Omar Epps

Omar Epps
Name	Omar Epps
Caption	Epps in 2014
Birth date	20 July 1973
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, rapper, record producer
Years active	1988–present
Spouse	Kelechi Epps, 2006

Omar Epps is an American actor, rapper, and record producer known for his versatile performances across film and television. He first gained widespread recognition for his role in the 1992 film *Juice* and later achieved significant fame as Dr. Dennis Gant on the acclaimed medical drama *ER*. His career is distinguished by a long-running role as Dr. Eric Foreman on the Fox medical drama *House* and his portrayal of J. Martin Bellamy on the ABC series *Resurrection*.

Early life and education

He was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City to a single mother and was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. He showed an early interest in the arts, writing his first rap song at the age of ten and beginning to write screenplays shortly thereafter. Epps attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, a prestigious magnet school known for nurturing artistic talent. His formative years in New York City deeply influenced his creative pursuits and his later approach to acting and music.

Acting career

His professional acting career began with a role in the 1988 Discovery Channel special *The Day the Earth Moved*. His breakthrough came with his portrayal of Q in Ernest Dickerson's 1992 film *Juice*, starring alongside Tupac Shakur. He subsequently delivered notable performances in films such as John Singleton's Higher Learning and the sports film *The Wood*. A significant television role came when he was cast as Dr. Dennis Gant on the NBC series *ER*, which earned him a NAACP Image Award. From 2004 to 2012, he starred as Dr. Eric Foreman, a neurologist and diagnostician, on the globally successful series *House*. Later leading roles include J. Martin Bellamy on *Resurrection* and Elijah Bledsoe on the Shonda Rhimes-produced drama *The Fix*.

Music career

Parallel to his acting, he has maintained a career in music as a rapper and record producer. He was a member of the hip-hop group Wolfpack alongside his cousin. Epps has produced tracks for various artists and contributed to several soundtrack albums, including for the film *The Wood*. His musical endeavors often blend with his acting projects, and he has performed at venues like the Apollo Theater. He has collaborated with artists such as Keith Murray and remains involved in the music industry through his production company.

Personal life

He married Kelechi Epps (née Ndukwe) in 2006, and the couple has three children together. The family resides in Southern California. He is a practicing Baptist and has been open about the importance of his faith. Epps is also an author, having published a book of poetry titled *From Fatherless to Fatherhood*. He maintains a private life but occasionally participates in charitable events and has been involved with organizations supporting urban youth and arts education.

Filmography

A selection of his notable film and television credits includes *Juice* (1992), Major League II (1994), Higher Learning (1995), Scream 2 (1997), *The Wood* (1999), Love & Basketball (2000), Against the Ropes (2004), and *Alfie* (2004). His extensive television work features series regular roles on *ER*, *House*, *Resurrection*, and *Shooter*. He has also directed episodes for series such as *House* and *The Night Shift*.

Awards and nominations

Throughout his career, he has received several accolades, including a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on *ER*. He has earned multiple NAACP Image Award nominations for his performances in *House* and Love & Basketball. His work was also recognized with a Black Reel Award nomination for *The Wood*. The ensemble cast of *House* was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Category:American male actors Category:American rappers Category:1973 births Category:Living people