Stand-up comedian-turned-actor Mike Epps got his first big break performing on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” (1992-97; 2006- ), and soon parlayed his popularity into big screen success with co-starring roles in Ice Cube features like “Next Friday” (2000) and “All About the Benjamins” (2002). Tall and handsome with a charming smile and wiseass demeanor, Epps stood out in a string of broad comedies before finally being tapped to play more substantial characters in meatier films like 2007’s “Talk to Me.” The promising actor was even hand-chosen by Richard Pryor to portray the legendary comedian in a
