Yes. Mike Epps and Omar Epps are cousins.
Mike Epps
Stand-up comedian-turned-actor Mike Epps got his first big break performing on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” (1992-97; 2006- ), and soon parlayed his popularity into big screen success with co-starring roles in Ice Cube features like “Next Friday” (2000) and “All About the Benjamins” (2002). Tall and handsome with a charming smile and wiseass demeanor, Epps stood out in a string of broad comedies before finally being tapped to play more substantial characters in meatier films like 2007’s “Talk to Me.”
Epps was born in Indianapolis, IN, on Nov. 18, 1970. Growing up between Indianapolis and the highly industrial Gary, Epps was one of nine kids to a single mother. From an early age, he discovered his ability to make people laugh, and with Richard Pryor as his main influence, Epps started hitting the stand-up stage when he was a teenager.
Unfortunately, it was not enough to keep the obviously talented comedian out of trouble. He fell in with gangs, dropped out of high school, and served 18 months on drug charges. The time behind bars not only motivated him to focus on a career as an entertainer, the experience gave him lots of new material for his act. He returned to the comedy club stage in Indiana before moving to Atlanta, GA where he was a regular at the Comedy Act Theater.
His success there gave him the confidence to move to New York City, NY where he was quickly picked up by Def Comedy Jam, touring as well as appearing on the HBO show.
Most recently he has released two stand-up DVDs in 2009: Funny Bidness and Under Rated and Never Faded and starred in the hilarious comedy "The Hangover" that has grossed over $450 million dollars to date.
Omar Epps
Omar Hashim Epps was born on July 20, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York. An only child, he was raised by his mother, Bonnie Epps, a lifelong educator who advanced from teacher to principal to school superintendent.
Epps proved a multi-talented child whose first love was writing. "I've been writing since I was a kid—short stories, poetry and all of that, and acting is just an extension of that," he later stated. "It just came naturally."
Epps attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he studied theater. In addition to writing and acting, Epps also excelled at music and dance. At age 17, he toured briefly with Queen Latifah as a backup singer and dancer, and a year later, in 1991, he formed a rap group called Wolfpack.
Omar Epps married singer Keisha Spivey (formerly of the all-female R&B trio Total) in 2006. The pair met and briefly dated in 1992. But their relationship didn't last, and Epps says that for years he thought of Spivey as "the one who got away." Epps then dated Love & Basketball co-star Sanaa Lathan before reuniting with Spivey in 2004. He and Spivey have two children, daughter, K'mari Mae (born in 2004) and son Amir (born in 2007). Epps also has a daughter from a previous relationship, Alyanna Yasmine (born in 1999).
There are certain celebrities we know are related: Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dakota and Elle Fanning, Chris and Liam Hemsworth, John and Joan Cusack to name a few. However, there are other members of the Hollywood elite that are family, too—though their relationships aren’t quite as public.
Even though it’s a little undercover, nepotism in Hollywood is definitely alive and well. There are a ton of celebrities who are related — and most we aren’t even aware of.
There are certain stars we know share a blood bond: Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dakota and Elle Fanning, Chris and Liam Hemsworth, John and Joan Cusack to name a few. However, there are other members of the Hollywood elite that are family, too — though their relationships aren’t quite as public. Here are 45 celebrities you never knew were related shared by StyleCaster.com.
We all know there are plenty of celebrity kids that bear striking resemblance to their parents and actual sets of twins in Hollywood, but some of the best star "twins" aren't related at all.
If you've ever done a double take while looking at Katy Perry and Zooey Deschanel, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Javier Bardem, or Amy Adams and Isla Fisher, we've got the ultimate treat for you. Keep reading to see 22 of the most mind-boggling look-alike stars who could totally pass as siblings at PopSugar.com.
Can you match up the famous relatives? Test your knowledge on this entertainment quiz from Sporcle.com.