Biography
Mekhi Phifer's success story read like something from Hollywood's Golden Age. With little to no acting experience, Phifer landed a walk-on in an open casting session for the role of Strike in Spike Lee's "Clockers" (1995). After he won the part, his career as a powerful and versatile African-American actor of the hip-hop generation was off and running. Phifer would go on to capture the attention of critics and audiences alike with performances …
Mekhi Phifer SlideShow
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Career Milestones
1994 | Responded to an open casting call for Spike Lee's production of "Clockers" |
1995 | Acting debut, starring role in "Clockers" |
1995 | Began recording a rap album for Warner Bros. |
1995 | Served as the chief advisor to a start-up talent agency |
1995 | TV acting debut in the HBO movie, "The Tuskegee Airmen" |
1997 | Had supporting role in the hit film "Soul Food" |
1998 | Co-starred in the horror sequel "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" |
1998 | Guest-starred on memorable season-ending episode of NBC's drama series "Homicide: Life on the Street" |
2000 | Had supporting role in "Shaft" |
2001 | Played opposite pop singer Beyonce Knowles in MTV's hip-hop version of "Carmen" |
2001 | Starred in "O" (filmed in 1999), a modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's "Othello" |
2002 | Cast as Dr. Pratt on the NBC medical drama "ER" |
2002 | Co-starred as Future in "8 Mile" |
2003 | Starred with Jessica Alba in the dance drama "Honey" |
2004 | Starred opposite Ving Rhames in the remake of the 1978 horror film "Dawn of the Dead" |
2006 | Debut as a producer-director with "Puff, Puff, Pass" a hilarious look at America's weed culture; also co-starred |
2007 | Played a dead man in "Slow Burn" starring Ray Liotta and LL Cool J |
2007 | Produced the drama, "This Christmas"; also co-starred |
2009 | Began a guest-starring arc on the Fox drama "Lie to Me"; became a regular cast member in the second season |