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Mekhi Phifer was born in Harlem, Manhattan, and was raised by his mother, Rhoda, a high school teacher. Phifer's acting career began when he auditioned at an open casting call for director 'Spike Lee' .
Was the first choice to play Quincy McCall in Love & Basketball , but had to drop out due to a schedule conflict and was replaced by Omar Epps.
First name is pronounced "Meck-high".
Son named Omikaye with actress Malinda Williams.
Has been "Punkd" by Ashton Kutcher.
Owns an "Athletes Foot" store franchise, which sells athletic footwear in California. Owns six stores with two of them up and running.
Along with the Pennsylvania-based charity organization The Vine Group, he donated over $100,000 in scholarships, books and computers to Ibadan, Nigeria, where the Mekhi Phifer Education Center will open in 2005 to help poor children get an education.
Good friends with "ER" costar, Goran Visnjic.
Enjoys going to the rifle ranges around Los Angeles and target shooting to relieve stress and have fun.
Good friends with Eminem.
Is mentioned in Eminem s song "Lose Yourself." The song is part of the 8 Mile soundtrack. Phifer and Eminem both starred in this movie.
Was originally a rapper signed to Warner Brothers records.
Engaged to director assistant Onanong Souratha on May 9, 2007.
(August 1999) Appeared in Vibe magazine for the article "Cant A Brother Get No Love".
Son, Mekhi Thira Phifer, Jr., born 30 October 2007. Mother is fiance Onanong Souratha.
On a Spring 2017, season 2 episode of Match Game, host Alec Baldwin did his usual segment where he introduced all the celebrity talent and inquired silly questions from them. Mekhi was a guest and when asked by Alec, after being introduced as the star of the show Lie to Me, what would be an example of him lying, Mekhi wittingly retorted that it would be a lie for him to say that he enjoyed working on that show.
I grew up in a rough environment. You want to be strong and have your,presence felt out there. That attitude reflects how people see you.
I always try to bring a certain masculine presence to what I do. That is,part of the dynamic.
Eating right has made the biggest difference in my body.
I want to coach Little League.
I tend to play more true-to-life characters in real situations.
Rap is definitely a youthful expression.
When break dancing was out, I break danced. When rapping was the thing,I freestyled rap on the street and battled and all that kind of stuff.
Actors look at life in a different way. When I meet people, I know that,one day I may portray that person or someone like them. It may be a cop,or a homeless guy. It helps you to pay more attention to people.
Everyone I meet, I retain something from them, something from their,personality. It helps me to portray realism in my work.
It has that funny smell.
I grew up in a rough environment. You want to be strong and have your presence felt out there. That attitude reflects how people see you. .
