Omar Epps

Born: 23 July 1973
Where: Brooklyn, New York

The rapper and actor was frequently cast as sports heroes and troubled teenagers early in his career, but gradually moved on to more substantial dramatic fare.

The young actor made a promising film debut in 1992's Juice, a violent and tragic take on four young men growing up in Harlem, co-starring the late rapper Tupac Shakur.

He followed with college football drama The Program, then switched to baseball as co-star of Major League II, taking over the role of Willie Mays Hayes from originator Wesley Snipes.

His next athletic endeavor was playing a runner in John Singleton's Higher Learning.

After some notable television work, Epps returned to the big screen in 1997 with a brief turn in the blockbuster sequel Scream 2.

The Wood gave Epps a serious role, following a group of middle-class African-Americans from youth to adulthood.

Epps was next featured alongside Stanley Tucci and LL Cool J in In Too Deep, followed by When Willows Touch, with James Earl Jones and Jada Pinkett Smith, and the drama Love and Basketball.

In addition to a prolific acting career, Epps has also worked as a songwriter, producer and performer with the hip hop group Wolfpack.

He also wrote (along with childhood pals Marlon and Shawn Wayans), the main title theme song for the series The Wayans Bros.

In 2000, he co-starred with Japanese actor-director Takeshi Kitano in Brother and appeared in Wes Craven Presents Dracula 2000.

He subsequently appeared opposite Meg Ryan in Against The Ropes and alongside Jude Law in the remake of the Michael Caine classic Alfie.