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 can do comedy but it's a certain type. I'm not a physical comedy guy. I'm not Will Ferrell - there's just this crazy and get naked and run through the thing screaming. That's just not my style; my style is drama or - I'm not slapstick.
Even when I was on Curb Your Enthusiasm I wasn't this "over-the-top" crazy character. It was still kind of play it straight but it was funny because the situation was funny. That's kind of how I portrayed things and I like dramas; I like to be able to - because in dramas you can laugh and joke and still be serious, be real. I like the realism of them.
Eating right has made the biggest difference in my body.
Once or twice a week, I try to do some kind of boxing. I'm hitting the bags and jumping rope - all that stuff.
I love working with Sally Field, and Steve Buscemi is one of the most giving, talented actors I've ever worked with.
I love kids, outings, camping, sports, Legoland, all the Daddy stuff. I love it. I wish I could just do that, but I have to work, too.
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.
There's no question that I'm African-American. OK? I'm a black man. We're not going to escape that.
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.
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's always a pleasure when you get to work with people that you actually really like.
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.