They’ve both enjoyed roles in the film industry, but are Omar Epps and Mike Epps related in any way?
Omar Epps and Mike Epps are cousins. While they haven’t ever been snapped together or appeared in the same production, they are indeed first cousins.
Read on to learn more about these two actors and their relationship.
Similar Starts
Omar Epps and Mike Epps had very similar starts in life. They’re both very close in age, the former being born in 1973, and the latter in 1970. They weren’t born all that far apart, either. Omar was born in New York, while Mike started life in Indiana.
The similarities continue with their careers. Omar Epps’ career started around 1988, when he was cast in a short film. Shortly after, he began acting in earnest, starring in a movie alongside the late Tupac Shakur.
Mike Epps, on the other hand, started his career just one year later, in 1989. While his earliest advances into entertainment weren’t in movies, he wouldn’t be far behind Omar. Instead, Mike gravitated towards comedy and stand-up in his early years.
By 1997 however, Mike Epps would also be starring in movies, working with industry names such as Vin Diesel. While Omar was always the more successful dramatic actor, Mike found his fame through comedy.
An article from 2010 discusses this comparative relationship. In it, the writer states: “Mike and Omar may be cousins, but they’re not the same dude – Mike is distinctly, undeniably funnier, the kind of guy who has the most of what Hollywood has thrown his way.”
This article does a great job at exploring Mike Epps’ success through acting. It details his appearances in the wildly successful Resident Evil and Hangover franchises. It also explains how, although some appearances may be short, he often succeeds in stealing the show.
In another article, this one from way back in 2003, Mike Epps explains how he got started. He stated that he was watching Def Comedy Jam on television, and believed he could do the same job. In a quote, he said: “Them dudes ain’t funnier than me running around the neighborhood.”
Following his success, he says he, “… left Indiana, and I ain’t been back since. I’ve been doing comedy and paying my bills.” You can see a YouTube video below of Mike Epps performing stand-up comedy.
On The Other Hand
While Omar Epps is certainly no stranger to the big screen, he cut his teeth in drama. Traditionally, Omar could be found playing grittier, troubled characters, or sports personalities. His earliest roles saw him playing footballer players and baseball stars.
He experimented in both lead and support roles, and saw considerable success on both film and television. Omar Epps is also more widely acclaimed than Mike Epps, boasting several nominations for awards.
Another way in which Mike and Omar differ is in their off-screen ventures. Mike has dabbled with music – and music videos – over the years. Contrastingly, Omar hasn’t endeavoured to pursue many paths away from acting.
Omar did write a book in 2018, an autobiographical piece named From Fatherless to Fatherhood. He has also worked for nonprofit organizations, focusing on anti-corruption laws in the United States.
Despite both being prominent actors, the two Epps hasn’t ever appeared in a production together. In fact, there is almost no source material online showing the two together in public. There may have been plenty of opportunities, though – by 2020, the two had appeared in a collective eighty-nine movies.
Perhaps they may connect someday, but there are stark differences between the two men. This is noticeable on their respective social media platforms. As an example, you can examine the difference between Mike and Omar’s Instagram feeds.