Boasting an athletic body, sexy smile and raw intensity, this native New Yorker found overnight success when he attended an open call for Spike Lee's 1995 drama
Clockers and landed the leading role of a drug dealer. After earning accolades for his debut, Phifer turned in credible performances in movies of varying quality, from the silly comedy
High School High (which introduced him to wife ex-Malinda Williams) to the inane but popular thriller
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer to the sadly underappreciated
O, an adaptation of
Othello set in the world of high-school sports. Although 2002 was a bad year for Phifer personally, due to his divorce from Williams, it marked his professional breakthrough with his winning turn as Eminem's pal in
8 Mile and his addition to the cast of
ER as a cocky doctor.
Mekhi Phifer Fast Facts:
- Planned to study electrical engineering before landing his debut role in Clockers (1995).
- Recorded a rap album titled New York Related: The HF Project. His rap skills were again put to use in the 2001 TV-movie Carmen: A Hip Hopera opposite Beyonce Knowles.
- Starred in the video for Brandy and Monica's 1998 hit single "The Boy Is Mine."
- Opened a number of Athlete's Foot stores in California.
- Mekhi Phifer Relationships:
- Fernando Cameron - Half Brother
- Malinda Williams - Ex-wife
- Mekhi Thira Phifer - Son
- Omikaye Phifer - Son
- Oni Souratha - Fiancée
- Rhoda Phifer - Mother
