Mekhi Phifer

Mekhi Thira Phifer (born December 29, 1974) is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his multi-year role as Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC's long-running medical drama ER and his co-starring role opposite Eminem in the feature film 8 Mile. He was a regular on the Fox crime show Lie to Me portraying the role of Ben Reynolds, before season 3. He was born in in Harlem, New York City, the son of Rhoda Phifer, a high school teacher; he grew up in a single-parent household with his mother. His acting career began in 1995, when Phifer attended an open casting call for director Spike Lee’s Clockers, beating over a thousand others to get the lead role as a narcotics dealer embroiled in a murder cover-up. He followed that role with another in the comedy spoof feature High School High (which also starred his former wife Malinda Williams) and continued by co-starring in the fright flick I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze, Jr. Among Phifer’s other big-screen credits are Soul Food, The Biography of Spud Webb, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC, Tears of a Clown, O (as the titular character Odin a.k.a. O), and the thriller Uninvited Guest (as Silk). He appeared in Impostor as well as Paid in Full, 8 Mile, opposite Eminem and Dawn of the Dead. Phifer has a son, Omikaye, with his ex-wife, actress Malinda Williams. His second son, Mekhi Thira Phifer Jr., was born to his girlfriend Oni Souratha in Los Angeles on October 30, 2007.

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8 Mile (2002)

MusicalInspiringCharmingDramatic

For Jimmy Smith, Jr., life is a daily fight just to keep hope alive. Feeding his dreams in Detroit's vibrant music scene, Jimmy wages an extraordinary personal struggle to find his own voice - and earn a place in a world where rhymes rule, legends are born and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Eminem  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Kim Basinger  •  Brittany Murphy

For Jimmy Smith, Jr., life is a daily fight just to keep hope alive. Feeding his dreams in Detroit's vibrant music scene, Jimmy wages an extraordinary personal struggle to find his own voice - and earn a place in a world where rhymes rule, legends are born and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Eminem  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Kim Basinger  •  Brittany Murphy

Clockers (1995)

Strike is a young city drug pusher under the tutelage of drug lord Rodney Little. When a night manager at a fast-food restaurant is found with four bullets in his body, Strike’s older brother turns himself in as the killer. Det. Rocco Klein doesn’t buy the story, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Harvey Keitel  •  John Turturro  •  Delroy Lindo  •  Mekhi Phifer

Strike is a young city drug pusher under the tutelage of drug lord Rodney Little. When a night manager at a fast-food restaurant is found with four bullets in his body, Strike’s older brother turns himself in as the killer. Det. Rocco Klein doesn’t buy the story, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Harvey Keitel  •  John Turturro  •  Delroy Lindo  •  Mekhi Phifer

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Fast pacedAction-packedThrilling

A group of survivors take refuge in a shopping mall after the world is taken over by aggressive, flesh-eating zombies.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Zack Snyder
CAST:  Sarah Polley  •  Ving Rhames  •  Jake Weber  •  Mekhi Phifer

A group of survivors take refuge in a shopping mall after the world is taken over by aggressive, flesh-eating zombies.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Zack Snyder
CAST:  Sarah Polley  •  Ving Rhames  •  Jake Weber  •  Mekhi Phifer

Girl 6 (1996)

A struggling actress in New York City takes a job as a phone sex operator.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Theresa Randle  •  Isaiah Washington  •  Spike Lee  •  Jenifer Lewis

A struggling actress in New York City takes a job as a phone sex operator.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Theresa Randle  •  Isaiah Washington  •  Spike Lee  •  Jenifer Lewis

Hav Plenty (1997)

Lee Plenty is an almost broke would-be novelist and Havilland Savage is a rich and very beautiful woman and his friend. When she invites him to her home for New Year's Eve, they start to build up a romance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Scott Cherot
CAST:  Christopher Scott Cherot  •  Chenoa Maxwell  •  Tammi Katherine Jones  •  Robinne Lee

Lee Plenty is an almost broke would-be novelist and Havilland Savage is a rich and very beautiful woman and his friend. When she invites him to her home for New Year's Eve, they start to build up a romance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Scott Cherot
CAST:  Christopher Scott Cherot  •  Chenoa Maxwell  •  Tammi Katherine Jones  •  Robinne Lee

High School High (1996)

Richard Clark has just left the well-known Wellington Academy to teach at Marion Barry High School. Now, he will try to inspire the D-average students into making good grades and try to woo a fellow teacher.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hart Bochner
CAST:  Jon Lovitz  •  Tia Carrere  •  Louise Fletcher  •  Mekhi Phifer

Richard Clark has just left the well-known Wellington Academy to teach at Marion Barry High School. Now, he will try to inspire the D-average students into making good grades and try to woo a fellow teacher.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hart Bochner
CAST:  Jon Lovitz  •  Tia Carrere  •  Louise Fletcher  •  Mekhi Phifer

Honey (2003)

Honey Daniels dreams of making a name for herself as a hip-hop choreographer. When she's not busy hitting downtown clubs with her friends, she teaches dance classes at a nearby community center in Harlem, N.Y., as a way to keep kids off the streets. Honey thinks ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bille Woodruff
CAST:  Jessica Alba  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Joy Bryant  •  Romeo Miller

Honey Daniels dreams of making a name for herself as a hip-hop choreographer. When she's not busy hitting downtown clubs with her friends, she teaches dance classes at a nearby community center in Harlem, N.Y., as a way to keep kids off the streets. Honey thinks ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bille Woodruff
CAST:  Jessica Alba  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Joy Bryant  •  Romeo Miller

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)

Ever since killing the Fisherman one year ago, Julie James is still haunted by images of him after her. When her best friend Karla wins free tickets to the Bahamas, Julie finds this a perfect opportunity to finally relax. But someone is waiting for her. Someone who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Danny Cannon
CAST:  Jennifer Love Hewitt  •  Freddie Prinze Jr.  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Brandy

Ever since killing the Fisherman one year ago, Julie James is still haunted by images of him after her. When her best friend Karla wins free tickets to the Bahamas, Julie finds this a perfect opportunity to finally relax. But someone is waiting for her. Someone who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Danny Cannon
CAST:  Jennifer Love Hewitt  •  Freddie Prinze Jr.  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Brandy

Impostor (2001)

A top-secret government weapons designer is arrested by a clandestine government organization on suspicion of being a clone created by the hostile alien race wanting to take over Earth.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Fleder
CAST:  Gary Sinise  •  Madeleine Stowe  •  Tony Shalhoub  •  Mekhi Phifer

A top-secret government weapons designer is arrested by a clandestine government organization on suspicion of being a clone created by the hostile alien race wanting to take over Earth.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Fleder
CAST:  Gary Sinise  •  Madeleine Stowe  •  Tony Shalhoub  •  Mekhi Phifer

O (2001)

Even though he's the only black student at the elite Palmetto Grove Academy, star basketball player and future NBA hopeful Odin James has the adoration of all, including the team's coach and the Dean's beautiful daughter Desi. Odin's troubled friend Hugo, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Blake Nelson
CAST:  Mekhi Phifer  •  Josh Hartnett  •  Andrew Keegan  •  Julia Stiles

Even though he's the only black student at the elite Palmetto Grove Academy, star basketball player and future NBA hopeful Odin James has the adoration of all, including the team's coach and the Dean's beautiful daughter Desi. Odin's troubled friend Hugo, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Blake Nelson
CAST:  Mekhi Phifer  •  Josh Hartnett  •  Andrew Keegan  •  Julia Stiles

Puff, Puff, Pass (2006)

Danny Masterson (TV's 'That '70s Show') leads a hilarious ensemble cast in a tale about two hapless stoners who get involved in a scheme to rip off a shady character named Mr. Big after the duo sours on rehab.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mekhi Phifer
CAST:  Ronnie Warner  •  Danny Masterson  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Ashley Scott

Danny Masterson (TV's 'That '70s Show') leads a hilarious ensemble cast in a tale about two hapless stoners who get involved in a scheme to rip off a shady character named Mr. Big after the duo sours on rehab.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mekhi Phifer
CAST:  Ronnie Warner  •  Danny Masterson  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Ashley Scott

Shaft (2000)

New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Samuel L. Jackson  •  Jeffrey Wright  •  Christian Bale  •  Busta Rhymes

New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Samuel L. Jackson  •  Jeffrey Wright  •  Christian Bale  •  Busta Rhymes

Slow Burn (2005)

A district attorney (Ray Liotta) is involved in a 24-hour showdown with a gang leader (LL Cool J) and is, at the same time, being manipulated by an attractive assistant district attorney (Jolene Blalock) and a cryptic stranger.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wayne Beach
CAST:  Ray Liotta  •  LL Cool J  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Jolene Blalock

A district attorney (Ray Liotta) is involved in a 24-hour showdown with a gang leader (LL Cool J) and is, at the same time, being manipulated by an attractive assistant district attorney (Jolene Blalock) and a cryptic stranger.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wayne Beach
CAST:  Ray Liotta  •  LL Cool J  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Jolene Blalock

Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001)

An engaged Philadelphia policeman falls in love with a beautiful woman while dealing with a corrupt superior.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Townsend
CAST:  Mekhi Phifer  •  Beyoncé  •  Yasiin Bey  •  Rah Digga

An engaged Philadelphia policeman falls in love with a beautiful woman while dealing with a corrupt superior.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Townsend
CAST:  Mekhi Phifer  •  Beyoncé  •  Yasiin Bey  •  Rah Digga

Soul Food (1997)

Traditional Sunday dinners at Mama Joe's (Irma P. Hall) turn sour when sisters Teri (Vanessa L. Williams), Bird (Nia Long) and Maxine (Vivica A. Fox) start bringing their problems to the dinner table in this ensemble comedy. When tragedy strikes, it's up to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Tillman Jr.
CAST:  Vivica A. Fox  •  Nia Long  •  Michael Beach  •  Mekhi Phifer

Traditional Sunday dinners at Mama Joe's (Irma P. Hall) turn sour when sisters Teri (Vanessa L. Williams), Bird (Nia Long) and Maxine (Vivica A. Fox) start bringing their problems to the dinner table in this ensemble comedy. When tragedy strikes, it's up to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Tillman Jr.
CAST:  Vivica A. Fox  •  Nia Long  •  Michael Beach  •  Mekhi Phifer

Flypaper (2011)

Fast pacedHeistSmartComplex

A man caught in the middle of two simultaneous robberies at a bank desperately tries to protect the teller with whom he's secretly in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Minkoff
CAST:  Patrick Dempsey  •  Ashley Judd  •  Tim Blake Nelson  •  Adrian Martinez

A man caught in the middle of two simultaneous robberies at a bank desperately tries to protect the teller with whom he's secretly in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Minkoff
CAST:  Patrick Dempsey  •  Ashley Judd  •  Tim Blake Nelson  •  Adrian Martinez

The Suspect (2013)

Two African American social scientists pose as bank robbers in an effort to understand the racial dynamics of small-town law enforcement. However, their experiment takes an unplanned turn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stuart Connelly
CAST:  Mekhi Phifer  •  William Sadler  •  Derek Roché  •  James McCaffrey

Two African American social scientists pose as bank robbers in an effort to understand the racial dynamics of small-town law enforcement. However, their experiment takes an unplanned turn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stuart Connelly
CAST:  Mekhi Phifer  •  William Sadler  •  Derek Roché  •  James McCaffrey

Divergent (2014)

Action-packedFuturisticRomanticEnjoyable

In a world divided into factions based on personality types, Tris learns that she's been classified as Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil Burger
CAST:  Shailene Woodley  •  Kate Winslet  •  Miles Teller  •  Ray Stevenson

In a world divided into factions based on personality types, Tris learns that she's been classified as Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil Burger
CAST:  Shailene Woodley  •  Kate Winslet  •  Miles Teller  •  Ray Stevenson

Last Man Standing (2011)

Abby Collins's quiet life as a wife and mother shows no trace of her past work as a military special-ops expert -- until the day her husband is kidnapped. With no alternative, Abby must resort to her long-dormant lethal skills to save her spouse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ernest R. Dickerson
CAST:  Anthony Michael Hall  •  Catherine Bell  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Ele Bardha

Abby Collins's quiet life as a wife and mother shows no trace of her past work as a military special-ops expert -- until the day her husband is kidnapped. With no alternative, Abby must resort to her long-dormant lethal skills to save her spouse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ernest R. Dickerson
CAST:  Anthony Michael Hall  •  Catherine Bell  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Ele Bardha

The Other Brother (2002)

A frustrated writer reluctantly turns to his womanizing brother for advice about the opposite sex.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mandel Holland
CAST:  Mekhi Phifer  •  Andre B. Blake  •  Michele Morgan  •  Tangi Miller

A frustrated writer reluctantly turns to his womanizing brother for advice about the opposite sex.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mandel Holland
CAST:  Mekhi Phifer  •  Andre B. Blake  •  Michele Morgan  •  Tangi Miller
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