poison
House, M.D.: 1x17 - Role Model |
| Awards | |
Omar Epps is an American actor and musician best known on television for his recurring guest role on ER and for his starring role as Dr. Eric Foreman on House, M.D.
Contents |
Biography
Omar Hashim Epps was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 20, 1973. Epps' mother, a high school principal, separated from his father when Epps was still a child, and she raised her children as a single mother. He grew up with fellow actor Marlon Wayans, and the two are still friends to this day. Young Epps began writing from an early age - first poetry and short stories, but by the age of ten, he had written his first screenplay.
He attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York. At the age of 18, he formed the rap group Wolfpak with his brother. One year later, in 1992, he received top billing over rap star Tupac Shakur in the role of Q in the movie Juice. Although it was not his first screen role, he caught the eye of audiences and critics alike with it. In the following decade, he had roles in films as diverse as Major League II, Scream 2 and Breakfast of Champions, often as troubled teenagers or athletes. He also had a notable recurring role as Dr. Dennis Gant on ER and appearances in multiple music videos - also directing some - and the video game "Def Jam Fight for New York."
In 2000, he received award nominations for his breakout performance in Love & Basketball, and in 2004, he co-starred with Meg Ryan as Luther Shaw in Against the Ropes and with Jude Law in Alfie. In those years, he also founded his own record label, BKNYC Records. In July 2004, his fiancée Keisha Spivey gave birth to his first child, K'mari Mae.
Two months after he became a father, Epps debuted as Dr. Eric Foreman in House, M.D. The series was a runaway hit and made even bigger stars of its entire cast, including Epps.
Roles
Starring Roles
| Series | Role | Year(s) | Season(s) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ER | Dennis Gant | 1996–1997 | 3 | |||||||
| House, M.D. | Eric Foreman | 2004–2012 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Resurrection | Marty Bellamy | 2014–2015 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
Guest Starring Roles
| Series | Role | Episode | Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Here and Now | 1x02 - Lovers and Other Dangers | September 26, 1992 | |
| Street Justice | Clint | 2x11 - Black or Blue | January 12, 1993 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x01 - Dr. Carter, I Presume | September 26, 1996 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x02 - Let the Games Begin | October 3, 1996 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x03 - Don't Ask, Don't Tell | October 10, 1996 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x04 - Last Call | October 17, 1996 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x05 - Ghosts | October 31, 1996 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x06 - Fear of Flying | November 7, 1996 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x07 - No Brain, No Gain | November 14, 1996 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x09 - Ask Me No Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies | December 12, 1996 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x10 - Homeless for the Holidays | December 19, 1996 |
| ER | Dr. Dennis Gant | 3x11 - Night Shift | January 16, 1997 |
Specials and Made-for-TV Movies
| Title | Role | Airdate | Series/Banner |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the Shadow of Love: A Teen AIDS Story | Deron | September 18, 1991 | ABC Afterschool Specials |
| Conviction | Carl Upchurch | September 29, 2002 | Showtime Original Movie |
Talk, News and Game Show Appearances
Memorable Moments
Awards and Accolades
NAACP Image Awards
(3 Wins in 10 Nominations)
- Nominated: Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture (2001)
- Love & Basketball
- Nominated: Oustanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special (2003)
- Conviction
- Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2005, 2012)
- Nominated: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (2006, 2009)
- Won: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2007, 2008, 2013)
- Nominated: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (2015)
Other Awards
- Black Reel Awards
- Nominated: Theatrical - Best Actor (2000) - Love & Basketball
- MTV Movie Awards
- Nominated: Best Male Performance (2001) - Love & Basketball
- Teen Choice Awards
- Nominated: Choice Actor (2000) - Love & Basketball
- Nominated: Choice Chemistry (2000) - with Sanaa Lathan, Love & Basketball
Trivia
- Dated Sanaa Lathan, his co-star in Love & Basketball. The two were nominated for a Teen Choice Award for "Choice Chemistry" for their work together in that film.
- Announced his intention to run for President as an independent candidate in 2008. Previously made this announcement years earlier when his character on House, M.D., Dr. Eric Foreman, treated a Black Presidential candidate in episode 1x17 - Role Model.
