Mekhi Phifer
Mekhi Phifer
Mekhi Phifer is an American actor. He portrayed Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC's long-running medical drama ER and had a co-starring role opposite Eminem in the feature film 8 Mile. He was a regular on the Fox crime show Lie to Me in the role of Ben Reynolds, before season three, and also starred as CIA agent Rex Matheson in Torchwood: Miracle Day...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTV Actor
Date of Birth29 December 1974
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
I know a lot of people who are weak, who are in a perpetual cycle of poverty and being locked up. There are guys from my neighborhood who are in jail or who are dead. It does take a certain strength to know your environment and say, 'I can grow beyond it.'
I've done 21 films in eight years, and I've said 'No' more times than I've done films.
I've dated interracially a lot. I grew up in Harlem, so I've dated Latins, Dominican, Guyanese, Cuban, black, white.
There's no question that I'm African-American. OK? I'm a black man. We're not going to escape that.
I tend to play more true-to-life characters in real situations.
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.
Eating right has made the biggest difference in my body.
It's always a pleasure when you get to work with people that you actually really like.
It's called 'Easier, Softer Way,' ... It's a comedy starring Danny Masterson, Ronnie Warner, John C. McGinley. I have a small part in it.
With my first son I cut his umbilical cord and everything, so I'm a hands-on father, to say the least.
When you're working and making money, that's all good, but there has to be something that provides a substance, I think.
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.
I always try to bring a certain masculine presence to what I do. That is part of the dynamic.
I'm a soccer dad at heart. I want five kids, and I want to get married. I want to coach Little League.